If you are not a fan of the World Cup then the next month’s worth of TV won’t appeal to you. However, there is one programme that may produce a different angle on the matches.

James Corden returns to our screens with his own comedic take on the football. The show ‘James Corden’s World Cup Live’ not only analyses the games but also shows videos of Corden spending time with the England Team before they went over to South Africa. Videos include playing golf with Gerrard and having a kick around with Rooney. But this is no new thing for Corden who has previous associations with the England squad. In the guise of his Gavin and Stacey character Smithy, Corden wrote and performed sketches with the England team for Comic Relief and Sports Relief, involving him coaching them and giving team talks.   

The main comedic attraction of this show is the human wall chart. Corden managed to find one person from each country involved in the World Cup, and wearing the correct football strip for their team, they are seated according to their current group rankings. The exception is North Korea for whom no native supporter could be found and where an Englishman in a plain T – Shirt stands in representing this nation. Corden moves along the wall chart talking to the countries that were involved in that day’s matches getting their views on how well their country played.

Corden also brings a chat-show feel to the programme, with celebrity guests in the studio who have nothing to do with football. This element also gives Corden the chance to show the music video to his unofficial World Cup song ‘Shout’ in which he collaborated with Dizzee Rascal.

This show is very funny and perfect for the less ardent football supporters. Although there is still football talk, it gives you a break from the general analysis that the football commentators make after the matches. But if you are not a fan of James Corden then this show may not be for you, as it does centre on him, concentrating on his now well known comedy and what he thought of the football. If you are a fan of more serious football insight you might be best sticking to the analysis from Gary Lineker on the BBC and Adrian Chiles on ITV.