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British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 6th October 2014
We've found some great videos for you this week - don't miss that section.
Latest Comedy News
News Picture Channel 4 publishes new online series Taxi Gags

Channel 4 has launched a new series on its website. Taxi Gags sees comedians talking about various subjects as they are given a lift in a cab. Read
News Picture Trodd en Bratt get a second series on Radio 4

Radio 4 has ordered a second series of Trodd En Bratt Say 'Well Done You', the sketch show written by and starring Lucy Trodd and Ruth Bratt. Read
News Picture Harry Hill to star as Professor Branestawm in BBC comedy

Harry Hill is to star in Professor Branestawm, a BBC One family comedy drama adapted by Charlie Higson from Norman Hunter's classic children's books. Read
News Picture Comedy Central working on UK version of Drunk History

Comedy Central UK is to pilot a British re-make of hit American comedy format Drunk History. Jimmy Carr will provide the voice over. Read
Also of interest...
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...

- Will Self says Vic & Bob cut his best jokes out of Shooting Stars: Gazette Live

- There is 'masses' of unpublished Douglas Adams material, the writer's brother has revealed: Radio Times

- Kevin Bridges has revealed he used to have a gambling problem. "I was 18 when I discovered the bookies and then lost £800 in one day". Daily Record

- Three Flights Up, a sitcom pilot Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith made which was never broadcast, will be shown at Bristol Slapstick Festival 2015. Bristol Post

- Neil Kinnock and Ann Widdecombe have been the worst guest hosts on Have I Got News For You, says Paul Merton: Radio Times

- Seann Walsh tells the story of how he arrived for a gig in Hereford, when he should have been in Hertford: 5 Live

- You can take a tour around the set of Plebs via Google Streetview. View

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 The Revolution Will Be Televised interview

Heydon Prowse and Jolyon Rubinstein talks about the dangers and excitement of filming Series 3 of The Revolution Will Be Televised in America. Read
Feature Picture Guilt & Shame: Shameless Comedy

Double act Guilt & Shame explain the importance of having a comedy show that is about something... even if the result of that involves Jeremy Clarkson. Read
Feature Picture Chris Ramsey interview

Chris Ramsey talks about tackling Katie Hopkins on Celebrity Juice, using his wife as joke fodder, and his thoughts on the American version of Hebburn. Read
Feature Picture Richard Herring's Meaning Of Life

RHLSTP is back soon, but before that here's another episode of the podcast series in which Richard Herring looks at life. Or, in the case of this one, death. Listen
Feature Picture Angela Barnes interview

Stand-up comic Angela Barnes talks about rising quickly up the comedy career ladder, what it was like to appear on Mock The Week, and having her GP on speed dial. Read
Feature Picture Bad Bridesmaid blog

This week it's the turn of Anneka Harry to tell us what it was like filming undercover on Bad Bridesmaid. She says she loved being a kooky-woooky kookster. Read
Feature Picture Survey of comedy fans lists Britain's best known stand-ups

A wide-ranging survey of live comedy fans, conducted by Ticketmaster, has revealed a list of the UK's best known stand-ups. Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr and Peter Kay are top. Read
Feature Picture How well do EastEnd Cabaret know each other?

Bernadette Byrne and Victor Victoria - aka EastEnd Cabaret - in the style of the classic Mr and Mrs quiz game, answer questions about each other. Read
Feature Picture Women in Comedy Festival 2014 - Preview

The Women in Comedy Festival - featuring more than 80 shows across 16 venues in Manchester - takes place from the 11th until 26th October 2014. Read
Feature Picture Over 55? Enter the Silver Stand-Up Competition

The organisers of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival have launched their 2015 Silver Comedy stand-up competition, aimed at those aged over 55. Read
Feature Picture No Pressure To Be Funny podcast

The political panel show podcast. James O'Brien, Paul Sinha, Suzi Ruffell, Mitch Benn, Dan Smith and Nick Revell look at topics including the Middle East, Ed Miliband and Brooks Newmark. Listen
Feature Picture Big Comedy Conference 2014

Interested in making comedy writing your career? We're putting on a day tailored to give you advice and insight. The likes of Inbetweeners co-writer Damon Beesley will be providing tips. Details
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

The popular science show concludes this week as Lee Mack is joined by Chris Tarrant, Robert Webb and Kimberley Wyatt. It features a hair-raising finale (literally). See the preview clip in our guide. Guide
Plebs Plebs
Monday, ITV2, 10pm

The comically historic comedy continues. Grumio falls ill after eating an apple. Marcus refuses to pay for his medical treatment preferring instead to go with Cynthia's remedy of candlelight and prayer. Guide
Never Mind The Buzzcocks Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Monday, BBC Two, 10pm

Rhod Gilbert and regular team captains Noel Fielding and Phill Jupitus are joined by pop star Ella Eyre, Peace frontman Harrison Koisser, Stacey Solomon and comedian Seann Walsh. Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats 8 Out Of 10 Cats
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

