British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 28th July 2014
Late July is typically a quiet time for comedy news as the TV producers take their holidays, but here's some updates...
Latest Comedy News
News Picture Still Game looks set to return to TV

Still Game, the hit Scottish sitcom starring Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan, is set to return to the BBC. Read
News Picture Al Murray to take over ITV adverts

A group of comedians including Al Murray and Andi Osho will take over an entire advert break during ITV's soap opera Emmerdale. Read
News Picture E4 orders Bad Robots hidden camera show

E4 has ordered Bad Robots, a hidden camera show in which various electronic machines are rigged up to prank members of the public. Read
News Picture Actress Dora Bryan dies aged 91

Prolific actress Dora Bryan, who featured in comedies as diverse as Catterick, dinnerladies, and Carry On Sergeant, has died. Read
Also of interest...
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...

- Harry Hill has settled a big court battle with his former agents Avalon, which related to payments owed on both sides: The Mirror

- An interview with the daughter of John Cleese, who is now a stand-up. 'People are looking to hate me': The Telegraph

- Jo Brand has been named as the host of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice: Radio Times

- Jennifer Saunders wants everyone who has appeared in Absolutely Fabulous to have a role in the new film: The Telegraph

- The Barry Island house featured in Gavin & Stacey is up for sale. If you buy it, expect tourists knocking on your door though: BBC News

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Features
Feature Picture Noel Fielding interview

Noel Fielding admits that not everything in the first series of Luxury Comedy worked, however he explains how he's put story at the heart of Series 2. Read
Feature Picture Steve Coogan interview

Steve Coogan's shows are being played out on the TV channel Gold across the next five weekends. In this interview he looks back at Alan Partridge, Tommy Saxondale, The Trip and more. Read
Feature Picture Abandoman interview

Freestyle hip-hop duo Abandoman are just about the most roof-raising, impossible-to-follow stand-up act you've ever seen. But are they caught between stools? Or other, more sinister furniture?: Read
Feature Picture Edinburgh Fringe listings

We have a guide to over 1,700 comedy shows at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which launches later this week. Our list includes over 250 shows you won't find in the official brochure so make us your first choice: View
TV Listings
Just seven new things on TV this week, so make the most of them...

Virtually Famous Virtually Famous
Monday, E4, 10pm

Episode 2 of the new panel show. Team captains Seann Walsh and Chris Stark are joined by Katherine Ryan, Joe Lycett, Helen Flanagan and boxer David Haye as they face a series of challenges and questions based on some unforgettable online material. Guide
Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net
Monday, Sky Atlantic, 11:15pm

Rufus Hound, Frank Skinner and Russell Kane are among the comedians featured in this inside look at the improvised stand-up show. Guide
The Alternative Comedy Experience The Alternative Comedy Experience
Tuesday, Comedy Central, 11pm

This week on the stand-up show which aims to be at the opposite end of the spectrum to Live At The Apollo we see David O'Doherty, Kevin Eldon, Susan Calman, and Josie Long perform. Stewart Lee talks to the acts backstage. Guide
The Mimic The Mimic
Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Martin finds new work this week and makes a discovery. New character Harriet has plans for her boyfriend though, and Neil is (finally) seeking professional help... Guide
Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy
Thursday, E4, 10pm

Series 2 of the sketch show, tweaked. The cast of Magnum P.I. try to sacrifice Noel to a volcano. All hopes of being rescued rest on Paul Panfer, an internet sensation who remakes Elvis films on his mobile phone. Guide
The Last Leg The Last Leg
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

The award-winning comedy show returns live to Friday nights for a fifth series. It's a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker have the Commonwealth Games to celebrate this time. Guide
People Just Do Nothing People Just Do Nothing
Sunday, BBC Three, 10:45pm

The last two episodes of this well-received series back-to-back. In the first Kurupt FM is running their weekly caller competition, whilst in the second plans are being made for a Kurupt FM website. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Products
The Wild Affair The Wild Affair

OUT NOW. With her wedding fast approaching, Marjorie begins to panic that she'll fall into the obscurity of housewifery and marriage without having ever lived a life of her own. She sets off to work wearing a frilly, plunging dress and, as the day wears on, garners a number of interesting offers and propositions... Stars Nancy Kwan, Terry-Thomas, Victor Spinetti & Bud Flanagan. Details
Back To School Mr. Bean Back To School Mr. Bean

PRE-ORDER. Rowan Atkinson returns in this latest repackaged collection of Mr. Bean comedy, themed around school. There's Back To School Mr. Bean (Episode 11), The Library (Unbroadcast sketch), and Mr Bean: The Exam (Episode 1, Part 1). Great laughs all-round - although we'd recommend the complete box set. Details
Frank Frank

PRE-ORDER. Inspired by Frank Sidebottom, aka Chris Sievey, this is an offbeat comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant-garde pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender), a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Nothing But The Best Nothing But The Best

OUT NOW. Black humour and biting social satire combine in this acclaimed feature of 1964. Jimmy Brewster is a working-class lad determined to achieve a champagne lifestyle. He has his sights firmly set on his boss's attractive daughter, Ann, and finds a perfect mentor in the form of the caddish, crooked Charlie. But just how far is Brewster prepared to go in order to get what he wants? Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Video Picture A Touch Of Cloth 3 - Preview

Watch a clip from Charlie Brooker's spoof detective show. Detective Kerry Newblood (Karen Gillan) has found something of note at the murder scene. Watch
Video Picture Tim Key at Latitude Festival

Tim Key heads into the depths of the Latitude Festival woods to perform his best selection of poetry. Watch
Video Picture Steve Coogan - Voiceover Outtakes

Steve Coogan as recorded some introductions to his programmes for channel Gold. Here's some funny bits that didn't make it to TV. Watch
Video Picture Cuckoo - Series 2 Trailer

Cuckoo is back next week. It's a different guy (Twilight's Taylor Lautner takes over from Andy Samberg)... but he's just as cuckoo. Watch
Message Board Posts...
Here are some quotes from our message board...

"Seann Walsh is great on the show. Not so sure about the host yet though." jhmagic1 on Virtually Famous

"With a story giving structure to Fielding's wonderfully imaginative world I have to say I am very much looking forward to seeing what he has come up with." Otterfox on Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy

"It's odd how people remember him for Sorry!, but he had other sitcoms before it, such as No - That's Me Over Here! (three series) and The Prince of Denmark." Dave on Ronnie Corbett

"I think there's a smidgen too much pathos for my liking, but I like the slow, subtle nature of it." gappy on The Mimic

"I was at the recording of the last episode last night, needless to say it was very good indeed. If this episode was anything to go by, the slight dip it took last series has been reversed." Mattjon on Not Going Out

"I am particularly enjoying Bad Salsa on BBC Radio 4 on Monday's at 11.30 by Kay Stonham. She's come at it [surviving cancer] from a very positive angle." Steve Whyley on Current radio comedy
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight To The Manor Born

Alongside some real obscurities, we're proud to provide rather comprehensive guides to many of the most important and popular British comedies that have ever been produced; and who could forget the riotously funny tale of snobbery, social climbing and romance that was To The Manor Born? Learn more about the fabulous range of characters, browse some choice quotes, and delve into episodic details here: Guide
Thanks for Reading
We're about to head up to the Edinburgh Festival so look out for lots of interviews and features from the city on the website later this week.

The British Comedy Guide

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