24 hours from the Last One Laughing UK S1 release and the reviews are trickling out.

We’ll start with the Telegraph, because the reviewer completely bucks the trend and only gives it 3 stars out of 5 and described it as “functional, if uninspired comedy”.

Benji must’ve been watching something different than I was because I binged the 4 released episodes in the morning, burst out laughing several times and then rewatched the first 2 before bed. It’s been many, MANY years since I’ve felt compelled to rewatch anything so quickly (the last time probably would have been the I Literally Just Told You episode that reduced Jimmy to tears).

I’ve read a LOT of comments / social posts and discussed it with all kinds of people – and the consensus is that it’s brilliant, can’t wait for the final 2 episodes, was over with too quickly etc. etc.

BBC Radio5 Live said “quite uninspiring” and complained about the “cartel in British comedy” of the same faces. I think what they meant to say was that the UK has a WEALTH of comedic talent that have been around for 20-25 years and anyone making a show, that wants it to be a hit, has a wish list (which usually involves getting Jimmy as the host). Be careful what you wish for, BBC, because one day we will only have people from YouTube and Tiktok…

Beyond The Joke also says it would be “nice to give some TV breaks to some less well-known talent”. If 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is anything to go by – this doesn’t go down well (referring to unknowns on both the panel and in Dictionary Corner). But this reviewer does conclude that “for sheer comedy stupidity this does an excellent job”.

The Express calls it “genius” as it pulls out social posts from various people, labelling it the “best thing on TV in years”.

The Mirror has a fairly lengthy piece that focusses on Bob Mortimer’s “ridiculous” stories being dangerous (to the other comics, that were trying not to laugh). I think everyone knew, when the line up was announced, that Bob and Ayoade would be the ones to beat.

Daisy mentioned how much she struggled with Joe Wilkinson’s RNLI speech, Joe Lycett said “Ayoade is incapable of laughter” and Joe Wilkinson and Rob Beckett both said that Bob was the most dangerous.

Jimmy explained that the whole series was filmed in one day and encouraged people to watch it because comedy is good for you and is “mental fruit and veg”.

The Sun were mildly enthusiastic, mainly relating to Danny Dyer’s role as Harry Potter.

People on Reddit subs are notoriously hard to please but (so far) they are loving the show.

Metro, like the Express, pulled out X posts declaring it “one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen” and concluding that viewers were mightily impressed. A quote from Jimmy’s interview with Radio Times said “it’s one of the most fun days of telly I’ve ever had”.

Nothing yet from the Daily Mail…they are probably sharpening their claws and trying to find a way to slip in as many references as possible to Jimmy’s mythical “new look”.