So, Ricky Gervais stepped in to discuss his new comedy series ‘Life’s Too Short’ with ‘Front Row’ presenter Mark Lawson last week.

I think it’d be fair to say that the show, a mockumentary-style sitcom centring on the not-so showbiz life of its 3 ft 6 protagonist, Warwick Davis, has taken a good deal of flack from critics, and some would say deservedly so. Audiences have also seemingly voted with their feet, with viewing figures falling steadily from 2.5 million for episode one, to less than half that tuning into last week’s installment.

Spirited in his defence of the programme, Gervais told Lawson that he has passed through various phases in his feelings towards critics; from craving their approval, to deliberately setting out to “annoy” them. Now, it seems, he’s indifferent. He says: “I haven’t got a problem with critics. But I think that many people mistake the subject of a joke with the target of a joke. And I’ve had that my whole career”.

You can hear the interview, which aired on last Tuesday’s ‘Front Row’, by downloading the podcast version of the programme, which – as we write – is still available here.

New editions of ‘The South Bank Show’ are set to air on Sky Arts next year it has been confirmed. ITV axed the 30 year old Melvyn Bragg fronted cultural show last year, of course, though Sky quickly picked up the spin off awards show and has also been airing archive editions on its increasingly well respected arts channel. Bragg will now make six new programmes for Sky Arts.

Says Bragg: “I’m chuffed to bits that the South Bank Show is back in town. I very much wanted to continue to make ‘The South Bank Show’ and I’m delighted that Sky Arts has given me the chance to do that”.