Walliams And Friend Christmas Special –

He is eager to get back in touch with something “purely comic”. Walliams says the show has no agenda and it is not designed to make you think too much. “It’s just there to make you laugh.” Walliams And Friend marks a return to the comic’s first love of sketch comedy. The show constantly renews itself with the introduction of a new guest every week. Other ‘Friends’ on the show have included Sheridan Smith, Harry Enfield, Jack Whitehall, Meera Syal and Miranda Richardson. The comic, 46, reflects that, “It’s a great process. Every Monday morning you show up and a new guest is there, ready for rehearsals. “Just at the point where you might be getting on each other’s nerves, you have a new person to work with. It also means that the programme doesn’t become repetitive, which is often a criticism of sketch shows.” The comic adds that, “This way, the show can reinvent itself from week to week. It feels fresh and never gets boring.”

And as well as funny bones, Walliams also exhibits a sharp mind. To reinforce the point, the comic outlines his fears about President Donald Trump.

“Trump has become the dominant political player of our time. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge of most countries, but it does matter who’s in charge of America.

“What I find deeply depressing is the way in which public discourse has become so vulgar and nasty. It’s no longer statesmen arguing over the way they can help countries, but indulging in really vicious personal attacks. Is this now the way people engage in political debate, through insults?”

Not just a funny face, Walliams is similarly acute about the way in which Western culture has become obsessed with celebrity.

For instance, there is a wicked send-up of reality TV in an episode of Walliams And Friend. Vernon Kay presents “Celebrity Slammer”, a spoof show, in which Eamonn Holmes, Bob Carolgees and Spit the Dog, the Chuckle Brothers, Christopher Biggins, Chris Ellison and Walliams have all been filmed in jail for the past seven years – for our delectation and delight.

Walliams believes that the sketch works because it is really not far from the truth at all.

“‘Celebrity Slammer’ will happen,” he sighs. “What humiliation awaits celebrities next? In (the book) 1984, there is a notorious scene where Winston Smith is being tortured with hungry rats. Cut to a recent series of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me

Out Of Here! and Jennie Bond, the former royal correspondent of the BBC, is being buried alive in a grave rapidly filling with rats.

“Hang on, isn’t that George Orwell?,” Walliams asks. “No, it’s prime-time entertainment.”