The premise is to parody the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. Sketches are presented by [British television celebrity compere] Terry Wogan's less-talented fictitious brother, Nigel Wogan (Nigel Quinn) and introduced by an array of poorly-imitated and mocked celebrities who include: Paris Hilton (Wendy Thomson), Sarah Palin (Una Carr) and Prince Charles (Oli Stephens).

However, the slick, cynical deadpan of the real-life Terry Wogan is replaced by Nigel Quinn's pondering delivery; lacking in energy, conviction and humour. Writing is hackneyed; performance is lacklustre. 'Let's interview the red carpet', this Wogan mutters nasally into his poorly-set-up radio microphone, complete with crackle. The interview is of the actual carpet. Jokes about enjoying celebrities wearing kilts set the puerile tone. Wogan points out the very apparent ruse that was being had: 'I'm sure I said "On the red carpet".'

The award for Best Documentary follows. Perhaps the highlight of this section is Oli Stephens's Spring Watch. He watches his giant spring with an animated, wide-eyed conviction which does the sketch justice. What a pity that his talent is wasted on such unoriginal material. The cleverest line of this first category comes in a song about the [British Parliamentary] Expenses Scandal. Tuneless singing it may be, typical late-night karaoke stuff, but the tasteless gem 'I'll buy a brand new tie and put it on expense / fly her in from Bangkok it all makes sense' encourages a groan if not a smile.

Wendy Thomson's Paris Hilton has apt wig and miniature dog, but the impression is terrible, with slip-sliding American accent, and the lack of any apparent point to the skit (there are no comical lines at all). Oli Stephens's crass impression of Prince Charles feels similarly pointless; and he has neither wig nor costume, happens to be bald, and looks nothing like the future UK King. The material parodies British TV, and is no worse and no better than stuff on British TV on a very bad day. The difference is that the delivery from all performers lacks confidence, conviction, timing, presence. Best efforts come from Louise Croombs when playing [British comedian] Russell Brand, and Una Carr as Lady Saga. But changing popular song lyrics to mock performers has to be done extremely well to work, and here it is done awfully badly. What is more incongruous (in this example) is that Russell Brand has nothing to do with [British singer] Beyonce's (Should Have) Put A Ring On It.

One glimmer is a sketch by Ian Holgate. It shows him, if not a brilliant comic, a very able beat poet with a great sense of rhythm and of irony. His homage to Trainspotting's Choose Life is surprising. Ian Holgate has been a hidden diamond so far in the show, the only member of the cast with a natural sense of timing and a comical and expressive demeanour. Here he come into his own with a slick and clever rap; a whistle-stop tour of all the pointless little bits and pieces that make up modern living. Though he leaves longer pauses than perhaps there should be in a couple of places, there is nothing an hour's re-looking at his script couldn't solve.

It is not enough to redeem the first half of this show. An hour has passed, a very long hour. And there is still forty minutes to go.