British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 8th September 2014
A fresh week is here, so let's power straight into the news, features and TV listings...
Latest Comedy News
News Picture Michael Palin to narrate Clangers revival

Michael Palin has been revealed as the narrator of a revived series of classic childrens' animation series Clangers, due on air next year. Read
News Picture Comedy stars to record Good Omens series on Radio 4

Mark Heap and Peter Serafinowicz are amongst those involved in the new Radio 4 dramatisation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's classic book Good Omens. Read
News Picture British Comedy Awards adds internet video category

A new category to recognise the best online comedy videos is being added to The British Comedy Awards. A voting website is now active. Read
News Picture BBC iPlayer to screen Frankie Boyle's Referendum Autopsy

Frankie Boyle is to present a one-off comedy show about the Scottish referendum vote. It will be available exclusively on iPlayer. Read
News Picture Gold commissions 'Monty Python: The Meaning Of Live'

TV channel Gold has commissioned a 90 minute documentary film about Monty Python's live stage shows, from 1971 to their recent reunion performances. Read
Also of interest...
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...

- Steve Coogan will star in 'Boswell for the Defence', a film about a Scottish lawyer: Variety

- Ricky Gervais has re-launched his blog to document making the new David Brent film. Here he writes about creativity: Blog

- Robert Bathurst, Katy Wix and Mathew Horne are amongst the cast announced as joining Ashley Jensen on new Sky show Agatha Raisin And The Quiche Of Death: Guide

- Check out our Facebook page for some photos of the Spike Milligan statue being unveiled at St Stephens' House, Finchley: Facebook

- ITV2 has axed Fake Reaction, the challenge-based panel show hosted by Matt Edmondson: Digital Spy

- Richard Ayoade will star in Channel 4 series Wish You Weren't Here. The reluctant traveller and 'eternal pessimist' will be joined by a famous holiday companion in each episode.

Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

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Features
Feature Picture British Comedy Awards voting

The British Comedy Awards are launching a new category to recognise the best online videos. We're working with them to help form the list that goes to the jury - vote here to pick your favourites: Vote
Feature Picture Best reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2014

A list of the comedy shows at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe that gained the biggest collection of 4 and 5 star reviews. Read
Feature Picture This man watched 300 shows in a month

An interview with David Chapple, who managed to set a new record at the Edinburgh Fringe by seeing over 300 different shows. Read
Feature Picture What it was like acting undercover on Bad Bridesmaid

A blog from Anna Morris, one of the actors involved in new ITV2 show Bad Bridesmaid. She explains how it was challenging and scary trying to a sabotage a hen do. Read
Feature Picture Dry Humour - Comedy Versus Alcohol

With an alcohol-free comedy night coming to London, we take a look at the long established, sometimes turbulent, relationship between comedy and alcohol. Read
Feature Picture Bridget Christie podcast

An in-depth podcast interview with stand-up Bridget Christie. She talks about the wilfulness that kept her going in the face of critical bewilderment. Listen
TV Listings
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...

Duck Quacks Don't Echo Duck Quacks Don't Echo
Monday, Sky1, 8pm

Lee Mack is joined by Holly Willoughby, Dara O Briain and Hugh Dennis tonight. Willoughby has the 'interesting' task of having to sniff some armpits. Guide
Virtually Famous Virtually Famous
Monday, E4, 10pm

In the final show in the series, Kevin, Sean and Chris are joined by Gemma Merna, Rob Beckett, Alex from Made in Chelsea and Yasmine Akram as they face questions and challenges all about clips, virals and YouTube celebrities. Guide
The Alternative Comedy Experience The Alternative Comedy Experience
Tuesday, Comedy Central, 1am

Kevin McAleer, Stephen Carlin, Fern Brady, Isy Suttie and Henning Wehn take to the stage. If you can stand the late hour, you can see Stewart Lee meeting them backstage too. Guide
Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm

Series 2 of the show in which Dave Gorman does what he does best: combines stand-up comedy with PowerPoint slides. This week he shreds some naughty magazines and helps a gerbil fulfill its destiny. Guide
What's Funny About The Indyref? What's Funny About The Indyref?
Tuesday, BBC Two Scotland, 10:30pm

