Iv'e laughed at Mr Kay's humour for nigh on ten years now. From the humble beginnings of 'The Services' and then his set of six comedy observations of British pastimes; 'That Peter Kay thing', which took a pop at Bingo halls, Icecream men and Northern social clubs, which was a template to later become 'Pheonix Nights' and what introduced us to the legend that is Brian Potter. Brilliant satire and beautifully observed. His 'Top of the Tower' stand-up was also both of these things and he even managed to pull in enough material in the same vain as 'its that fine rain..' and 'packed it, booked it..' content for his next live event, the 'Mum wants a bungalow tour'. As a correspondent to what was and what is mundanely amusing, he was it. Even if he was the first person to just stand up and ask "who was that chinese woman on the box of Mastemind?' for that alone he should be applauded.

Unfortunately, Britains got the Pop Factor tells another tale. I can't remember a time when I felt so flat and shocked to the point of mouth breathing my way through 30 minutes of television. It would seem that the marketing engine of Mr Kay of the past 5 years has finally got the better of him. Not remaining happy with the fact that all his old jokes and back catalogue have been repackaged, revamped and regurgitated enough times to nearly kill any respect that we did hold for the man, he seemingly has gone down a route that is not only safe but is deeply un-funny. After watching the first show, I struggled to make any sound of laughter the first half, although I did find a couple of moments amusing with 'Two up Two Down'. But these where few and far between, and after the titles rolled I considered the idea that the whole thing just felt like a vehicle for Kay to wear a womans dress, sing (or mime) to a song that isn't funny (almost as if hes living the dream) and look like hes getting off on it, stroking an ego that has drilled into the psyche of the markets he used to parady, only to know play to those folk as they line his pockets with gold. Bottom line, this wasn't funny, it wasn't admirable and it amazes me that he looks like hes got a winner on his hands? 5.5 million people watched this pap on Sunday evening, Channel Fours biggest rating for ages. Will it ever stop? Fans gave waited with baited breath for new content after the lack-lustre 'Max and Paddy' which simply didn't work as it was trying to be mainstream TV when in fact Kay has been anything but that in the things that have made him a house-hold name. Britains got the Pop Factor just shows what happens when you goo for gold and forget your humble beginnings. I could go on to why it wasn't funny, but its so glaringly obvious that I wont waste my time. All in all, a total sell out on a subject that doesn't need parodying as it is in itself already that. I know see that he has a single out of the song that his character 'Geraldine' sings on the show... If thats not proof of the mans ego I don't know what is. In a word.... awful, disappointing, adolescent and pointless (yeah, four 'cause it makes me angry!)