Series 18 of the panel show... so it has now reached doubled its life expectancy. Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson and Sean Lock are joined by guests Jack Dee, Rob Beckett, Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney and Arg from TOWIE. Guide
Dapper Laughs: On The Pull Dapper Laughs: On The Pull
Monday, ITV2, 10:30pm

Dapper Laughs takes another lad who is terrible at getting female attention and teaches him all the tricks of the trade. It's safe to say that this show hasn't had the warmest reception from the established comedy community, but what do and will regular viewers think? Guide
Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant
Tuesday, Sky Living, 9pm

The comedy drama continues. Bianca discovers a knack for giving advice when she has to play unlikely counsellor to one of Roger's troubled parishioners. Guide
Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm

Dave Gorman devilishly dissects modern life as he judges the worth of online petitions and reveals how he beat Alex Reid - not at cage fighting, obviously. Guide
Bad Education Bad Education
Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm

Martin Wickers's attempts to teach Alfie to drive end in disaster when they run over the school caretaker. Fraser has taken up a particular type of dancing. Guide
The Revolution Will Be Televised The Revolution Will Be Televised
Tuesday, BBC Three, 10:30pm

The political prank show is back, and this time they're popping up in America. Dale Maily gets inside the story of guns in the USA, while James and Barnaby attend a Republican Party conference. Guide
Celebrity Squares Celebrity Squares
Wednesday, ITV, 8pm

Warwick Davis hosts another episode of the comedy game show, with Russell Grant, Katherine Ryan, Vernon Kay, Linda Robson, Bruno Tonioli, Nathan Caton, Rachel Riley, and regulars Tim Vine and Joe Wilkinson. Guide
Crackanory Crackanory
Wednesday, Dave, 10pm

Party guests fear for their lives and earthquake survivors consider cannibalism. David Mitchell and Katherine Parkinson are your star storytellers this week for these ripping dark yarns. Guide
The Job Lot The Job Lot
Wednesday, ITV2, 10pm

Trish and her deputy manager Natalie stage a youth unemployment initiative to impress the local MP, but things don't go according to plan. Guide
Bad Bridesmaid Bad Bridesmaid
Thursday, ITV2, 9pm

Phoebe and her synthesizer set about bring mischief and mayhem to the proceedings of a hen party. Will the bride manage to maintain the premise that the hipster is the real deal? Guide
Mock The Week Mock The Week
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm

Dara O Briain and the team fell another week's news tree and pick off its satirical leaves. With guests Rob Beckett, Ed Byrne, Milton Jones and Zoe Lyons. Guide
Celebrity Juice Celebrity Juice
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm

Keith, Gino and Fearne present more ludicrous games. X Factor judge Louis Walsh and singer Rick Astley are among the star panellists this time. Yes, 80s icon Astley. It's going to be great. Guide
Detectorists Detectorists
Thursday, BBC Four, 10pm

Lance and Andy haven't told anyone that they are hot on the trail of the Holy Grail of metal detecting. However, the members of the rival detecting club already seem to know all about it. Who is the mole? Guide
Scrotal Recall Scrotal Recall
Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Now people have got over the title, this show can settle down. In a flashback to 18 months ago, Luke is enjoying the best time of his life with psychology student Cleo, but he's keen to avoid her finding out that he is quite shallow. Guide
Would I Lie To You? Would I Lie To You?
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm

Probably the funniest show on telly right now. Lee Mack and David Mitchell are joined by Rhod Gilbert, Kelly Hoppen MBE, Carol Vorderman and Hal Cruttenden for more truth and lies. Guide
A League Of Their Own A League Of Their Own
Friday, Sky1, 9pm

This week, James, Jack, Freddie and Jamie and joined by panellists David Walliams, Robbie Fowler and Pixie Lott. Warm up by checking out some energetic preview clips here. Guide
Have I Got News For You Have I Got News For You
Friday, BBC One, 9pm

The guests joining Ian and Paul this Friday haven't been announced yet, but chairing the panel is Bake Off favourite, comedian Sue Perkins. Guide
Big School Big School
Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm

There's sharing aplenty in the final episode of the series, when Mr Gunn allows Mr Barber to stay with him and his mum. Mr Church and Miss Postern struggle with their own sharing arrangements. This episode guest-stars Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em legend Michele Dotrice. Guide
QI QI
Friday, BBC Two, 10pm

On the topic of 'Location, Location, Location', Alan and Stephen are joined in the second episode of the new series by Aisling Bea, Jason Manford and Johnny Vegas. Guide
Alan Carr: Chatty Man Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

Alan is joined by actor Hugh Grant, who talks about his latest, while Davina McCall and Dr Christian Jessen chat about Stand Up To Cancer. Noel Fielding talks about his stand-up tour. Plus, there's music from Ariana Grande. Guide
The Graham Norton Show The Graham Norton Show
Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm

This week, Graham talks to John Cleese about his new book So Anyway; singer-songwriter and actress Taylor Swift; controversial cricketer Kevin Pietersen; and legendary singer Neil Diamond. Guide
Rude Boys Rude Boys
Friday, BBC Three, 11pm

