The line-up may have changed but the tunes remain the same. Or something like that. As one of the longer running panel shows on British TV, Never Mind the Buzzcocks has been popular with comedy and music fans during its 13 year run regardless of a couple of face lifts. Although the members have changed it’s still a safe go-to place for music trivia and the occasional scathing attack on an uppity pop figure (Robbie Williams was a favourite for former presenter Mark Lamarr).
Despite re-jigging the format a little over the years, Buzzcocks has failed to recapture the glory days where Lamarr’s deadpan wit and misanthropic outbursts were coupled with a genuine love for good music. Replacement chairman Simon Amstell was okay (just) but seemed to be trying too hard in his tendency to be edgy or rile up guests, most noticeably the hilarious walk out by Samuel Preston of Celebrity Big Brother fame.
Simon Amstell Leaves Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Now that Amstell has decided to concentrate on his stand-up tour the position has been left vacant once again to shoe horn in another batch of Have I Got News For You style randoms for series 23 as it did a few years back when Lamarr stepped down. The announcement of some future hosts brings a welcome smile (Rhod Gilbert, David Walliams, Frank Skinner) while others (Dermot O'Leary) reconfirm that this is a Godless existence after all.
First up though is shy and underexposed comedian and all round beacon of modesty James Corden best known for his work on BBC Three hit sitcom Gavin and Stacey and embarrassingly poor sketch show Horne & Corden, which single handily proved the claim that television does lead to violence and depression.
Based on this first episode either the writing has dropped in quality, Corden lacks the ability to crack spontaneous witty remarks or it could be that the current big thing in comedy is not funny. Whatever the answer he’s clearly not cut out to be a host, so here’s hoping he’s not in the running. It’s also amusing that a recurring sketch on H&C had him parody Ricky Gervais when he appears to have stolen the man’s act with his obnoxious shouting and annoying laugh.
Noel Fielding as Buzzcocks Team Captain
Anyway, what else is new? Bill Bailey – who in turn took over from the brilliant Sean Hughes – bowed out before series 22 so Noel Fielding, part of overrated comedy team The Mighty Boosh (oh, controversial), has ascended to the role of permanent team captain. Fielding is actually very well suited for this role given that he appeals to the hipster NME crowd who says Buzzcocks is their favourite programme, and to their credit he is admittedly funny on this.
Phill Jupitus is still there too, mind. He’s the one who holds this whole thing together and is pretty much the face of the show. Along with the familiar rounds such as intros or the has been line-up he is the most recognisable feature and Buzzcocks should probably call it a day when he does decide to quit. Ben Miller was great too, but then again he always is on this sort of thing.
The negative tone of this review isn’t writing off the show altogether, hopefully with a better frontman it will be more watchable so it's interesting to see how the rest of the series plays out. Looking at the names for the series none of them would have the time to take up the mantle indefinitely so the guest slot will possibly stay open for future try-outs. Or they choose Dermot O'Leary...
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is on BBC Two every Thursday at 9.30pm.
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