BCG Daily Thursday 18th December 2014

Press clippings

Radio Times review

A sparkly, disposable bauble that reunites 24: Live Another Day co-stars Stephen Fry and Kiefer Sutherland, but in roles that could hardly be more different. Sutherland is a suburban dad and husband who's not very good at either. With Christmas coming, red bills are piling up and his failure as head of his family is about to be revealed. He needs money. The guy next door (Kevin McNally) is a pathetically seething cuckold who has money, and wants a nasty favour in return...

Fry is the magic element in a half-hour caper with a whiff of It's a Wonderful Life. Don't invest too heavily, but the crispness of Fry and Sutherland's long scene together - and the now-rare chance to see Fry flex his comic acting muscles - makes up for the tale not amounting to much.

Jack Seale, Radio Times, 18th December 2014

Radio Times review

If ratings are an indication, viewers haven't warmed to this genre-shredding satire. Once you get on Babylon's wavelength, it's a juicy picture of the Metropolitan Police as (to quote its heroine) "a perspex Death Star", a place where the vogue for transparency means the PR tail wags the policing dog.

But it's hard to get on the wavelength when Babylon is deadly serious one minute and swearily silly the next. Any series, even the blackest of comedies, where your lead character commits suicide halfway through has a hill to climb. The repercussions of that shock are still being felt as the firearms squad returns to duty and Sharon (the splendidly underplayed Nicola Walker) faces a crisis.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 18th December 2014

Making a Christmas special 'special'

"Eric Morecambe and Eddie Braben [Eric and Ernie's principal writer] used to tell me that they started thinking about the Christmas shows in January," recalls Barry Cryer.

John McKie, BBC News, 18th December 2014

Review: BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2014 final

As by far the highest profile of the finalists, you might question whether this contest was won by appeals on social media before a mic was switched on, but Ridley seemed popular in the room.

Jay Richardson, Chortle, 18th December 2014

Russell Brand apologises to RBS worker

Russell Brand has apologised to an RBS worker for acting aggressively towards him during a recent anti-capitalist protest.

Digital Spy, 18th December 2014

Kiefer Sutherland interview

Kiefer Sutherland is swapping high-octane thrills for a festive comedy with Stephen Fry.

Benji Wilson, The Telegraph, 18th December 2014

How to break into radio writing

BBC Radio 4 commissioner Caroline Raphael offers some tips.

Chris Smith, On The Right Track, 18th December 2014

Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel chosen for royal gala

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has been selected as the next charity Royal Film Performance.

BBC News, 18th December 2014

Sacha Baron Cohen vows he won't play Borat again

Sacha Baron Cohen won't be reprising his roles as Borat or Bruno - ever again - even for a £16 million paycheque.

The Mirror, 18th December 2014

Nick Helm review

Helm's festive outing is painful, self-pitying and aggressive, but the musical numbers provide structure and pace.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 18th December 2014

Review: Eric & Little Ern - St James Theatre, London

Eric and Ernie's are big shoes to fill, the iconic double act having shared a hugely successful career spanning three decades leading them to fondly be thought of as the nation's pride.

Cavelle Leigh, The Public Reviews, 18th December 2014

Robin Ince's Christmas Science Ghosts, comedy review

Most comedy gigs offer audiences something to laugh about. Robin Ince's annual Bloomsbury package also offers something to think about.

Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 18th December 2014

Claudia Winkleman to lead danceathon for Comic Relief

The Strictly Come Dancing presenter will be joined by a variety of famous faces at the event at London's SSE Arena Wembley on Sunday, March 8.

Sam Rigby, Digital Spy, 18th December 2014

James Corden makes The Late Late Show debut

Craig Ferguson gave James Corden the Late Late Show seal of approval and it only has a little to do with James being made of biscuits and cake.

The Mirror, 18th December 2014

Playhouse Presents: Marked, Sky Arts 1, review: 'froth'

Though Kiefer Sutherland and Stephen Fry make a pleasing pair, this festive short doesn't amount to much.

Nicole Vassell, The Telegraph, 18th December 2014

Writing on Kids' Sitcoms

Nine year-old boys and thirteen year-old girls are very different creatures. Your job is to make both of them laugh.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 18th December 2014

Behind-the-scenes: Drunk History

Plying comic actors with booze? What can possibly go wrong?

Robin Parker, Broadcast, 18th December 2014

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

CBBC logo. Credit: BBC
7:45am
30 min
4 O'Clock Files. Mr Bell (Simon Lowe). Copyright: BBC

4 O'Clock Files

Episode 4 - Imagination

Mr Bell focuses on the school's ongoing mission to 'imagine the impossible and make it happen'.

Shaun The Sheep. Copyright: Aardman Animations / BBC

Shaun The Sheep

Series 4, Episode 29 - The Stare

Bitzer gets his wish for some peace and quiet when Shaun becomes hypnotised by Mowermouth the goat and finally stops bothering him. But with the whole flock under the influence of Mowermouth's powerful gaze, Bitzer soon realises just how much he needs his old buddy.

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
My Teenage Diary. Rufus Hound

My Teenage Diary

Series 6, Episode 4 - Robert Newman

Comedian and author Robert Newman reads from his 1981 teenage diaries, in which he goes to a CND rally, meets Joe Strummer and falls in love on the bus... twice.

BBC Four
10pm
30 min
Puppy Love. Image shows from L to R: Nana V (Joanna Scanlan), Naomi (Vicki Pepperdine). Copyright: BBC / Woof Productions

Puppy Love

Episode 6

Naomi has to pack up her home to cope with subsidence and is soon dealing with difficult Polish builders demanding money.

Babylon. Image shows from L to R: Tom Oliver (Jonny Sweet), Richard Miller (James Nesbitt), Charles Inglis (Paterson Joseph). Copyright: Nightjack

Babylon

Episode 6

With their suspension lifted, the ARV boys return to duty. But when Banjo's bin footage goes viral, Sharon Franklin's response sparks unofficial industrial action among the rank and file.

Celebrity Juice. Image shows from L to R: Gino D'Acampo, Leigh Francis

Celebrity Juice

Series 12, Highlights Special - Bestest Bits 2014

Keith Lemon and his team captains Gino D'Acampo and Fearne Cotton head to Gino's family home in Sheffield for Christmas as they take a look back at the show's best bits from 2014.

Marked. Image shows from L to R: James (Kiefer Sutherland), Father Christmas (Stephen Fry)

Marked

Broke in the lead-up to Christmas, family man James agrees to a murderous mission. But his mark is the last person he expects.

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