Weekly Newsletter	Monday 23rd April 2012

News has been a little on the quiet side this past week, but there are a fair few videos and features to enjoy. There's some new series coming up in the week ahead to tell you about too, so do read on...

Latest Comedy News

Foster's adds Edinburgh new act competition to portfolio Foster's lager is further extended its comedy links by sponsoring So You Think You're Funny?, Edinburgh's prestigious amateur stand-up competition. Read Wallace & Gromit to star in the BBC Proms Wallace & Gromit, Aardman Animations popular claymation animated characters, are to star in one of the BBC Proms. Read

Also of interest...

Here are some links you might be interested in... - Charlie Brooker mocks Olympic sponsors: The Guardian - Disabled comic Lee Ridley stands up for Ross Noble, who was criticised for mentioning a disabled audience member's laugh: Giggle Beats - Grandma's House is unlikely to return for a 3rd series says Simon Amstell's co-writer: Chortle - BBC America is to screen Twenty Twelve in the run up to the Olympics: iMediaMonkey - Benny Hill remembered 20 years after his death: BBC News - The play One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden, is getting great reviews in America: BBC News - Fresh Meat and Celebrity Juice are up for the Bafta audience award: The Radio Times - A man proposed to his girlfriend during a comedy show last week: London is Funny - Last Tuesday a number of supposedly reputable news outlets jumped on the news Channel 4 was making a fourth series of The Inbetweeners. This all came from an inaccurate Daily Star report. Thankfully here at the BCG we check stories with sources before publishing anything... so are sorry to report there's no truth whatsoever in the rumours. Channel 4 confirmed to us they're ordered no more... and the writers took to Twitter to quash the rumours too. More of this kind of thing every day via our Twitter account: @UKComedyNews

Features

Mat Ricardo's London Varieties Lenny Beige talks about his life as a cabaret superstar in this podcast and - rather interestingly - WWF wrestling star William Regal (yes, really) talks about his craft (there's surprising links with stand-up), and reveals himself to be a big fan of British comedy. Read VIP: Cast Interview An interview with Morgana Robinson and Terry Mynott, the stars of Channel 4 impressions show Very Important People. Read Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown In this week's episode of the panel show podcast, Josh Widdicombe and Brian Gittins swing by the flat to help Pappy's determine who has control of the central heating. Read

