The New Paul O'Grady Show, Channel 4: JUDITH Chalmers looked a wee bit startled as she took the helm of the good ship O'Grady while its resident captain is on holiday.

Sitting in the middle of what appeared to be a German Christmas market stall in a neat cream jacket and chocolate brown dress, she seemed bemused at first as to why on earth they'd asked her to step in.

But she soon got into the show, playing on her endearing naivety in a world of Broadway puppeteers, teenage reporters dressed as penguins and double entendres.

Guests included Julian Clary, talking about his panto and the time he and Judith presented an episode of Wish You Were Here together.

"I bumped into your friend Hector on Hampstead Heath too," she said, face deadpan (or possibly deadtan - it's still only two shades lighter than being officially 'tangoed').

Next, they dressed Judith up in a baseball cap, gold chain and purple hoodie for a 'beat box challenge' which involved her blowing raspberries into the microphone with her hand rubbing an imaginary record, spinning a few tunes, like.

"I can see me practising this with my grandchildren," she said.

"I'm going to be very good at this I can tell. I have the throat for it Judy," cracked Julian.

By the time the American puppeteers behind the musical, Avenue Q, came on she was well into her stride - even if she did get told off by a puppet.

"Do you talk like that all the time?" she asked the young lady who had her hand in puppet Kate Monster.

"Can you talk to my face please," said the puppet.

The show over, Judith looked somewhat taken aback and pleased as the audience cheered raucously when she signed off. Don't be Judith. They loved you. We loved you.