Well, so much for comedians taking over the world. Jonathan Ross might still be in broadcasting purdah and Russell Brand has been relatively reclusive, but you can usually rely on gagsmiths in the Celebrity Big Brother house. I was particularly hopeful that there would be some witty input this time when I heard that the producers wanted to inject fun into this year's house to cheer the country up.

Instead, however, we've got a bog standard line-up of blasts from the past, B-listers and too many Americans. Verne Troyer might have been in some decent comedy films but is something of a one trick pony, while Ulrika Jonsson's laudable work with Vic and Bob has been overshadowed by her overtime with Sven Goran Eriksson.

It's enough to make you nostalgic for the year that Jack Dee appeared. Or even the year that Les Dennis went into meltdown. Although maybe that's the reason they've steered clear of clowns this time – Dennis and Dee suggested that comedians might like a laugh onstage, but on reality TV cracking a smile is harder than eating a kangaroo's anus.

And then what about the new Dr Who? Eddie Izzard had been suggested as a possible future Timelord. Izzard could have combined a wonderful blend of surrealism and intellectualism: "Oooh yes, Daleks, um, ooh er, you didn't see many Cybermen in Ancient Rome did you? Silver never looked good in a toga..." But when the casting crunch came he did not get the call.

I'm disappointed in new Who boss Steven Moffat. He is a man with a pretty good comedy pedigree. He wrote the irritating Coupling but also the much underrated Joking Apart. He could have put some real winning wit into the role. Instead he has gone for Matt Smith, a bloke with the floppy fringe of a Brideshead Revisited extra sponsored by Shockwaves and the forehead of Frankenstein. Wait a minute, on second thoughts that sounds rather funny. Who needs comedians after all?