TV Highlights

Here is a guide to some of the things on TV this week... Dara O Briain: School Of Hard Sums Monday, Dave, 8pm Dara O'Briain continues on his journey into the realms of pure logic. Once again he's helped by Oxford University maths professor Marcus du Sautoy and is this week joined by comedy guest Alex Horne. Guide Morgan Spurlock's New Britannia Monday, Sky Atlantic, 10:10pm Morgan Spurlock takes a tongue-in-cheek look at Britain's views on class. Russell Kane, Scott Capurro and Lady Victoria Hervey are this week's guests. Guide World Series Of Dating Monday, BBC Three, 10:30pm We have to watch this comic dating show through our fingers, the contestants are so embarrassing. If you've not seen the show before, sports commentators analyse dates. Guide Britain Unzipped Tuesday, BBC Three, 9pm This new studio based show hosted by Russell Kane and Greg James, which is looking at national survey results, is billed as a 'comedy entertainment show' so we're listing it, although there are factual bits too. See our guide for a preview clip. Guide Facejacker Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm This week, Brian Badonde visits Pittsburgh, the birth place of his all-time hero Andy Warhol, to make a documentary about the great man. Guide Hit The Road Jack Tuesday, Channel 4, 10:30pm In his final UK destination, Jack's in Essex where he is joined by local boys Joe Thomas and Olly Murs, who also performs at the end of the show. Guide The Matt Lucas Awards Tuesday, BBC One, 10:35pm The nominations this week are provided by Professor Germaine Greer, presenter Clive Anderson and X Factor judge Louis Walsh. Reception to the show so far hasn't been great, with many questioning the gimmick of setting the show in 'Matt's flat' - will episode 3 fare better? Guide Russell Howard's Good News Thursday, BBC Three, 9pm Russell Howard once again offers his distinctive take on what has happened in the world this week. Don't forget, the Saturday repeat includes an added stand-up section - so do watch out for that. Guide Celebrity Juice Thursday, ITV2, 10pm Caroline Flack, Eamonn Holmes, Corey Feldman and Chris Ramsey are the guests joining Keith, Fearne and Holly for this week's episode of the raucous celebrity panel game. Guide Grandma's House Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm Simon has been living with Grandma in Gants Hill for some months now and is beginning to feel it. Liz's husband Barry makes a rare appearance as they strive to spend some quality time together. Guide Horrible Histories Friday, CBBC Channel, 5:30pm Emperor Napoleon plays in a very unusual chess match, a Victorian inventor builds an anti-seasickness ship with one small design flaw, and a snowball fight breaks out at a public execution. Guide Would I Lie To You? Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm On this week's installment of the hit panel game show, Lee Mack is joined by Miranda Hart and Clare Balding, whilst David Mitchell is joined by Dale Winton and Richard Bacon. An interesting array of guests! Guide Have I Got News For You Friday, BBC One, 9pm Damian Lewis, star of Homeland, having thoroughly enjoyed his previous three stints in the guest host chair, returns to the show. Top Scottish stand-up Susan Calman is one of the guest panellists. Guide A League Of Their Own Friday, Sky1, 9pm There's a Formula 1 challenge and speed skating in the studio this week as Peter Crouch and Jimmy Carr are among the guests in the second episode of the sports-based panel show's fifth series. Guide John Le Mesurier: It's All Been Rather Lovely Friday, BBC Two, 9pm In this special documentary, BBC Two celebrates the life and work of Dad's Army star John Le Mesurier. A husband of Carry On star Hattie Jacques and laid-back, jazz-loving gent. Guide 8 Out Of 10 Cats Friday, Channel 4, 9pm Channel 4's popular panel quiz returns. Jimmy Carr once again oversees the disputes and deliberations on the topical events that set the nation's chins wagging as Jon Richardson and Sean Lock are joined by famous faces from the world of comedy, entertainment and showbiz. Guide Not Going Out Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm Last week's episode was so relentless gag-packed that we fear the rest of the series may suffer in comparison. But the premise for Episode 3 is a cracker: in a desperate bid to prove his manliness, Lee joins Tim, Daisy and Lucy on a camping weekend. Guide Very Important People Friday, Channel 4, 9:30pm Hmm. A new impression show. Recent efforts in this field haven't been entirely successful... but co-star Morgana Robinson's own sketch show in 2010 had moments of brightness, so we'll wait to judge on Friday. The Adele preview clip in our guide is excellent though. Guide QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm Yes, a brand new episode! For the BBC's Shakespeare Unlocked season of programming, Alan and Stephen are joined by Bill Bailey, David Mitchell and Sue Perkins in this Bard-themed special. Guide Alan Carr: Chatty Man Friday, Channel 4, 10pm In the first episode of his 8th series, Alan Carr is joined by Jimmy Carr and pop star and X Factor judge Tulisa, who talks about her new single, Young. Musical guest Paul Weller performs The Attic. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm This week Graham, schedule clashing with the second half of Chatty Man, is joined by Zac Efron, Matt LeBlanc (who is talking about a new series of Episodes), and Lee Mack - who makes his third BBC One appearance of the night. Guide Stand Up For The Week Friday, Channel 4, 11:05pm The topical stand-up show is back with a fourth series of 10 new episodes. Returning host Jon Richardson is joined by SUFTW regulars Seann Walsh, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe and Paul Chowdhry with new team member Andrew Lawrence. Guide Keith Lemon's LemonAid Saturday, ITV1, 6:15pm Keith's slightly unhinged Jim'll Fix It subversion continues with another celebrity guest this weekend. After leaving Jedward in charge of a pet shop, and having a young singer perform with Russell Watson, whose dreams will be made to come true this week? Guide Above is just some of the new comedy that can be found on the TV this week. For a complete list of shows, plus radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New DVDs

