| Our final weekly dose of news, features and TV listings for 2014. Keep an eye on your inbox on Friday for our bumper Christmas TV guide. |
| Latest Comedy News |
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| Also of interest... |
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...
- 'Why is almost nobody making TV sketch comedy any more?' - a newspaper article: The Guardian
- Eric Morecambe's statue is now back in its rightful place: BBC News
- Michael Palin unveiled a plaque for Graham Chapman at the late Python star's former home in Melton Mowbray: BBC News
- The new Dad's Army film won't be in cinemas until February 2016: Guide
- John Cleese and his daughter have finished the first draft of a stage musical version of A Fish Called Wanda.
- 78% of 'elite' comedians die young, according to a study: Daily Mail
Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:
   
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| Features |
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Christmas TV Guide 2014
A list of 25 festive comedy specials to look out for between now and the end of the year. Professor Branestawm, Miranda, The Boy In The Dress, Mapp And Lucia and more. Read |
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Christmas Gift Guide 2014
Looking for some gifts? We've plenty of TV shows, films, books and stand-up comedy releases to choose from in our Christmas gift selection! Read |
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Competition: Only Fools And Horses fancy dress
We've got some official Only Fools And Horses fancy dress costumes to give away. Dress up as Del Boy and Rodney this party season. Enter |
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Joke Thieves - Interview with creator Will Mars
Will Mars explains how his 'bulletproof' live comedy format Joke Thieves was created, and the exciting adventures ahead for the show. Read |
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UK Pun Championships 2015 finalists
Darren Walsh, Rob Thomas, Tony Cowards, Richard Woolford, Martin Croser, Leo Kearse, Richard Pulsford and Rob Coleman will take part in the pun battle. Here's some of their jokes: Read |
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| TV Listings |
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this Monday to Friday (we'll save the weekend's listings up for our special final newsletter of the year, going out this Friday)...
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Trollied
Monday, Sky1, 8:30pm
Rose and Margaret receive a blast from the past when they realise they know each other from a former life. A special guest stops by the store, too. Guide |
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Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Monday, BBC Two, 10pm
Rhod Gilbert and regular team captains Noel Fielding and Phill Jupitus are joined by actress Yasmine Akram, DJ Steve Aoki, comedian Bobby Mair and singer Rumer. Guide |
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Some Girls
Monday, BBC Three, 10pm
Much to the annoyance of her friends, Amber is selected to do a trial for Chelsea Ladies football team. Her grand behaviour annoys everyone. Guide |
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8 Out Of 10 Cats
Monday, Channel 4, 10:30pm
It's a trip down memory lane to revisit the best bits from the past series of 8 Out Of 10 Cats with host Jimmy Carr, team captains Jon Richardson and Sean Lock and a host of celebrity guests. Guide |
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Bob Servant
Monday, BBC One Scotland, 10:35pm
The final episode in the series. Bob reacts badly when he learns that Frank has plans to marry and leave Broughty Ferry. You can catch up on iPlayer if you've missed this. Guide |
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Psychobitches
Tuesday, Sky Arts 1, 9pm
This week's sketches feature Jack Whitehall as a disgruntled Maria von Trapp, Frances Barber as two-faced sideshow hermaphrodite Josephine Joseph and Katy Brand as dancing tour de force Isadora Duncan. Guide |
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Adam Buxton's Shed Of Christmas
Tuesday, Sky Arts 1, 9:30pm
Adam Buxton turns his attention to the festive season in this one-off special for Sky Arts. It includes a bespoke Christmas music video to accompany one of his own songs, rearranged and re-mastered for the show. Guide |
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Bad Robots
Tuesday, E4, 10pm
It's the last episode of the series and the robots are going out with a bang. If you want more from this hit new show head to our guide to see the online pilot Comedy Blaps episodes. Guide |
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Brian Pern
Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm
Brian plans to stage his entire debut solo album, Brian Pern's Musical Version Of The Day Of The Triffids, live from the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa with a host of special guests. Guide |
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The British Comedy Awards
Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm
Jonathan Ross reveals the results of the 2014 British Comedy Awards. It should be noted the awards are not live this year, so the results will be online from Tuesday night. But it's still worth tuning in for a laugh. Guide |
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Sweat The Small Stuff