A one-off comedy sketch show written by 16-25 year-olds, which is inspired by the Referendum on Scottish Independence. There's some preview clips in our guide. Guide
Celebrity Squares Celebrity Squares
Wednesday, ITV, 8pm

The classic game show is back, with comedians in the central roles. Warwick Davis hosts, with Tim Vine and Joe Wilkinson as regular panellists. Sara Pascoe and James Corden are amongst the guests in the funny opening episode. Guide
Bad Bridesmaid Bad Bridesmaid
Thursday, ITV2, 9pm

A new watch-through-your-fingers show. This is a format in which comic actors in character attempt to disrupt hen weekends. The bride must pretend they are friends with the character. Guide
Mock The Week Mock The Week
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm

Dara O Briain hosts the topical panel show as it returns from its summer break. Ed Byrne, Gary Delaney, Katherine Ryan and Josh Widdicombe are the guests joining Hugh Dennis and Andy Parsons. Guide
Celebrity Juice Celebrity Juice
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm

Series 13. Keith, Holly and Fearne return for another series of ludicrous games and celebrity humiliation. The Last Leg's Alex Brooker is among the guests this week. Guide
Cuckoo Cuckoo
Thursday, BBC Three, 10pm

Last episode. A night-time intruder and a local car theft spur the Thompson and Chance families into abandoning Neighbourhood Watch and taking matters into their own hands. Guide
Siblings Siblings
Thursday, BBC Three, 10:30pm

Another final episode. Hannah and Dan's beloved drama teacher Mr Balcombe has died and the pair have mixed emotions about the funeral. Guide
Would I Lie To You? Would I Lie To You?
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm

The return of one of the funniest shows on TV. Rob Brydon and team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell are joined by Fiona Bruce, Micky Flanagan, Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman. Guide
Boomers Boomers
Friday, BBC One, 9pm

Joyce and Alan have financial concerns and are considering downsizing in this episode of the sitcom focusing on three recently retired couples. More info in our guide. Guide
A League Of Their Own A League Of Their Own
Friday, Sky1, 9pm

The BAFTA-winning sports/comedy show continues. This week's guests are Josh Widdicombe, Kevin Pietersen and Joe Hart. Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Jon Richardson ruin some more words and numbers. They're joined by David Baddiel and South African stand-up Trevor Noah. This one sees Joey Essex in Dictionary Corner - should be interesting! Sadly no Joe Wilkinson this week though. Guide
Big School Big School
Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm

The sitcom continues. Mr Gunn views the impending parents' evening at Greybridge in a whole new light when he discovers that one of his pupils may well be his son. Guide
The Perfect Morecambe & Wise The Perfect Morecambe & Wise
Friday, BBC Two, 10pm

More highlights from the duo's TV shows. Eric takes on the demanding role of Hamlet, and the boys re-enact this classic scene from Singing in the Rain. They really should put this show out on a Sunday. Guide
Seann Walsh's Late Night Comedy Spectacular Seann Walsh's Late Night Comedy Spectacular
Friday, BBC Three, 10pm

A one-off stand-up show filmed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Seann Walsh presents comedy from the likes of John Kearns, Rhys James, Luisa Omielan, Rebecca Humphries and Fern Brady. Guide
Alan Carr: Chatty Man Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

The return of the chat show. Guests include Jack Whitehall, who discusses the return of his sitcom Bad Education; and Jon Richardson and Matt Forde talking about their new show Jon Richardson Grows Up. Guide
Parents' Evening Parents' Evening
Friday, BBC Three, 11:25pm

A TV broadcast for the iPlayer pilot in which Kayvan Novak takes on the role of various parents, teachers and kids involved in a school parents' evening. Guide
Through The Keyhole Through The Keyhole
Saturday, ITV, 9:20pm

Joining Keith Lemon to try and work out "who lives in a house like this" are TV and radio presenter Dave Berry, comedian Jimmy Carr and Emmerdale actress Natalie Anderson. Guide
Sunday Night At The Palladium Sunday Night At The Palladium
Sunday, ITV, 7pm

A revival of the variety series that presents entertainment talent, including comedians and music acts. ITV stock name Stephen Mulhern hosts this first one, with stand-up acts including Alan Davies. Guide
Almost Royal Almost Royal
Sunday, E4, 10pm

Aristocratic British siblings Georgie and Poppy Carlton (aka two actors) are in Washington D.C., reaching to the very heart of American politics. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Products
Oh Boy Oh, Boy!

