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Here's our weekly delivery of comedy news, gossip, listings and more...
- Cheryl Taylor has been named as the BBC's new Controller of Comedy Commissioning - one of the most powerful jobs in the comedy industry. Full Story 
- Channel 4 are to pilot The Frankie Boyle Show, which will feature a mix of sketches and stand-up from the Mock The Week star. Our Guide
- Channel Five have signed Justin Lee Collins up to an exclusive two-year deal, thought to be worth more than 1 million. Full Story
- Idiots of Ants, John Bishop, Jon Richardson, Russell Kane, Tim Key and Tom Wrigglesworth are the comics shortlisted for the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award. Full Story
- Dan Antopolski has won the prize for the funniest joke of the 2009 Fringe. His gag was: "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?". The Top 10
- It was announced that Krod Mandoon had been axed, but producer Jimmy Mulville says, as far as he is concerned, the show would return, albeit with a smaller budget (comparisons are being made with the plight of Blackadder - a show that actually came back stronger when its budget was cut). Full Story
- It has been confirmed that Jack Dee's Lead Balloon is returning for a 4th series, and BBC Four's hit new hospital-based mockumentary Getting On, starring Jo Brand, will be returning next year for six new episodes.
- Sky One is thrusting forward with its plans to move into producing new comedy shows. Controller Stuart Murphy says: "Comedy will be at the heart of Sky One going forward. We've currently got 13 scripts in development, something which Lucy Lumsden, former head of comedy commissioning at the BBC, will take a view on when she arrives at Sky One in October."
- Simon Pegg has been signed up to star in John Landis' new film Burke And Hare. Full Story
Here's some web links and general gossip you may be interested in:
- Free tickets to the new series of Argumental starring Marcus Brigstocke and Rufus Hound. Apply
- Bill Bailey is going to present a birdwatching show for Sky One. Full Story
- Tayside Police's website was hacked by Frankie Boyle fans on Tuesday. Full Story
- The Guardian delivers its verdict on the Edinburgh Comedy Award finalists: Read
- Milton Jones is recording a new DVD on Monday. Buy tickets for a chance to win an evening with him: More Info
- An interview with Shappi Khorsandi in The Telegraph: Read
- Steve Coogan thought he was going to 'go blind' while making Night at the Museum after a bit of scenery ended up in his eye: Full Story
- There was some great extracts from the new This Mitchell & Webb Book in last Sunday's Observer. Read Online & Buy the book for £12
- Max & Paddy star Patrick McGuinness is to present a prime-time dating show for ITV1. Full Story
- A big interview with Alan Davies in last weekend's The Times... QI, being attacked and 'that tramp'. Read
- Andrew Collins and Richard Herring recorded five episodes of their popular Collings & Herrin podcast in front of a live audience in Edinburgh last week. You can download the episodes for free via our website. Download
- Eddie Izzard, who is currently running around the UK for Sport Relief, is to star in a family film this Christmas as a mysterious man with the ability to 'recover the lost'. Full Story
If you'd like more bite sized news, gossip and tidbits like this, we post daily on Twitter
Here are some of the TV and radio highlights coming up over the next seven days...
