Weekly Newsletter	Monday 8th October 2012

Welcome to another week. Here's what is going on in the world of comedy...

Latest Comedy News

Red Dwarf returns with 1.5 million viewers Cult sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf returned to screens on Thursday for its long-awaited tenth series with 1.5 million viewers. Read US comedy pilot for Rob Brydon Welsh actor and stand-up comic Rob Brydon is to write and star in his own pilot for American TV network HBO. Read Sue Johnston comedy Lapland gets full series BBC One has ordered six more episodes of Lapland, following the ratings success of the one-off festive special. Read BBC orders sketch series from The Ginge, The Geordie & The Geek The BBC has ordered a new TV series starring the popular live sketch group The Ginge, The Geordie & The Geek. Read Radio 4 orders a second series of Sketchorama Sketchorama, the Radio 4 series that showcases sketch groups, is to return for a second series next year. Read BBC to pilot studio sitcom from Charlie Baker Stand-up comic Charlie Baker has written The Home Office, a sitcom about a man trying to setup a business working from home. Read

Advert

Lee Hurst is back on the road with his new show, Too Scared to Leave the House. In this show Lee casts his comedy eyes over the many end-of-the-world scare stories from Acid Rain and Global Warming to Bird Flu and Mad Cow Disease and many other 'apocalyptic disaster predictions' that never were. He also muses over all the everyday dangers that face us in our daily lives: More Info & Tickets

Also of interest...

Here are some links you might be interested in. We post more of this type of thing daily on Twitter and Facebook... - A 'lost' Blackadder script is to be revealed in a new book: BBC News - Here's a letter written by Thick Of It character Peter Mannion on the topic of political conferences: The Independent - Freddie Starr has denied being the 'third man' abusing schoolgirls in Jimmy Savile's BBC dressing room with Gary Glitter: The Daily Mail - He failed to turn up for his Blackburn show on Saturday night: Blackburn Citizen - Hat Trick, the production company behind shows like Outnumbered and Have I Got News For You, has trippled profits. It's said to be a new 'golden age' for independently produced comedy: The Daily Telegraph - Peter Kay has returned to the theatre where he worked before he was famous, to record a voice-over for its latest play: BBC News - Sacha Baron Cohen is to develop a film inspired by a Hong Kong billionaire who offered $65m to any man who succeeded in marrying his lesbian daughter: BBC News - Sheridan Smith and Johnny Vegas are joining the cast of Mr Stink, the comedy based on David Walliams' kids book: BBC Press Office. Here's some pictures of them filming from The Huffington Post - David Walliams, was in the news all last week, as The Sun serialised extracts from his autobiography. It included a confession that he tried to hang himself: The Sun - Susan Calman has written a blog about 'Women in comedy': Blog

Features

Max & Ivan: Do It Yourself Cons To promote their run at the Soho Theatre, sketch duo Max & Ivan have created a 'Do It Yourself Cons' feature leaflet thing. Take a look. Read Enter Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Competition 2013 Are you an up-and-coming stand-up comedian? Laughing Horse Comedy has launched its 2013 new act talent search - a competition looking for the comedy stars of tomorrow. Read David Jason to write his autobiography Sir David Jason has announced that he will write his autobiography... but it won't be in shops until the autumn of 2014. Read John Cleese signs autobiography deal Python and Fawlty Towers star John Cleese has also signed a deal to publish his autobiography but, again, we might have to wait a while to read it. Read Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast Richard Herring is back for another run of his London-based comedy podcast interview show. Last Monday's guest was US comic and Twitter star Rob Delaney. The episode being published on Tuesday will feature Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Listen Fresh Meat interviews The cast of Channel 4 university comedy Fresh Meat talk about returning to film the second series, and what is in store for their characters. Read

