Weekly Newsletter	Monday 20th October 2014

News, features, TV listings and more - regular subscribers know the deal...

Latest Comedy News

ITV recommissions Sunday Night At The Palladium ITV will return to the London Palladium in 2015 for a second revived series of the comic variety format. Read Big School writers The Dawson Bros create US sitcom Prolific British comedy writing team The Dawson Brothers are working on The Spencer Tapes, a sitcom for NBC in America. Read America has another go at re-making The IT Crowd A second attempt is to be made to re-work Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd for American audiences. Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence is working on a NBC pilot. Read Moone Boy to be re-made in America Moone Boy, the Sky sitcom created by Chris O'Dowd, is to be re-made by the US television network ABC. Read Channel 4 retires the 10 O'Clock Live format Channel 4 has confirmed that its topical comedy show 10 O'Clock Live starring Charlie Brooker, Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell and Lauren Laverne will not return. Read Last Of The Summer Wine spin-off in development Last Of The Summer Wine Producer and Director Alan J W Bell has filmed a spin-off pilot starring Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick as policemen Cooper and Walsh. Read Doll & Em to return for a second series Sky Living has ordered a second series of Doll & Em, the semi-improvised sitcom starring Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells. Read Sarah Solemani and Kerry Howard reunite for BBC1 sitcom Him & Her stars Sarah Solemani and Kerry Howard are reuniting to write a new BBC One sitcom. Read Russell Howard working on a romantic comedy Russell Howard has reportedly written and will star in a romantic comedy. The one-off project will also feature his sister, Kerry Howard. Read

Also of interest...

Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in... - The Star wins the best headline of the week: "Crabzilla made terrified Frank Skinner put move to seaside on hold." Daily Star - Russell Brand and Donald Trump have had a public argument on Twitter. "Russell is a total joke, a dummy who is lost": Huffington Post - Sorry fans, Sky have axed Nick Frost show Mr Sloane and Chris Addison comedy Trying Again too. No second series for either. Radio Times - Rufus Hound has left the stage show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The Mail suggests there may have been tension with Robert Lindsay: Daily Mail - Richard Herring has announced via his newspaper column that he is to become a dad: Metro - An extract from Graham Norton's book. He talks about the time he turned down a £5m offer from the BBC: Daily Mail - A new benevolent fund has been set up by comedians to help stand-ups who are in financial hardship: Website - Ricky Tomlinson is trying to get Rooney, Gerrard and Carragher to appear in the new Mike Bassett film: The Mirror - Stewart Lee writes about his love of The Clangers: Big Issue Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

Features

Interview: How Do I Get Up There? Sketch group 'How Do I Get Up There?' talk about their BBC Scotland TV pilot, which is on TV on Sunday. Read Jenny Bede interview Jenny Bede talks about filming her music-based BBC Three impressions show pilot AAA, which you can see on BBC Three this Friday. Read Join us in Manchester for workshops and panels The Cofilmic Comedy Film Festival 2014 - which takes place in Manchester on the 28th and 29th October - has announced various panels and workshops which will be of interest to comedy creators. BCG is putting on two sessions. Read Jason Byrne interview Jason Byrne endured a rare career catastrophe last year when his high-profile TV vehicle flopped - here he talks turkey, his TV comeback, the 'dangerous' new tour, and a tremendous Ross Noble anecdote. Read Teckle Books - A funny publishing company An interview with Grant Hill and Barry Phillips, the authors behind comedic novels from new comedy publishing outfit Teckle Books. They're funny guys, as they demonstrate here: Read Mark Gatiss podcast The League of Gentlemen and Sherlock star Mark Gatiss is the guest on the latest episode of Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. Lots of people have commented this is a particularly good episode. Listen Behold, the mighty mirth monsters meet In this article, Si Hawkins gets childishly over-excited as two comedy heavyweights collide, and comes up with a new money-spinning idea for benefit gigs. Read