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Mock The Week
Today (Thursday 27th), BBC Two, 9pm
After their week off, Dara O'Briain, Frankie Boyle, Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard, and Andy Parsons return to TV to poke fun at the week just gone. Fred MacAulay is one of the booked guests. Our Guide
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The Jason Byrne Show
Today (Thursday 27th), BBC Radio 2, 10pm
Byrne concludes his fast-paced stand-up/sketch show by looking at animals. Listeners can find out why emperor penguins put the human male to shame, and what children learn about death from owning pets. Our Guide
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We Are Klang
Today (Thursday 27th), BBC Three, 10:30pm
Klang's zany sitcom continues. The Mayor is battling for re-election against the people's favourite, Barry O'Charmer, so Klangbury Klutzes hit the campaign trail. Guest starring a mad Ainsley Harriott. Our Guide
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The Pickerskill Reports
Friday, BBC Radio 4, 11:30am
A gentle, soft, yet dark comedy drama series in which Ian McDiarmid (Senator Palpatine in Star Wars) plays Dr Henry Pickerskill, the retired English master of Haunchurst School for boys. Our Guide
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I Guess That's Why They Call It The News
Friday, BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm
Andy Parsons, Justin Edwards and Chris Neil are amongst the panellists joining Fred MacAulay for the second episode of this new weekly topical panel show filling in whilst The Now Show and The News Quiz are on holiday. Our Guide
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The Kevin Bishop Show
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
More fast-paced sketches, TV spoofs and mimicry from the award-winning team behind Star Stories. Starring Kevin Bishop, Karen Gillan, Jim Howick, Katie Males and Oliver Maltman. Expect more Daily Mail DVD giveaways and a bitter celebrity sibling. Our Guide
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Walk On The Wild Side
Saturday, BBC One, 6pm
Jason Manford, Rhod Gilbert, Isy Suttie et al are joined by natural treasure Barbara Windsor as the natural world talks rhubarb. Meet Lonesome George, a belligerent tortoise, and drop in on Sebastian the chimp's therapy session. Our Guide
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Not Going Out
Saturday, Comedy Central Extra, Midnight
Sorry, we forgot to point this out last time it was on: the final episode of Not Going Out - which isn't due to air on BBC One until this Christmas - is actually being shown on digital channel Comedy Central Extra (Sky 128) as part of their repeat run. The next repeat of this final episode is Saturday night. Our Guide
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The Maltby Collection
Monday, BBC Radio 4, 11:30am
The radio sitcom written by Reginald Perrin creator David Nobbs and starring Geoffrey Palmer and Green Wing's Julian Rhind-Tutt continues. Walter Brindle has staff to cull and a broken heart to overcome. Our Guide
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Just A Minute
Monday, BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm
Nicholas Parsons chairs the devious word game, featuring more performers from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Regular players Paul Merton and Sue Perkins are joined by Janey Godley and Richard Herring. Our Guide
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Would I Lie To You?
Monday, BBC One, 10pm
Claudia Winkleman, Jason Manford, Clive Anderson and Miranda Hart are the celebrity guests on a quest for the truth in the next episode of this fun panel game show based on lying. Did a walrus once steal Clive's wallet? Our Guide
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Twice Ken Is Plenty
Tuesday, BBC Radio 4, 11:30am
A performance of a recently unearthed script written for Kenneth Horne and Kenneth Williams. The plot sees the two Kens working together in advance of their own radio programme and follows them on a journey around the BBC. Our Guide
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That Mitchell & Webb Sound
Tuesday, BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm
The much-praised radio sketch show continues (if you like their TV series, you'll love this). Sketches next Tuesday include Make Me a Celebrity Centaur and the dramatic story of Jeremiah Internet and the first ever 'at' sign. Our Guide Episode 1 iPlayer
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Shooting Stars
Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm
Pop star Liz McClarnon, Kaiser Chiefs' front man Ricky Wilson and Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace join Vic, Bob, Jack, Ulrika and burger van owner Angelos Epithemiou for another new episode of the recently revived surreal quiz. Our Guide
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For a complete guide to the week ahead including more listings for shows like As Seen On TV, 4 At The Fringe and Chain Reaction see our TV & Radio Schedule
As we start to creep towards September the schedules begin to pack out with more comedy. Here's some of the shows starting soon...
