| Britain may not be able to win the tennis, Formula 1 or football, but we can win at comedy... |
| Latest Comedy News |
|
|
| Also of interest... |
Here are some links you might be interested in...
- Joanna Page is hoping for a new one-off holiday episode of Gavin & Stacey: Digital Spy
- Jason Manford has made his debut in the Sweeney Todd stage play: BBC News
- Susan Calman talks about the topic of gay marriage: The Daily Record
- Ricky Gervais has announced three large scale arena dates in Scandinavia. "I think the capacity accounts for about half the population of Scandinavia." The Daily Telegraph
- Sky now wants to develop a studio audience sitcom show, centred around a stand-up comic: Chortle
- A fun feature idea in which stand-up Hal Cruttenden interviews fellow stand-up Jarred Christmas: Such Small Portions
- The Glee comedy club chain is suing the makers of the American TV series for trademark infringement: The Guardian
- What comedy club owner Noel Faulkner thinks about the current state of the British comedy industry: Giggle Beats
- We've also started to collect up Edinburgh Fringe related interviews (e.g. Stewart Lee talks in-depth). You can see all those on our Fringe website
More of this kind of thing every day via our Twitter account: @UKComedyNews
|
| Features |
 |
Do The Right Thing - Episode 4
Jenny Eclair and John Finnemore are the guests for Episode 4 of the second series of the fun panel show podcast. The topics include Bees, Money and Tyres. Listen |
 |
Rhys Darby interview
New Zealand comedian Rhys Darby talks about performing in the UK, and says he doesn't mind that people keep asking him about Flight Of The Conchords. Read |
 |
Win tickets to The 39 Steps
Win tickets to see classic British comedy The 39 Steps on the stage. Four fearless actors playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun. Enter |
 |
Want to be on Jack Dee's new show?
The producers behind Don't Sit In The Front Row, Jack Dee's new TV series, are looking for people to take part in the show. Interested? Info |
 |
Are you the next David Mitchell?
The creators of David Mitchell's Soapbox are looking for 'the next David Mitchell'. There's a development deal and a 10,000 prize for the winner. Info |
 |
Gig to mark 50th anniversary of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Gonzo 'Dog Do' Bar Band and Martin White's Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra are joining forces to mark the 50th anniversary of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Read |
|
| TV Highlights |
Here is a guide to some of the things on TV this week...
 |
Alan Partridge's Mid Morning Matters
Monday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm
You probably saw this great, great show when it was a 12-part online series for Foster's lager. If you didn't, they've now re-packaged it to make this six part telly series - which you should watch. Guide |
 |
Adam Buxton's BUG
Monday, Sky Atlantic, 9:30pm
A new comedy series hosted by Adam Buxton (of Adam & Joe fame). He looks at the weird and wonderful world of music videos - and the amusing comments about them on YouTube. Guide |
 |
Walking And Talking
Monday, Sky Atlantic, 10:30pm
Sky Atlantic dominates Mondays at the moment. It also broadcasts Kathy Burke's lightly comic nostalgic drama series. This week Kath and Mary hitch a ride with an ice cream van man on their way to a haunted house. Guide |
 |
Twenty Twelve
Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm
The Olympics-themed sitcom is back for three more episodes. As the team wrestle with demands for increased security levels, Ian Fletcher discovers a weakness first hand. Guide |
 |
The Ricky Gervais Show
Tuesday, E4, 11pm
This week the animated trio discuss Ancient Greece and what laws and rules they may have instigated. Plus they muse over what life would be like if Karl was made President of Society. Guide |
 |
Live At The Electric
Thursday, BBC Three, 9:30pm
The new talent showcase. Hari Kondabolu delivers his all-American views on British history; Jigsaw take part in a half-baked robbery; and Joe Wilkinson's timing is slightly off cue. Guide |
 |
Mock The Week
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm
Dara O'Briain, Hugh Dennis, Andy Parsons and Chris Addison look at the final preparations for the London Olympics, with guests including Josh Widdicombe and Miles Jupp. Guide |
 |
The Midnight Beast
Thursday, E4, 10pm
The YouTube stars' sitcom continues. Stef stays up all night editing a rubbish animated video for their new track Booty Call. Meanwhile, Dru miraculously gets a maintenance cheque from his long-estranged dad. Guide |
 |
Dead Boss
Thursday, BBC Three, 10:30pm
The last episode of the enjoyable series. Helen is moved to D Wing where she is befriended by white collar criminal Jo. She soon receives an unwanted visit from widow Mrs Bridges, who has something interesting she wants to show her. Guide |
 |
Parents
Friday, Sky1, 8:30pm
Episode 3 of this new Sky sitcom. When Alma attempts to cheer Jenny up with a surprise visit from one of her London pals, the visitors aren't exactly welcomed with open arms. Guide |
 |
The Angelos Epithemiou Show
Friday, Channel 4, 10:35pm
Following the success of last year's pilot episode, this studio-based entertainment show returns for a full series. Dan Skinner stars as his comic character Angelos Epithemiou, with Adeel Akhtar as his sidekick. Guide |
 |
A Short History Of Everything Else
Friday, Channel 4, 11:10pm
The panel show drags on. Griff Rhys Jones, Marcus Brigstocke, Charlie Baker, Will Self and Josh Widdicombe look at clips from the last few decades. Guide |
 |
Mad Mad World
Saturday, ITV1, 10:45pm
Paddy McGuinness, Rufus Hound, Rhys Darby and Rob Rouse are joined by Gino D'Acampo, Lisa Snowdon and Martin Kemp for ITV's clip-based panel show. 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 |
 |
First Of The Summer Wine - Complete Collection
A prequel to the ever-popular Last Of The Summer Wine. In 1939, in a small Yorkshire village, three young friends are learning the ways of the world.