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... Plebs Monday, ITV2, 10pm The local elections arrive, so Marcus and Stylax sign up as hired clappers for wig-wearing politician Victor of the Gracchii (guest star Simon Callow). Grumio, however, is drawn towards another candidate named Julius Priscus. Guide Never Mind The Buzzcocks Monday, BBC Two, 10pm Rhod Gilbert and regular team captains Noel Fielding and Phill Jupitus are joined by actress Kerry Godliman, comedian James Acaster, musician Har Mar Superstar and singer Nicole Scherzinger. Guide 8 Out Of 10 Cats Monday, Channel 4, 10pm In their quest to uncover the nation's most popular talking points, Jon and Sean are joined by guests including Craig Revel Horwood, Roisin Conaty and US comic Rob Delaney. Guide Dapper Laughs: On The Pull Monday, ITV2, 10:30pm Ricky from Coventry desperately needs Dapper's help. Will he take Dapper's advice and pull at the end of the night, or will he end up with an embarrassing fail? Guide Mount Pleasant Tuesday, Sky Living, 9pm The comedy drama continues. A stormy atmosphere lingers over Mount Pleasant following Robbie's revelations. Guide Give Out Girls Tuesday, Comedy Central, 9:30pm While promoting hair extensions, Marilyn ends up romantically involved with a hot young model. But is he all he seems? Guide Bad Education Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm It's looking like this will be the very last episode of this sitcom: as Alfie's class graduates, he decides that he can't go on teaching without his beloved group of delinquent misfits - and quits Abbey Grove. Guide Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish Tuesday, Dave, 10pm On his show this week, Dave Gorman puts 'Greatest Hits' albums, world records and superlative abuse under the spotlight. Warning: this one contains yo-yoing wearing not many clothes. Guide The Revolution Will Be Televised Tuesday, BBC Three, 10:30pm Street magician Alternator 'disappears' the belongings of some Wall Street bankers, whilst James and Barnaby use their visit to the United Nations to declare war on behalf of Britain. Guide Crackanory Wednesday, Dave, 10pm Warwick Davis and Emilia Fox narrate darkly comic tales. A man with a gift for untangling things tries to woo a princess. A wife is framed for a murder plot - by her own hubby. Guide The Job Lot Wednesday, ITV2, 10pm Security guards Janette and Paul make unlikely heroes when Trish loses her mobile phone and Natalie gets in big trouble with a jobseeker. Guide Drifters Thursday, E4, 9pm The female-orientated comedy series returns for a second year. Meg is traumatised when her parents announce a trial separation. Meanwhile Bunny has started seeing the banjo player from promising but unsigned band. Guide Celebrity Juice Thursday, ITV2, 10pm Keith, Gino and Fearne present more ludicrous games. Joining the panel this time are Hairy Bikers Dave Myers and Simon King and Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid. Guide Detectorists Thursday, BBC Four, 10pm There is a bitter, winner takes-all scramble for presidential power of the metal detecting club. Meanwhile Becky and Sophie are forced to become allies in the Two Brewers pub quiz. Is this Andy's worst idea ever? Guide Scrotal Recall Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm Just before Angus and Helen's wedding, it's Evie's birthday; she plans to tell Dylan about her feelings, but there's a surprise party about to be sprung... Guide Russell Howard's Good News Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm He's back! Russell Howard returns with a ninth series of offbeat videos from across the globe. There is a major change though: Good News is jumping off the 'sinking ship' of BBC Three, and is now on BBC Two. Guide Would I Lie To You? Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm Another game of trying to fool the opposition into mistaking fact for fiction and fiction for fact. Lee Mack and David Mitchell are joined by Jo Brand, Roisin Conaty, Paul Foot and Ray Mears. Guide Have I Got News For You Friday, BBC One, 9pm HIGNFY is still the top rated comedy show on Friday nights. Victoria Coren Mitchell takes over hosting duties this week, with guest panellists including Katherine Ryan. Guide A League Of Their Own Friday, Sky1, 9pm The smash-hit sports panel show continues in extra time with more never-before-seen footage. If you missed the big-budget previous episodes, there's lots of highlight clips in our guide. Guide Not Going Out Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm Lee's big mouth has got him and Lucy invited to a Christening Party thrown by new neighbours Toby and Anna, and now they have no time to find the perfect present for the baby who has everything. Guide QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm Levity is the topic of the week on the brainy quiz show, with guests Sue Perkins, Frank Skinner and Josh Widdicombe. Guide Alan Carr: Chatty Man Friday, Channel 4, 10pm Alan is joined by Grammy award-winning star Taylor Swift; James Nesbitt, who talks about the return of comedy drama Babylon; plus Kevin Bridges, who talks about his debut autobiography. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm Graham Norton is joined by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, starring as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game; Timothy Spall, in new film Mr Turner; comedy favourite Miranda Hart; and musical guests Maroon 5, who perform Animals. Guide Comedy Central At The Comedy Store Friday, Comedy Central, 10:40pm Another series of the stand-up show. Chris Ramsey talks public transport; Nathan Caton is paranoid; Jen Brister's Spanish mum has some quirks; and Henry Paker's girlfriend is 'complex'. Guide Jenny Bede: AAA Friday, BBC Three, 11pm A TV broadcast for the impressions-based sketch show pilot from YouTube star Jenny Bede. See our guide for an interview with Jenny. Guide The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night Friday, Channel 4, 11:05pm Jack Whitehall hosts a comedy show to raise awareness for the Check One Two testicular cancer campaign. Tune in to see the Men Behaving Badly reunion sketch. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV, 10:10pm On the sofa this week are Lindsay Lohan, Daniel Radcliffe, Rio Ferdinand and Russell Brand. There's been reports in the press this week that this could be Wossy's last series. Guide How Do I Get Up There? Sunday, BBC Two Scotland, 10pm BBC Scotland sketch show pilot starring the comedy troupe of the same name. Featuring Chris Forbes, James Kirk and Kevin Mains. There's some good gags in this. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New Products