Grandma's House - Series 2 The 2nd series of stand-up comic Simon Amstell's BBC Two sitcom has only just started, but pre-orders for the DVD release are already being taken. In this series it's sixth months since Grandad's death, and Tanya and Auntie Liz aren't getting on too well. Simon, meanwhile, has moved in with Grandma, and it's bound to cause friction. Pre-Order Benidorm - The All Inclusive Boxset - Series 1-5 & Specials If you've missed any of ITV's fun-in-the-sun sitcom Benidorm, now's a great time to catch up with all the antics over 5 series set in the Spanish resort of Benidorm. The cast's consistently wonderful, even if some of the scripts aren't always top notch! Order Wheeltappers And Shunters Social Club - The Complete Fifth Series Bernard Manning comperes and fellow stand-up veteran Colin Crompton is Mr. Chairman at the Wheeltappers And Shunters Social Club: the friendliest working men's club in the North! This series was a ratings winner throughout the 1970s, showcasing a typical club night mix of established comedians, rising stars, and musical oddities. Pre-Order Shaun Of The Dead - Augmented Reality Edition To celebrate Universal Studios' 100th birthday this year, a number of their top titles are being re-released on both DVD and Blu-ray. Some of the first comedy titles of the pack have a new 'augmented reality' cover, which'll unlock 3D features when you run the new 'Universal 100' app and point your phone/tablet camera at it... Order Paul & Pauline Calf's Video Diaries Available on DVD for the first time together are these two award-winning Paul and Pauline Calf programmes starring Steve Coogan: Paul Calf's Video Diary, and Three Fights, Two Weddings And A Funeral. There's also an interview with the eponymous duo. Coogan fans, don't miss out! Pre-Order For more, see our full list of new releases and DVDs coming soon.

Comedy Videos

One Direction Parody A really, really great parody of annoying British teenage boyband One Direction, created for the Key of Awesome web series. Watch LEGS - Short Comedy Film Legs is a short comedy film starring Ideal actors Ben Crompton and Alfie Joey. Two men meet in a waiting room, and soon the conversation moves on to why one of them is in a wheelchair. Watch Not Going Out - Ooh, Get Bear Grylls A preview clip from Friday's episode. In a desperate bid to prove his manliness, Lee joins Tim, Daisy and Lucy on a camping weekend in the middle of a dark forest. Watch Grandma's House - Seduction Clive has got Simon up to the loft under the pretext of needing help to move boxes. What he actually wants is a favour - he needs Simon to get him five minutes alone with Tanya so he can "get things rolling again" with her. Watch Matt Lucas Awards - Louis Walsh Gangsta Rap After saying he doesn't like rap music, Louis Walsh performs his own special gangsta rap with Matt Lucas. Watch Ian Bowler for London Mayor 2012 This is how you raise the money to stand for Mayor of London... maybe. Natt Tapley really is standing for election in character as Ian Bowler. Here we see the dodgy MP stoop very low to raise funds. Watch

Message Board Posts...

Here are some quotes from our message board... "You can have the complete series of five sitcoms on a desert island, TV and/or radio. You'll never hear or see another sitcom again apart from these five. What do you take?" Oldrocker asks for your Desert Island Sitcoms "Like others on this thread, I thought last night's episode was a big improvement on the first series. I'll be tuning in again next week." groovydude89 on Grandma's House - Series 2 "Love the show but, without fail, every episode now David Mitchell will start reading a card... and after the first line Lee Mack will shout 'It's definitely true'." Tom G on Would I Lie To You? - Series 6 "Not a fan. Sexist and stupid." dellas fails to be amused by Keith Lemon "An excellent episode this week. A couple of the characters are spot on. Lots of classic lines." Park Bench on Twenty Twelve - Series 2

Guide Spotlight

The Wildcats Of St. Trinian's Ah, St. Trinian's. Forget the Carry Ons for a moment: this is one of the most successful British comedy franchises of all time, and almost certainly the most long-lasting! Having first launched on the silver screen in 1954, based on Ronald Searle's WWII-penned cartoons, and returning for hugely successful new outings in 2007 and 2009 (with another planned for late this year or next), this fifth film in the franchise is often forgotten, having been the franchise's original "reboot" way back in 1980. It's a curious one, in exhibiting the same tone and anarchic style of the original movies, but lacking their overall spirit. It was timely in dealing with trade union matters, but didn't quite cut the mustard. What do you think? Guide

Thanks for Reading

That's all for this week folks. It's due to rain for most of the week so we hope there's something in the schedule to keep you warm, dry and entertained! The British Comedy Guide www.comedy.co.uk Some quick podcast recording plugs for Londoners: --> Sony nominated Do The Right Thing is recording tomorrow (Tuesday) with a fantastic line-up including the wonderfully off-the-wall Tony Law and Marek Larwood. We love this show, and it's a double recording so extra value too. --> Richard Herring is recording a new series of podcasts in London. The amazing guest line-up includes Tim Minchin, Charlie Brooker and Stewart Lee. Book quick as it's selling out fast! Details --> Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown has been getting some great feedback. This Sunday is the last chance left to see the show live.

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