Ricky Gervais seems to trade on the comedy of embarrassment rather than laugh-out-loud lines. Although the subject matter of Extras differed from The Office, the style of the show was very much the same.

It was a decent start to the series, with Ben Stiller bravely sending himself up to good effect. The true star though was Ashley Jensen, who got all the best lines and whose relationship with Gervais’s character was quickly established.

Time will tell whether this becomes another classic but there was enough good stuff going on in the opener to suggest that viewers will return week after week.

The Catherine Tate Show quickly followed where it seemed easier to admire the characterisations than actually laugh at the sketches, which seemed overlong. We have a major star in the making here but not just yet.

On screen junk

There was a very moving memorial service on Thursday lunchtime held at the BMA in Tavistock Square.

I would have thought that this event could have been carried by one of the main terrestrial channels. BBC One would have seemed the natural place. Obviously, planners there felt they couldn’t sacrifice important episodes of Car Booty and Bargain Hunt to clear schedules for it.

It was left to the news channels to show proceedings. Unfortunately though, they all left their on-screen captions and tickers running throughout. Lesley Garrett’s moving rendition of Abide with Me was somewhat tainted by the fact that the latest football transfers news was scrolling across the picture.

Occasionally, a modicum of sensitivity is required and to be honest, I think that in any case, those annoying news tickers should be a digital option and not imposed on us all the time.

It’ll never work

I’m a big Frank Skinner fan, I wish he’d do some more stand up where he is a superb operator.

That said, Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned is proving to be a very hit and miss affair. To be honest, I think most of us could get by without hearing about David’s porn habits, which seem to get discussed with alarming regularity.

Despite, the unplanned tag, the whole thing seems way too structured. I think they should double the length of each show, halfing the number of episodes if necessary and go out live. That might get the adrenalin pumping again. At the moment it just feels lazy.

What’s it all about, Alfie

Perhaps it’s because they have so many episodes to fill, but don’t EastEnders like to spin out their storylines?

The Alfie-Little Mo-Kat storyline is being drawn out at such a snail’s pace that it’s becoming incredibly dull when it should be a classic. We just seem to be watching the same scene between Kat and Alfie over and over again.

Meanwhile, the Den in the cellar tale is set to run and run. If I were in charge of the script, I’d have them dig up his grave to discover no body! That might shake things up.

Surely it’s time for a love interest for Pauline, to wipe that miserable look off her face. She makes Big Brother’s Orlaìth look positively cheerful. We need to see more of Stacey, who has the potential to be the new Janine and surely it’s time for that barmaid who’s been in it from day one to get her annual line.

On the chopping block

Rock Around the Block continued with the Adams family taking on Ricky Martin’s Living the Vida Loca. Car crash television if ever I saw it. The lady of the house seemed more interested in getting the casserole on than learning the moves for her performance.

I doubt it will be back for a second series but Stars in Their Eyes continues to offer good stuff. Two of the lads from Emmerdale did magnificently as The Blues Brothers. A little bit of much needed quality in the Saturday night schedules.

and finally…

I was a bit worried about the concept of dramatising the Tsunami disaster but Survivors was gripping television and brought a human face to the tragedy.

The mix of actors reconstructing events and the real family interjecting with their comments was very effective, though I’d imagine difficult to watch for those who lived through it.