4 Great Late Night Shows to Set to DVR

Back in the olden days, late night TV was a dumping ground for repeats, obscure and niche-interest shows and dramas that have run their course.

With the advent of the DVR, a whole new world of TV has opened up. Indeed, late-night programming is not just for insomniacs or those working odd hours: Now you can find cool dramas, classic or indie films, and cutting edge comedy and sport in the wee small hours. With the touch of a button, you can fill your DVR with cool, late night treats, such as...

The Daily Show (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Comedy Central, 1am)
An award-winning comedy/news show, The Daily Show has now been running for almost two decades, and it’s lost none of its bite.

Comedy stars like Steve Carrell, Jon Stewart and others cut their teeth on The Daily Show, which offers sketches, news reports with a twist and celebrity guests.

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (CNBC, Weeknights, 11pm)
This long-running chat show is presented by the all singing, all dancing Jimmy Fallon with more music from The Roots (surely the coolest chat show house band in the world?) and an insanely star-studded guest list. And it all whizzes by in a blissfully efficient half an hour.

Insert Name Here (Mondays, BBC1, 11.15pm)
Sue Perkins takes a break from Bake Off to host this panel show, in which contestants have to answer questions on historical and famous figures that share the same name. Comedian Josh Widicombe and host of Pointless Richard Osman are the team captains.

Beasts of the Southern Wild (Wednesday, 11th January, Channel 4, 1.35am)
Many of the best-reviewed films often turn up late in TV schedules just a couple of years after their cinema release. A glance at late night TV schedules for Channel 4 and Film4 will always reveal a gem or two. For instance, Beasts of the Southern Wild is well worth recording.

A beautiful, cinematic and life-affirming tale, it tells the story of an impoverished child (Quvenzhané Wallis in an Oscar-nominated turn) who uses imagination to escape the hardship of life on the fringes of society. Beasts was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and Wallis was the youngest ever nominee for Best Actress.