Babylon, Channel 4, TV review

Get ready for some satirical comedy, idealistic drama and heart-pumping action.

Puppy Love, BBC4, TV review

A very funny, slow-build show with slyly smart characters.

First look at Harry Hill as Professor Branestawm

Here is Harry Hill in a role he was perhaps born to play: that of the eccentric inventor Professor Branestawm.

Radio Times review

Pointless's Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman guest-star as themselves when Lee and Daisy appear on the blockbuster [z]BBC One/z] daytime quiz show.

Of course there are two big hurdles - Lee (Lee Mack) knows nothing about anything and Daisy (Katy Wix) is so exquisitely stupid she thinks that The Prisoner of Azkaban is a book of the Bible.

This is the perfect comedy set-up and they both fall headfirst into every comic trap that's been carefully built for them, from Lee's woeful knowledge of American presidents to Daisy's pathological insistence on taking absolutely everything she is told, literally (Wix is brilliant, by the way).

Armstrong and Osman have some fun, too, with Armstrong twinkling and flirting with Lee and Daisy's friend Lucy, and Osman becoming a gimlet-eyed avenger when he sees right through a craven Lee.

Radio Times review

Certain glossy magazines just can't stop speculating about Jennifer Aniston's love life. Oh, poor Jen, they wonder, will she ever find happiness after Brad Pitt? Is she still engaged to Justin Theroux? When are they going to marry? Is he scared of commitment? Is this really anyone's business?

So how far will Graham Norton go tonight when Aniston perches on the sofa with Jason Bateman to discuss their new film, Horrible Bosses 2? The frenzy that constantly surrounds Aniston's romantic life has always fogged the fact that she's an estimable light comic actress. Sadly, she's made some rubbish films since Friends ended, and judging by its trailer, Horrible Bosses 2 won't be a twinkling diamond on her CV.

Making a return visit is the mighty Dame Judi Dench, who'll be talking about her book, Behind the Scenes, and Olly Murs will sing his new single.

Radio Times review

Stephen Fry is absolutely lethal tonight. Partly because that's the theme of this week's show, but also because he's on fire comedically. After a lengthy dissertation about a particular marsupial's energetic but ultimately deadly sex life, he solemnly wags his finger and says, "Russell Brand take note."

Sandi Toksvig, Jason Manford and Bill Bailey join Alan Davies to try to answer questions about laptop fatalities, the perils of sugar-free confectionery, unusual duelling weapons and the possibility of taking a bullet for someone. They also learn a nifty method of extracting a cork that's dropped down inside a glass bottle using a plastic bag. How handy.

Radio Times review

Step onto the Citizen Khan shuttle and travel right back in time, stopping in the early 1970s when you could make a joke about "a dicky bow" on a TV sitcom and audiences would die laughing.

But Citizen Khan scoffs in the faces of chronology and fashion and yes, there it is, a joke about a dicky bow, as in "maybe I'll get my dicky bow out". "Steady on!" wails Mr Khan (Adil Ray) and we are back in the age of innocence. Do people even refer to "dicky bows" any more?

Never mind, Citizen Khan's world is a lost paradise of pratfalls and silly misunderstandings. Tonight he's involved in a daft scam involving cut-price nappies and he faces his formidable sister in law, Aunty Noor (Nina Wadia).

Review: Frank Skinner

It's a testament to Frank Skinner's skill that he can keep performing for 27 years and still keep developing sets.

How to produce your own comedy show

Ever had the urge to stand on a crate in a room full of strangers? Cariad Lloyd has everything you need to know.

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life top funeral song

Monty Python's "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" has become the most popular tune to play at a UK funeral.

Who else can do what Lee Evans does?

The expressive, elastic, inimitable comedian is retiring. I wish he'd consider a Lenny Henry-style reinvention instead.

'Babylon' interview: James Nesbitt

An interview with James Nesbitt about his role in Babylon.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Lee Mack, Susan Calman and Sam Simmons.

Weavers: Why film comedy drama in Milton Keynes?

Pretty soon you could recognise your favourite Milton Keynes landmarks on the box! New comedy drama Weavers is written, filmed and set in the city and promises to be a belter.

Review: An Evening with Noel Fielding

It takes a special sort of person to make a cardboard unicorn, the dark side of the moon and teabags laugh-out-loud funny.

Richard Coughlan has been hung up on hooks

"I've been wanting to do it for about ten years. I've got a lot of tattoos and I used to have lots of piercings but I'm crap with piercings."

Thanks for the laughs, Lee Evans

"Should this retirement be permanent, we have lost a real hero of comedy."

Phoenix Nights star plays down reunion

Phoenix Nights star Toby Foster has downplayed rumours of a full Phoenix Nights reunion, claiming that he hasn't heard anything from Peter Kay about the show returning.

TV Review: Puppy Love, Episode 2

This is pretty smutty for a BBC Four comedy. Nana's grandson Eron and Naomi's daughter Jasmine have very quickly become an item. "You're like Ryan O'Neal and Ally McBeal", says Nana like a latterday hilda Ogden when she catches them in bed.

Opinion: What I won't miss about Lee Evans

The trouble is that his observational humour that was actually quite pioneering back in the late eighties has become mainstream comedy currency. I'm not saying others do his schtick better, but the likes of Peter Kay, Michael McIntyre and Jason Manford all do it just as well. And if you really need someone to do the gags in a working class London accent there's always Micky Flanagan.

TV Review: Live at the Apollo, BBC1

All delivered the goods. I thought this was a particularly good showcase for Joe Lycett, who is pretty much a mainstream game show host-in-waiting.

Lee Evans: sweaty, knotty tour de force

He defined the modern comedy industry and broke records with his huge audiences. I suspect rumours of his retirement will prove greatly exaggerated.

Jason Manford fans spam Amazon reviews

Hundreds of fans have bombarded the reviews section of the Amazon page of hi snew DVD, repeating the same line - "I had so much fun watching him live, I s**t my pants" - which is a reference to a joke in the show about his daughter.

Jonathan Ross 'offered BBC Radio 2 slot'

Jonathan Ross claims BBC Radio 2 wants him to work there again - six years after the Sachsgate scandal that saw him quit the BBC.

Jason Manford: You should be offended by news not MTW

Jason Manford has said that he finds it baffling how offended people can get by jokes online and on TV, arguing that the best way to deal with people who decide to get offended is "ignore them".

Charlie Higson: Let children experiment with explosives

Children should be encouraged to conduct explosive science experiments, free health and safety, the Young Bond novels writer and Fast Show creator Charlie Higson has argued. Harry Hill, who trained as a neurosurgeon and plays the Professor, said he hoped the drama, in which he defies an officious health and safety officer to demonstrate the excitement of madcap experiments to a young girl, will help boost interest in science among young people.