This sitcom pilot looking at the antics of a group of four young friends in East London was first shown on the iPlayer. If you missed it, it'll be on TV this Friday. Guide
Through The Keyhole Through The Keyhole
Saturday, ITV, 10pm

Dave Berry, Des O'Connor and Myleene Klass join Keith Lemon for another peek into the astonishing houses of the rich and famous. Whose drawers will Keith be rifling through this week? Guide
Sunday Night At The Palladium Sunday Night At The Palladium
Sunday, ITV, 7:15pm

Bradley Walsh hosts another mix of comedy, music and variety in the revived entertainment show. Performers include Sarah Millican, Jimeoin, Jimmy Tarbuck and Art Garfunkel. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Products
Ambassadors - Series One Ambassadors - Series One

PRE-ORDER. This DVD contains the three hour-long episodes from the first series of Ambassadors, BBC Two's comedy drama starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb as a British ambassador and his mission's deputy head. We thought this was a great little series and are still hopeful for a Series 2. Details
Withnail And I - Limited Edition Withnail And I - Limited Edition

PRE-ORDER. Fans of the cult 1980s film rejoice! 27 years after its initial cinematic release, Bruce Robinson's comedy has been fully restored from the original camera negatives, overseen by the film's original director of photography, and transferred to beautiful, crisp Blu-ray - alongside follow-up film How To Get Ahead In Advertising. This set is absolutely brimming over with extras. Details
Mrs. Brown's Boys - More Christmas Crackers Mrs. Brown's Boys - More Christmas Crackers

OUT NOW. Feast yourself on this double helping of Mrs. Brown's Boys with the two 2013 Christmas Specials. Includes the high-rating episodes Buckin' Mammy and Who's A Pretty Mammy?. Available on both DVD and beautiful Blu-ray. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle 3 Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle 3

PRE-ORDER. The multi-award winning Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle made a long-awaited return to BBC Two in Spring 2014 and is now available to own on DVD. The many topics covered range from immigration to pornography, Coronation Street and northerners. Details
Birds Of A Feather - The Complete BBC Series Birds Of A Feather - The Complete BBC Series

OUT NOW. One of the nineties' most consistently successful sitcoms, Birds Of A Feather made a return to screens when it was revived earlier this year by ITV, clocking up some big ratings. This re-issued box set collects together all 9 series of the original BBC version of the sitcom, starring Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph - 102 episodes over 19 discs. Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Video Picture Comedy Blaps - Lives Of The Infamous

A mockumentary series from Jim Howick and Oliver Maltman. It looks into the glorious highs and horrific lows of the notorious Wanger Twins. Watch
Video Picture Comedy Blaps - Flavours

Characters from Miles Chapman and Mark O'Sullivan. Delphine and Vic's comfortably beige routine is shattered by some devastating news. Watch
Video Picture Comedy Blaps - Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum starring Michaela Coel has already been given a Channel 4 series. The two Comedy Blaps released today act as tasters for that. Check it out. Watch
Video Picture Mr Bean - Snickers Advert

Rowan Atkinson has reprised his role as Mr Bean for this big-budget advert for a chocolate bar. It's not that good, but given it features one of the world's best known comedy characters we bet it'll still clock up millions of viewers. Watch
Video Picture Nursery Crimes

Musical comedy duo Hawkeye and Windy seem to have mis-remembered some classic nursery rhymes in this musical sketch. Watch
Video Picture Dynamo: It's Kinda Magic

Watch some dodgy 'magic' from Dynamo, David Copperfield and Uri Geller. Creators Seldom Differ admit this sketch contains 'bad impressions all round'. Watch
Video Picture 80s Cartoon Characters - Where Are They Now?

London-based animator Steve Cutts has created this hit viral video which observes what various 80s cartoon characters are up to now. Watch
Video Picture Worm Hotel - Repeating Kitchen

Creepy doesn't begin to describe this surreal sketch from the Worm Hotel duo. We're still having nightmares after watching this one. Watch
Video Picture Cassetteboy - Cameron's Conference Rap

Video mash-up stars Cassetteboy edited this to make it look like our leader is copying Eminem. Since it went up on Wednesday, over 3m people have watched its genius. Watch
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight

Sailor Beware

Released in 1956, this is somewhat of a rarity for a comedy quite so old: it's still laugh-out-loud funny today. Starring battleaxe supremo Peggy Mount alongside a cast including Thora Hird, Shilrley Eaton, Esma Cannon and Ronald Lewis, Sailor Beware tells the tale of a young couple - a sailor and his fiancee - whose engagement is thrown wildly off-track on the day of their wedding by the overbearing, unending scolding and controlling behaviour of her mother.

For our money, this is an underrated gem of early post-war British cinema, and thankfully is available on DVD for all to enjoy. Guide

Thanks for Reading
Didn't get to see Stephen Fry's live one-man show? No fear, there's a Stephen Fry Quote Generator to fill that void.

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