It’s been a while, but Cleese is back on the telly. It’s the first TV he’s done since that series ‘The Human Face’ in 2001, which I seem to remember also unexpectedly starred Elizabeth Hurley. Like other ageing comedy icons (Stephen Fry), he has developed a taste for the technical – you can follow him on Twitter for goodness sake… so it’s really no huge surprise to learn that he’s going to be presenting a show about gadgets on Dave, the home of manly nostalgia.

The show will be called “Batteries Not Included” and will involve Cleese swallowing loads of tiny space ships testing strange inventions from around the world.

Devices on trial will include chin gyms, baby dusters and giant slippers.

Other celebs on the show will include Alex Zane, Danny Wallace, Dom Joly and Richard Herring.

A Dave source said: “We’re over the moon as John Cleese is such a legend. We’ve heard lots of channels have tried to get him to front things but he always says no.

“Batteries Not Included will see John take the essence of his 007 character and combine it with some bizarre gadgets.”