You Have Been Watching (Channel 4, Tuesday, 14 July, 10pm) may as well be called You Have Been Watching Charlie Brooker Smile And Have Fun Sporadically So Stop Moaning And Get Used To It You Miserable Sod. Not a catchy title for a show, granted, but in there seems to be the problem for some people regarding this project by everyone’s favourite miserablist. Brooker was criticised for his writers special of Screenwipe for not tearing strips off a bunch of interesting people and so too, he’s getting some criticism for having fun with some different people. So has he sold his arse to TV devils? Has he bloody hell.

Related: Our Charlie Brooker Interview | YHBW1 Review | One and Other 4th Plinth Review

In last night’s show, which seemed more assured and confident from the previous week, Brooker, in relation to Amanda Holden spat: “She’ll have to juggle, swing on the trapeze and pull at least three convincing facial expressions through her nightmarish, unyielding, vinyl hockey mask of a face.”

Certainly not the words of a man buckling under the strain of what he can and can’t say by mewing TV producers, is it? Sure, it may take a while to get used to seeing Brooker grinning and laughing at the things other people say, but you should remind yourself that he’s a human being and certainly not one that is constantly in a sulk about the whole world.

In fact, in this false set-up (ie all TV shows are a false set-up), weirdly, I think we’re seeing what Charlie Brooker is really like as a person. The scowling, self-loathing ranter stuck in his flat is as much a creation as anything David Bowie ever came up with. Sure, it’s based on something within him, but to assume that he’s constantly followed around by rainclouds is pretty stupid.

So what’s making him so happy? I don’t think it’s any other reason that he’s got his funnies to share with other people… people who happen to make him laugh as well. It’s not hard to dissect.

And last night’s guests were very good too. First up, we had Josie Long, the stand-up comic fond of charity shops and sporting a rather cool home-made Kurt Vonnegut t-shirt. Sadly, for someone who is meant to be even-handed, I think I’m getting a pathetic crush on her. It’s pathetic because I can’t decide whether I’m laughing at her jokes or just tittering nervously like I’m in the schoolyard. Hur hur hur… you’re sooo funny Josie…

Joining My Latest Flame was soapnut and TV critic Grace Dent who has entertained me with her vitriol and Northern vowels for some years. In the TV studio, plopped in front of a staring studio audience in evening wear, she looked a bit trapped in the headlights, which was a shame.

Hardly surprising though as she struggled to get a word in edgeways thanks to an on-form Frank Skinner. He rattled off the laughs will an ease not seen since he was on Fantasy Football. It was also interesting to see him swearing like a trooper after he did a whole show saying that he was ‘cutting back’ on That Sort Of Thing.

Between them all, their collective views on Michael Jackson’s Memorial, the One And Other art project and the naked life drawing classes from Channel 4 provided a decent mix of insight and snorts. Mercifully for a comedy show, the latter was much more prevalent. Brooker’s gag about MJ’s last gig being so weird that it was like “taking anti-malaria tablets” was a corker.

All-in-all, this show is really good fun and great value. There does seem to be something of a backlash against Brooker as a result, but one that has certainly died down this week from the initial shock of seeing him enjoy himself last week. I think we’ll get more series of this and don’t be surprised if we see more of Charlie The Panel Man. For ‘purists’, at least you’ve got another series of News Wipe and the new Games Wipe to look forward to on BBC Four. For the time being, enjoy this. It’s great.