This 4-disc set contains all 13 episodes of the late 1980s sitcom: a 45 minute pilot episode, and two series of six. Pre-Order |
 |
Absolutely Fabulous - Ab Fab At 20
The final of the three new Absolutely Fabulous specials is due to broadcast at the end of the month, which means the inevitable DVD release is not far behind. Featuring both the new Olympics themed episode and the two specials broadcast at Christmas, plus the Sport Relief sketch from earlier this year and a handful of extras, the set is now available to Pre-Order |
 |
Spring & Autumn - The Complete Second Series
Generation clash sitcom starring comedy veteran Jimmy Jewel as the awkward and obtuse Tommy Butler, forced to move in with his daughter and her impatient husband. But 'autumn' forges an unlikely bond with 'spring'; 12-year old Charlie Harris, a tearaway who rather reminds the ageing railwayman of his younger self. Order |
 |
An Audience With... - Joan Rivers
Outrageous, shocking and controversial, the 'acid queen of stand-up' Joan Rivers hosts an hour of typically racy and waspish humour. Pausing only to savour the sound of jaws hitting the ground, this is the riotous American comedienne at her best, in the original 1984 An Audience With... special. Pre-Order |
 |
The Midnight Beast
Share in The Midnight Beast's successes and failures as they drag their way through a sea of bizarre obstacles and unsavoury characters toward pop stardom.
As well as a bunch of wild music videos, the series sees the band sharing a dingy East End flat, failing to impress girls, and trying to work out who'll sleep on the kitchen floor - plus a host of extras. Pre-Order |
For more, see our full list of new releases and DVDs coming soon.
|
| Comedy Videos |
 |
Simon's Cat - Window Pain
A new video from the hit animated web series. This time the playful cat helps things get squeaky clean. Watch
|
 |
Cuban Fury - Video Blog #1
Nick Frost introduces you to the world of Cuban Fury, the new romantic comedy film he's starring in. Watch
|
|
The Midnight Beast - Angry Robot
Stef's had a brain snap, in this clip taken from the second episode of the new E4 sitcom. See our guide for some behind-the-scenes footage and more too. Watch |
|
Dead Boss - Sheppy
Prison Governor Margaret's boss announces that he wants to redeploy her to the island of Sheppy. Watch |
 |
David Mitchell's Soapbox - Series 4, Episode 4
David Mitchell questions whether the dining out ritual in which the diner is invited to sample the wine before it is poured is really, strictly speaking, necessary. Watch |
|
Twenty Twelve - The Future of the Olympic Stadium
Ian tries to get the team to focus on the problem of the future of the Olympic Stadium post-Games, but no one will take responsibility for the issue. Watch |
 |
For The Win - Python
Pet lovers... ever considered adopting a reticulated, isolated, incubated, celebrated, undebated python? It's a clip from one of BBC Three's online sketch show pilots. Watch |
|
| Guide Spotlight |
 |
The Walrus And The Carpenter
A retired merchant seaman and a retired public schoolmaster wouldn't, on the surface, seem to have anything in common. But Luther Flannery's and Gascoigne Quilt's conflicting lives and personalities complement each other, in this early sitcom about old age. Written by comedy legends Barry Took and Marty Feldman (The Army Game, Round The Horne), the series debuted as part of the third series of BBC1's Comedy Playhouse pilot strand, and whilst it had only a short lifespan itself, had notable influence on Last Of The Summer Wine, which began less than 10 years later and famously only came to a close in 2010. Guide
|
|
| Thanks for Reading |
Thanks very much for making it down to the bottom. We hope something in this week's TV schedule has piqued your interest. If not, check the full daily TV, radio and repeats schedule on our website for more ideas. Until next week,
The British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
|
