Many topical panel game shows are here today and gone tomorrow.

For every Have I Got News For You, there are dozens of wannabe series that fall by the wayside. However, in recent years two shows have become firm favourites with the masses: BBC Two’s Mock the Week and Channel 4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

Strangely enough, the series started within two days of each other, and both have been going strong for more than three years now, thanks to a winning blend of topical comedy and razor-sharp guests.

This week’s show sees MTW veterans Russell Howard and Michael McIntyre guest star alongside team captains Sean Lock and Jason Manford.

As ever, Jimmy Carr will be putting them through their paces to see who is most in touch with the nation.

For newcomers, the rounds include What Are You Talking About, in which the teams try to ferret out the news stories that Britain is discussing round the water-cooler and across the dinner table, from cutting edge politics to trash TV.

Will Michael’s side be triumphant, or will Russell win?

Well, that would be telling, but even if he loses, Mr Howard is so in demand at the moment, he won’t be down for long.

He’s currently on a UK tour called Dingledodies, and has been promoting new DVD Russell Howard Live, which hits the shops on November 17.

”Basically it’s the show I did at last year’s Edinburgh festival,” explains Russell. “It’s pretty weird talking about myself. If you like me on Mock the Week, it’s kind of more of the same really.”

Howard was born in 1980 in Bristol and broke into the comedy mainstream four years ago when he was hired to write and perform on Radio One comedy The Milk Run.

Before long he was snapped up for shows such as Would I Lie To You?, Law of the Playground and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Some comics can be a superstitious lot before going on stage, and Russell admits he’s no different.

”I’ve got a really embarrassing list of things that I could never tell you,” he explains. “Kind of odd little things that comfort me. If you ever see me turned into the corner of a wall before a gig, don’t go near me. Pretty weird stuff.”

Panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats are a collaborative effort so there’s less chance of getting introspective. However, a lot more effort goes into them than some people realise.

In the case of Mock the Week, Howard admits there’s plenty we at home don’t see.

”One episode is two-and-a-half hours to film. What’s amazing is that for the most part there aren’t that many lulls. It’s quite a good laughter rate, but it’s because everyone gets on a roll and it kind of zips along.”

There’s also bound to be plenty of excess 8 Out of 10 Cats footage left on the cutting room floor this week, but we’ll just have to make do with this rib-tickling half-hour version.