Lee Mack is one of the funniest British comics around at the moment. His timing, his wit, exuberance and Northerness make him an entertaining and personable guy. While 'thetvreviewguy' so wanted his flagship Saturday night vehicle to succeed, 'Lee Mack's All Star Cast' (BBC1) doesn't quite gel, despite Mack's winning personality. The show is an obvious mix of concepts from Graham Norton audience participation and web-cam links, to regular chat show and comedy stand-up. Mack seemed atypically hesitant on his first outing and this is probably down to the constant jumping in format that he has to somehow make seem as original and a draw for the fickle, flicking viewer. Fern Britton and Frank Skinner did their best as guests to keep the show moving along and their obvious respect for the host was evident but as a spectacle, it was just too messy and frenetic. Now 'thetvreviewguy' knows that if you're stuck watching TV on a Saturday night, you're either broke, married/partnered up or single but that's no excuse for watching any old iron. 'All Star Cast' deserves better production; Mack is fast on the way to becoming the thinking man's Michael McIntyre, i.e. funny as well as popular and the BBC should really be making better use of his talents. Now, if only they'd line up Tim Vine as part of a double header variety show; the BBC could have another Baddiel and Skinner hit on their hands. Instead, you can watch Áll Star Cast' safe in the knowledge that it's the best of a not-great bunch on a Saturday night.
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