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Jason Manford And Friends
starts Thursday 3rd September, BBC Radio 2
Jason Manford presents two stand-up comedy shows, featuring the cream of the comedy talent at this year's Fringe. Performers include Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Kevin Bridges, John Bishop and Jon Richardson. Our Guide
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Happy Hollidays
starts Friday 4th September, BBC One Scotland
A Scottish sitcom set in a caravan park starring Ford Kiernan and Karen Dunbar. Colin Holliday promotes himself as a standard bearer for the virtues of the old-fashioned British holiday but in reality his true interest lies in wringing as great a profit from his holidaymakers as he can. Our Guide
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My Almost Famous Family
starts Saturday 5th September, BBC Two
A new musical comedy series for CBBC. Singing, dancing and doing the chores - it's all in a day's work for the Swann family. There's a behind-the-scenes preview of the show on the CBBC Channel on this Bank Holiday Monday (31st August) at 4pm. Our Guide
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Gigglebiz
starts Monday 7th September, CBeebies
CBeebies legend Justin Fletcher gets the nation's under-sixes laughing their socks off with his collection of crazy characters in this brand new sketch show, which is CBeebies first ever live action comedy series. There's plenty for older viewers to enjoy too. Our Guide
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Off The Hook
starts Thursday 10th September, BBC Three
A new sitcom about a group of freshers starting uni. Danny wants to cut his past loose... but his outrageous slacker mate from school Danny is along for the ride too. They share a flat with feisty Scarlet and the permanently morose Fred (James Buckley from The Inbetweeners). Our Guide
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Lunch Monkeys
starts Thursday 10th September, BBC Three
A sitcom about the misadventures of an admin team at a 'no-win, no-fee' law firm in Manchester. This show was piloted in 2008 as Admin but has since undergone a number of changes - for example, Nigel Havers is now the post room workers' boss. Our Guide
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Katy Brand's Big Ass Show
starts Thursday 10th September, ITV2
Katy Brand is back for a third series of sketches and impersonations. All her popular characters will be returning, and there are a number of new additions too. The musical parodies are always the highlight - Kanye West, Lady GaGa and The Saturdays are just three of the many targets this time. Our Guide
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How Not To Live Your Life
starts Tuesday 15th September, BBC Three
The sitcom about an arrogant single twenty-something man who is struggling to navigate his way through life returns for a second series. Don's path through life is still being hindered by his rather bad instincts and over-active imagination - and he's now missing beautiful Abby who has moved out. Our Guide
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Peep Show
starts Friday 18th September, Channel 4
The sitcom returns for a much-anticipated 6th series. Mark and Jeremy are still sharing a flat in what is now post-credit crunch Croydon. Having discovered that Sophie is pregnant, the dysfunctional losers have to face up to the possibility that either one of them might be the father. Vera Filatova joins the cast as Jeremy's new love interest. Our Guide Preview Clip
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There's lots more stuff on the way, including a big budget BBC One comedy drama series called Material Girl; a new BBC Three sitcom called Home Time; and BBC Four's It's Only A Theory & Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe. See our Coming Soon List for a complete run-down of all the new shows scheduled.
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Here's some of the DVDs out now and coming soon...
Hot Metal Series 1: All 6 episodes from the first series of this newspaper-based 1986 sitcom. Pre-order for under £9
Monday Monday: The recent heart-warming, romantic ITV1 comedy-drama comes to DVD. It features all seven episodes of the series plus over 60 minutes of previously unseen bonus material. Pre-order for £11
It Ain't Half Hot Mum - Series 7: Captain Ashwood has a female admirer, the men are set to perform on Forces Radio and the Sergeant Major may be about to become an officer. Buy now for just £11
Taking The Flak: As war rages in Africa, it's hand-to-hand combat in the battle to get the lead story on the Ten O'Clock News in this recent comedy drama. All the episodes plus a number of bonuses. Buy now for £12
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For a full list of DVDs, see our comprehensive Out Now and Coming Soon lists.
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In the latest Circuit Training columns, Si Hawkins reviews the following Edinburgh shows:
Tom Craine's Comfort Blanket,
Richard Herring's Hitler Moustache,
Mark Walker's Scorpio,
Justin Moorhouse's Seven.
Read Online
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"A decent start - not hilariously funny - but okay. I particularly liked the You've Been Watched video." - Jack Massey on Shooting Stars
"Hmmm... tough one. I'll list several, if rules permit so, since I cannot decide on one. Rising Damp, The New Statesman or Agony" - WrongTale on Favourite ITV sitcom
"My first thought was 'how much more can they milk it?' which was probably a little harsh. I'll still watch it though..." - AngieBaby on The Office Revisited
"I really like it, I have to say. Not sure why. It's sort of like eating 15 sandwiches in a row and feeling sick. You're not sure why you did it but it seemed like a very good idea at the time." - Humpty on We Are Klang
"I certainly hope a seventh series is made. I can't get enough of Jack and Victor!" - John M on Still Game
"That was great. About 80% hit rate in terms of out-loud laughter here." - Kevin Murphy on That Mitchell & Webb Sound
"The underpants had me and a mate in fits of laughter for a few minutes, great to see this back even if some of the jokes fell flat a few times." - Nil Putters also on Shooting Stars
"Another good show, Jamelia was surprisingly funny, I don't remember her being that funny on any other panel shows. Terry Christian was waaaay too defensive, it got a bit annoying as no-one was being particularly mean to him or anything." - ShoePie on Would I Lie To You?
We hope you found something of interest above. Till next week,
The British Comedy Guide Team
www.comedy.co.uk
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