PRE-ORDER. South Shields-born comedian Albert Burdon stars in Albert de Courville's novel take on the classic tale of the nerd-scientist turned Adonis. This rare comic gem, released in 1938 and based on a story by Lambeth Walk lyricist and playwright Douglas Furber, follows a timid chemist who is given a magical elixir that turns him into a confident, vital male. Details
Mrs. Brown's Boys - Christmas Specials 2013 Mrs. Brown's Boys - Christmas Specials 2013

PRE-ORDER. Fans of the uproarious sitcom rejoice. The two 2013 Christmas specials of the smash-hit series starring and written by Brendan O'Carroll will be released on delicious Blu-ray and boring old DVD in just a few weeks' time. There's also a collection of all the Christmas specials to date, spanning 2011 to 2013. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Him & Her - The Wedding Him & Her - The Wedding

PRE-ORDER. Been enjoying the repeats on BBC Two? Now you can order the monstrous escapades on DVD. It's Paul and Laura's wedding and the final chapter for Steve and Becky. With Becky as chief bridesmaid and Steve as best man, each episode follows a different stage of the day - from the early morning wake-up call, through to the reception. Details
Not In Front Of The Children Not In Front Of The Children

OUT NOW. Not In Front Of The Children is the first sitcom in which Wendy Craig played a harassed and scatter-brained mother of a young and unruly middle-class family. It was such a success she would go on to play similar housewife roles in multiple later series - not least Butterflies. Only 8 episodes of this sitcom still exist, and all are included in this great new release. Details
A Touch Of Cloth A Touch Of Cloth - £13 Box Set

OUT NOW. This box set presents the collected cases of detectives Jack Cloth and Anne Oldman, aka John Hannah and Suranne Jones. This is all of the hit crime thriller parody created and co-written by Charlie Brooker. You can get it for a bargain £13! Details
Lee Evans Lee Evans - Personalised DVD

PRE-ORDER. Check out the video on our website in which Lee Evans explains how, for a limited time, you can get a personalised sleeve if you pre-order his new Monsters stand-up DVD. Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Video Picture Simon's Cat - Washed Up

A sleepy cat gets a rude awakening! It's another installment of the charming feline-based animation series. Watch
Video Picture Mount Pleasant - Take it easy

A preview clip from the new series of this comedy drama. Dan is trying to make sure heavily pregnant Lisa takes it easy. Watch
Video Picture Jason Bent signs for QPR

Footballer Jason Bent - aka Simon Brodkin - revealed live on Sky Sports News that he will play in the Premiership for Queens Park Rangers. Watch
Video Picture Phantom Raspberry Blower

The identity of Jack The Ripper may, it seems, have finally been revealed. But we'd love to know the true identity of the notorious Phantom Raspberry Blower Of Old London Town. Watch
Message Board Posts...
Here are some quotes from our message board...

"Enjoying watching the first series again and catching the couple of episodes I missed. I have high hopes for the second series." Agnes Guano on Plebs

"It's struggling, and like you say - where was June Whitfield? At least she added some spark to it." Hercules Grytpype Thynne on Boomers

"Just caught an episode of this on the wonderful ITV3. It's from the first series I believe so I recommend it for a watch to real sitcom fans." Alfred J Kipper on Never The Twain

"I'm getting a bit fed up of the panellists bringing facts that have already been tested on Mythbusters." Edd Watling on Duck Quacks Don't Echo

"RIP Roy Heather. Another legend gone." george roper on Roy Heather (Sid in Only Fools & Horses)
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight Green Wing

Can you believe it? The hospital-based comedy that blurred lines across the genres turned 10 years-old last week. Time to get the box set out and re-watch, we think. Tamsin Greig, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Stephen Mangan, Mark Heap, Pippa Haywood, Michelle Gomez and Olivia Colman are amongst the many star names involved. Guide
Thanks for Reading
That's all for another Monday. Don't forget to vote for the best online videos!

The British Comedy Guide

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