The first programme, The Joy of Text: Live, was a 40-minute entertainment variety show hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and Terry Alderton, featuring celebrity guests and text-related games.

The Joy of Text received negative reviews from media commentators, who criticised the night for its poor script and lack of entertaining content.

[3] Jonsson and Alderton introduced the rest of the night's programmes, and invited viewers to text their favourite jokes into the show.

Writing for The Sunday Mirror, TV columnist Ian Hyland criticised The Joy of Text: Live for its poorly written script and confusing content.

[1] On his series How TV Ruined Your Life, writer Charlie Brooker retrospectively described the night as "an entire evening of text message non-fun".

[2] The most-watched programme in the same timeslot was an episode of ITV's talent show Stars in Their Eyes, which had attracted 7.4 million viewers.