TV Highlights

Here is a guide to some of the things on TV this week... Ronna & Beverly Monday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm Inbetweeners star Simon Bird, former MP and dance floor whirlwind Ann Widdecombe and Emmy-nominated actress Ashley Jensen brave Ronna & Beverly's outrageous questioning. Guide Threesome Monday, Comedy Central, 9:30pm Comedy Central's sitcom continues. It's Richie's first day back at work after paternity leave and his new PA Billy is a little idiotic, but could he be Richie's only hope in a domestic spat? Guide Hunderby Monday, Sky Atlantic, 10pm As the final episode is broadcast, a wealth of secrets are unravelled - not least the origin of bubbly milk - and everything that was known at Hunderby is turned upside down. Guide Never Mind The Buzzcocks Monday, BBC Two, 10pm Jack Whitehall takes over hosting duties as the new series of the comic music quiz continues. American Pie actress Mena Suvari and Danny from McFly are amongst the guests. Guide 8 Out Of 10 Cats Monday, Channel 4, 10pm The popular panel show returns for a 14th series... but it's moved from Friday nights to Monday nights. Tonight doesn't seem like the most obvious day to have a topical comedy show, but let's see how it goes. Guide Gary: Tank Commander Monday, BBC One Scotland, 10:35pm The Scottish sitcom starring Greg McHugh continues. If you've not seen it before, check it out because the star shows himself to be a versatile actor - he's nothing like Fresh Meat character Howard in this. Guide Cuckoo Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm BBC Three's new comedy series continues, with Ken over the moon that he's been picked to become a Lib Dem Councillor. Cuckoo is full of advice; politics is, of course, his special subject. Guide Fresh Meat Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm The hit university comedy is back for a new series. It's the start of the Spring Term. Paul Lamb, the invisible housemate, has now moved out, so the group are charged with the task of finding a replacement. Guide Mount Pleasant Wednesday, Sky Living, 9pm More light comedy drama from Sky Living. The newly single Fergus tricks Denise into visiting him at his motel room, and as Lisa overcomes the past and forgives Kate. Guide Meet The Parents Wednesday, E4, 9pm The victim of the fifth show in this hidden camera comedy series is Kris, who's been set up by his girlfriend Astrid to face a family made up of actors. Guide Unzipped Wednesday, BBC Three, 10pm Fearne Cotton and Dappy join Greg James and Russell Kane for chat, games and bizarre confessions, all based around the results of a unique survey exploring British behaviour. Guide Shameless Wednesday, E4, 11:05pm Business is booming for Jackson and Shane, expansion is afoot and their future looks rosy. But when Jackson spots Shane giving leftover food to the homeless, all hell breaks loose. Guide Red Dwarf Thursday, Dave, 9pm The brand new series continues, with fans likely to continue to be impressed. Every year Lister sends himself a Father's Day card to celebrate the fact that he is his own father. However, when Rimmer points out he's been a lousy father to himself, Lister decides to do something about it. Guide Russell Howard's Good News Thursday, BBC Three, 9pm More topical laughs as Russell Howard delivers his commentary on the best TV and internet clips. It's worth watching the show on Friday or Saturday instead though, as you then get bonus stand-up too. Guide Mock The Week Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm The boys are back for one final new outing of the topical comedy show before Christmas. Milton Jones, Katherine Ryan and Josh Widdicombe are the guests appearing with them this week. Guide Celebrity Juice Thursday, ITV2, 10pm On the panel this week is teen pop sensation Conor Maynard, and Chris Ramsey. We're wondering if the latter is being lined-up as a replacement for Rufus Hound? He's been on the show quite a lot recently... Guide Trollied Friday, Sky1, 9pm Gavin and Lorraine are as unlikely a pairing as Spam and ice cream but, with Julie on 'sick leave', they're forced to work together. Guide Have I Got News For You Friday, BBC One, 9pm The daddy of panel shows is back for a 44th series. Clare Balding, darling of sports fans nationwide, makes her first appearance in the host's chair. Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by Graham Linehan and Ken Livingstone. Guide Moone Boy Friday, Sky1, 9:30pm Chris O'Dowd's sitcom about a young boy and his imaginary friend continues. It's a big moment in the life of young Martin Moone this week: it's his last week of primary school. A behind-the-scenes special follows immediately afterward. Guide Me And Mrs Jones Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm This new sitcom starring Sarah Alexander as a modern woman balancing boyfriends, admirers, parenthood and an ex-husband starts slowly but soon builds into an enjoyable comedy. Likely to pick up many female fans of a certain age - don't miss out. Guide QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm The clever quiz show continues. This time Stephen Fry and Alan Davies are joined by Sandi Toksvig, Susan Calman and Bill Bailey. Guide Alan Carr: Chatty Man Friday, Channel 4, 10pm Alan Carr's sofa is crammed with pop stars as Cheryl Cole talks about her new book, boy band McFly give the inside story on their new book, and Leona Lewis performs (but doesn't talk about a book). Guide Fool Britannia Saturday, ITV1, 6:35pm We're not entirely sure if we're fans of this show or not. It's often annoying (e.g. patronising voiceover), and sometimes lazy... but now and then there's a great set-up or reaction that makes us laugh lots. Guide Comedy World Cup Saturday, Channel 4, 7pm It's the first of the semi-finals with Alan Carr, Sara Pascoe and Clive Anderson up against Johnny Vegas, Josh Widdicombe and Mick Miller. Guide The Thick Of It Saturday, BBC Two, 9:30pm After a break last week, it's back. With Nicola Murray and Peter Mannion on the back foot after the unravelling of the key worker housing sell-off policy, both government and opposition scramble for the moral high ground. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV1, 10:35pm David Walliams joins Jonathan Ross to talk about his new book. BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is also on the show. Guide Friday Night Dinner Sunday, Channel 4, 10pm The second episode of the second series. The boys are excited: grandma is coming for dinner, and tonight she's bringing her new boyfriend, aka 'male companion'. 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

