DON’T Sit in the Front Row – for many people, the title of this show is their guiding principle when it comes to choosing their seats at a comedy show.

Fortunately, there are some people who are prepared to have their careers, fashion choices and relationships turned into fodder for gags, otherwise we wouldn’t have this new panel show.

Hosted by Jack Dee, it gives Britain’s stand-ups a chance to get their own back on the hecklers as they go head-to-head with four audience members.

Dee knows that each of the people occupying the danger seats has some dirty laundry that would make excellent material for jokes, but it’s up to the comedians to coax the stories out of them. The one that does the best job of not turning themselves into a national laughing stock gets the Golden Chair Award.

Frank Skinner, Josh Widdicombe and Roisin Conaty are among those taking part in the first series.