CBeebies Panto Box Set PRE-ORDER. If you've little ones to entertain this season, you could do much worse than investing in a copy of this triple-panto box set of CBeebies treats. Featuring the channel's star names, it includes toddler-friendly comic adaptations of Cinderella, featuring the Strictly Come Dancing judges, and Jack & The Beanstalk, plus their own version of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Details Freedom Of The Seas PRE-ORDER. Clifford Mollison and celebrated playwright and actor H.F. Maltby are among the cast of this 1934 comedy charting the exploits of an unlikely wartime hero. Freedom Of The Seas - director Marcel Varnel's first British film following a spell in Hollywood - sees a mild-mannered clerk sinking an enemy submarine... Details Trollied - Series 1 - 3 OUT NOW. Starring Jane Horrocks, Mark Addy and Jason Watkins, this is supermarket sitcom Trollied. There are a number of cast changes due in the fast-approaching Series 4, but this box-set collects together all 36 episodes from the first three series of the Sky1 sitcom, with store rebrands, moody butchers, argumentative checkout staff, romance, and more. Details Lee Evans - Monsters PRE-ORDER. The legend of comedy returns in 2014 with his biggest show yet. Monsters is the brand new live show from one of the biggest names in British comedy, filmed during his ambitious 2014 tour. Lee's manic energy, uncanny observations, trademark delivery have made his live shows a must-see for hundreds of thousands. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details Miranda Hart - My, What I Call, Live Show PRE-ORDER. Join Miranda Hart, award winning Queen of Comedy, at her sell-out My, What I Call, Live Show tour - the first nationwide stand-up tour from the star since her BBC hit Miranda. Recorded live at London's O2 Arena, see one of the nation's best-loved comedians performing her trademark brand of fun. Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Cardinal Burns list their favourite sketches Sketch double-act Cardinal Burns have selected their favourite sketches. Click here to see what they've picked. There's some League Of Gentlemen, a bit of The Fast Show and some American offerings you might not have seen before. Watch Monty Python Best Bits (Mostly) - Trailer A trailer for the new Gold series which is celebrating the very best sketches from Monty Python's phenomenal back catalogue. They've got some A-list 'talking heads' for this. Watch The Last Leg - Stand Up To Cancer strip Adam Hills and Alex Brooker got their kit off on Stand Up To Cancer 2014 on Friday. If you missed it, the internet can sort that out: Watch Sharon Horgan and Sara Pascoe A filmed insert for Stand Up To Cancer. Sharon and Sara are supposed to be promoting the work of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, but Sara seems a little pre-occupied with jokes. Watch Andy Murray: The Movie Andy Murray and director Richard Ayoade audition people to play the tennis star, in this sketch for Stand Up To Cancer. This is worth a watch, and features many stars in it (Jimmy Carr = Roger Federer). Watch Citizen Khan - Series 3 Teaser A teaser for the new series of this sitcom, which starts on BBC One next week. It's now in a family-friendly 8:30pm slot. Watch Simon Amstell and Alex Horne sing Footage from The Horne Section's Edinburgh Fringe show. Simon Amstell is dismayed by Alex Horne... they end up singing to sort out their differences. This is quite touching. Watch Russell Brand reads from his book Revolution Here's an extract from Russell Brand's new book, Revolution, read by the author himself. Watch A Crowded Date When it comes to going on a date, how many people is too many people? Here's a nice sketch on that topic. Watch

Guide Spotlight

Delta Forever Do you remember this 2008 BBC Three sitcom pilot? It focussed on the obsessive group of fans of a series of novels, and their real-world meeting for the first time at a preview screening for the first film based on their fictional teen hero. It had a great cast and some great writers too, but failed to be the sum of its parts. Guide

Thanks for Reading

We hope you have an enjoyable week. See our daily TV and radio schedule on the site for lots of ways to make sure that happens. The British Comedy Guide

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