MARK Lamarr must feel like weeping into his industrial-strength hair gel.

Because Never Mind the Buzzcocks' new presenter Simon Amstell has done what most Buzzcocks fans thought impossible - proved himself smarter and funnier than his predecessor.

Last night's episode didn't have the most starry of line-ups.

Team captains Bill Bailey and Phill Jupitus (where did his new smart get-up and jaunty quiffed hair come from by the way?) were joined by Bill Oddie, Orson's Jason Pebworth and comedian Stewart Lee for musical tomfoolery.

But despite the lack of A-list guests, Amstell's cruel but hilarious quips easily won the audience over. He's been in the job just a month and already he's made the show not only his own, but also must-see TV.

Those pampered and preened popstars must not know what's hit them when Simon uses his hilarious sizzling put-downs on them.

This is the man who made Britney cry and caused Girls Aloud to state they'd never work with him again after all.

One particular favourite of mine was on last week's show when Vanessa Feltz was boasting of her new show called Vanessa's Real Lives. "Oh, real this time are they?" he quipped.

Simon himself said he hoped to beat "the universal, exceptionless rule that when a new host takes over an old show it is a horrible, embarrassing disaster."

I think he can safely say he's made an exception to the universal exceptionless rule.