Other TV bits and pieces

The Office Christmas Specials (from Boxing Day, BBC1) are the most eagerly awaited programmes of the year for comedy fans. Not just because they're festive editions, but because they are the last outing ever for bumbling boss David Brent.

But that doesn't mean there is nothing to look forward to for die-hard Office fans. There's the small matter of the American version. This is now likely to star a little-known American actor as the deluded Brent (Ricky Gervais, left, having wisely declined to attempt the part with a false American accent) and filming on a pilot starts in February.

Adapting the show to US tastes was never going to be easy, but one of the main problems has been that all the self-important management-speak which Brent uses comes from America - and is completely acceptable there. Gervais says: "Stuff like 'blue-skies thinking' is ridiculous but it's basically Californiatype stuff. In the US now it wouldn't get a titter." Still, there's always the disco dance...

Play it again, Sam, and give us a laugh

The Walford regulars had a fun time recording their all-singing, all-dancing special, EastEnders' Christmas Party, led by Shane Richie.

The resulting show (Christmas Day, BBC1) is rather like the Anna Scher Theatre School does Summertime Special, but apparently the Square was a very jolly place during the filming. It has not echoed with so much hilarity since Phil Mitchell applied to join Mensa.

Kim Medcalf, who plays Sam Mitchell and performs All I Want For Christmas, had a happy time working on the show. "There was lots of laughter when I filmed my song," she recalls. Er, is that really a good sign?

Ee bah gum, Jeremy's posh

Did you know that Jeremy Clarkson used to speak with a broad Yorkshire accent?

Well, he did, and he confesses all in Grumpy Old Men at Christmas (Christmas Day, BBC2), recalling how daft a nativity play sounds with a brogue. "I used to speak like this in them days..." he announces, breaking into a the sort of fake northern accent that would fool no one north of Watford Gap. Perhaps Jeremy has come so far that not only does he no longer speak with a Yorkshire accent, he can't even impersonate one.

However, he and the rest of the middle-aged moaners are on splendidly splenetic form.

Standard columnist Will Self saves most of his bile for the modern practice of sending "round robin" family newsletters. "I'd rather have my arse sawn off and varnished and sold in a provincial gift shop than send a round robin letter," he storms. "And if anybody sends one to me you can be sure it will come winging straight back again."

Rick Wakeman is rather more reflective on the subject of buying the wrong lingerie for his wife - recalling ruefully, "It's very hard to take a French maid's outfit back..."

Good evening, Mr Bond-fan

Charlie Higson from the Fast Show has a point to prove when he appears on Celebrity Mastermind (from Boxing Day, BBC2). "I'm good friends with Vic Reeves, who was on the show last year. But he came last and so I thought I would see if I could do better than him as he's always making out that he knows everything." Charlie is a big James Bond fan so has chosen the super-smooth spy as his special subject.