10 Shows That Prove BBC Three's Cancellation Is Actually A Good Thing

4. Russell Howard's Good News (2009-)

What we have here is humorous clips, from the news, interspersed with gags from the host. It€™s not a particularly new format, nor is it particularly compelling, yet it€™s run to eight series with a ninth- presumably the last- to air next year. The credit/blame for this must fall on the man in the title, Russell Howard. Howard epitomises the modern comic. He purveys that type of post-Gervaisian politically incorrect humour which is pretty much standard nowadays, but he does it in a relentlessly chirpy fashion, never challenging or undercutting the expectations of the viewer. In other words, he wants us to like him, to the extent that many shows end with some heart-warming news item that he earnestly refuses to take the pee-pee out of. Even his appearance, which is the same as any twentysomething man in a student union, screams conformity. Because of this, we have a topical comedy programme that manages the rare feat of completely bypassing satire. Howard never mocks politicians for their deeds- in fact, most of the time he comes up with completely spurious joke that he actually has to explain to the audience. Who laugh anyway. All of this is why he€™s the channel€™s biggest star. It also says a lot about BBC Three, a channel that too often appears relevant in only the most superficial ways. And that€™s the reason it was the first head on the chopping block, which is bad news for Russell Howard, really.