Mongrels - Series 2 Released today, and also in a four-disc set with Series 1, is the second (and sadly final) series of BBC Three's distinctly adult puppet sitcom Mongrels. Broadcast a little under a year ago, fans were dismayed when channel boss Zai Bennett cancelled the show and more disappointed still when an earlier DVD release was shelved - but here it is in all its glory, spread over 2 discs. Order Citizen Khan - Series One It'd be fair to say that this recent new BBC One sitcom, about self-appointed Muslim community leader Mr Khan, divided the public; some criticised its traditional sitcom stylings, whilst others called it out as racist or insulting. For our money, it was just great to see some ethnic minority faces on TV, being as clever and as stupid, as funny and as serious, as everyone else: human. Pre-Order Hunderby Julia Davis' dark, more-than-slightly disturbing new comedy makes it to DVD just in time for Christmas. If you enjoy absurd, macabre humour then this series will definitely appeal. It's been slightly hidden away on Sky Atlantic so if you're not a subscriber to the satellite broadcaster, now's your chance to catch up with the Hanoverian-gothic antics. Pre-Order Life's Too Short Funny? Well, this wasn't exactly our cup of tea, but it certainly pushed the right buttons for some. From the creators of The Office, as they are at pains to remind us throughout, Life's Too Short stars dwarf actor Warwick Davies as a version of himself. It certainly had moments of funny, but that viewing figures sunk below the 1m mark for BBC winter prime-time says it all. Pre-Order Men Behaving Badly - 20th Anniversary - The Complete Collection Ah, the 1990s. When everything seemed so much simpler. Four terrestrial TV channels. No Twitter. No Facebook. And a glut of great studio sitcoms on the box. For many, Men Behaving Badly defined the era of Brit-pop, lager and lads' mags, but for some reason the complete collection has not previously been released. But this set includes everything - even the Comic Relief shorts. Pre-Order For more, see our full list of new releases and DVDs coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Most Memorable Heckle? 13 comedians reveal the most memorable heckle they've received in this video from ComComedy, the online comedy content creation people. Watch BBC New Comedy Award - London Heat Footage from the 2nd October heat of Radio 2's search for a new stand-up star. Dan Antopolski announces the result. Watch Hebburn - Trailer The trailer for the new North East sitcom written by stand-up Jason Cook and starring his fellow stand-up friend Chris Ramsey. Watch Me And Mrs Jones - Tom Asks Gemma Out A clip from the new BBC sitcom starring Sarah Alexander. Watch Mock The Week - Sports Commentators Here are some things you're unlikely to hear a sports commentator say, taken from last Thursday's Mock The Week. Watch Cuckoo - Episode 3 Trailer A preview of the third episode of the sitcom starring Greg Davies and Andy Samberg. Watch Max & Ivan: Taking A Leak If you're going to sneak into a first class toilet, be prepared for first class treatment. Watch

Message Board Posts...

Here are some quotes from our message board... "I've watched every episode so far, although I don't know why as it does nothing for me." Nil Putters on Friday Night Dinner "This was the funniest thing on telly for ages." sootyj also on Friday Night Dinner "Not classic RD, but I've been smirking like an idiot at the moose stuff, and Cat dancing out of the room." Feeoree on Red Dwarf "Very good return - very funny! Takes a while to get used to Kryten's new face though." blahblah also on Red Dwarf (visit the forum for pages of RD reaction)

Guide Spotlight

Tom, Dick And Harriet From the writers of sitcom super-hits Man About The House and George & Mildred came early 1980s hit Tom, Dick And Harriet. Or at least, the first series was, with audiences of an astonishing 14 million people - unheard of today. The Thames sitcom saw newly widowed Tom (Lionel Jeffries), alone after 40 years of wedded female domination, forced to move in with his son and daughter-in-law. Naturally, they'd quite like him to settle down and spend his last few years in peace - Tom, however, sees things far differently and would much rather live life to the full now that he has no one else to answer to! The second series, broadcast just 3 months after the first, was far less successful however, and a third not ordered. Guide

Thanks for Reading

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