Wednesday, BBC Three, 10pm
Nick Grimshaw hosts a festive episode of the comedy panel show. With Strictly Come Dancing's Pixie Lott, music star Ricky Wilson, and stand-ups Chris Ramsey and Bobby Mair. Guide |
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Live At The Apollo
Wednesday, BBC One, 10:35pm
Jon Richardson presents special guests Sara Pascoe and Nathan Caton. The BBC is putting this out whilst the Comedy Awards are still being broadcast... probably un-wise. Guide |
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Puppy Love
Thursday, BBC Four, 10pm
The final episode of the series. Naomi has to pack up her home to cope with subsidence and is soon dealing with difficult Polish builders demanding money. Guide |
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Babylon
Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm
The final episode of the police-based comedy drama. We won't spoil the plot here, but if you want know what is coming up head to our guide for an episode synopsis. Guide |
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Celebrity Juice
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm
Keith Lemon and his team captains Gino D'Acampo and Fearne Cotton head to Gino's family home in Sheffield for Christmas, as they take a look back at the show's best bits from 2014. Guide |
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Marked
Thursday, Sky Arts 1, 10pm
A one-off comedy drama starring Stephen Fry and Kiefer Sutherland. Broke in the lead-up to Christmas, family man James agrees to a murderous mission. But his mark is the last person he expects. Guide |
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Citizen Khan
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm
A festive special of the family sitcom. It's Christmas Eve, ten months after Shazia and Amjad's wedding. Mr Khan is feeling extremely festive. Guide |
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Have I Got News For You
Friday, BBC One, 9pm
A compilation of the popular satirical news quiz looking back at the big news stories of 2014. With team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, and a variety of guest hosts. Guide |
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Not Going Out
Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm
Lee spends time in the bar with Toby worrying that the woman of his dreams is drifting further away. This episode sets things up for the big Christmas special. Guide |
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QI
Friday, BBC Two, 10pm
Ronni Ancona, Jimmy Carr and David Mitchell are the guests being quizzed in this episode of the panel show. As the preview clip in our guide shows, they end up making lava lamps. Guide |
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Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
Alan is joined by Gemma Arterton who talks about taking to the West End stage for the Made in Dagenham musical, and Brendan O'Carroll, the star and creator of Mrs Brown's Boys, who chats about his latest book, Mrs Brown's A to Y of Everything. Plus Tom Odell performs Real Love live in the studio. Guide |
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The Graham Norton Show
Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm
A bumper edition of the show, with guests including Hollywood star Ben Stiller, starring in Night in the Museum 3; comedy giant Ricky Gervais; Australian actress Rebel Wilson; Hollywood stars Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz; EastEnders' Danny Dyer; and music and chat from Usher. Guide |
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
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| New Products |
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The Upper Hand - The Complete Series
OUT NOW. The popular ITV 1990s sitcom, based on American series Who's The Boss?, is now available in this complete box set. Starring Honor Blackman, Diana Weston, Joe McGann, and current EastEnders star Kellie Bright, this is a great family comedy suitable for all ages. Details |
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House Of Fools - Series 1
PRE-ORDER. Stand by for unadulterated daft fun in this wonderfully original sitcom written by and starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Set in Bob's home, each episode sees him frustrated by the uninvited lodgers, visitors and guests who constantly fill his house. Vic is his long-term and largely unwatned guest, alongside Bob's son, Erik, and regulars Bosh, Beef and neighbour Julie... Details |
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Citizen Khan - Series 3
PRE-ORDER. The entire third series of the BBC family sitcom following pompous, upwardly-striving Muslim businessman Mr Khan and his hard done-by family. If you've been watching the light-hearted series on Friday nights, you'll know it centres around the build up to Shazia and Amjad's wedding. There's also a Series 1 - 3 box set available. Series 4 will be on TV next year. Details |
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Plebs - Series Two
PRE-ORDER. One of the stand-out comedy hits of the year, ITV2's Plebs returned earlier this Autumn for 8 brand new, riotous episodes of the Ancient Rome-set sitcom, starring Tom Rosenthal, Joel Fry, and as grumpy slave Grumio, Ryan Sampson. We're very disappointed there's no Blu-ray for this excellent second series though. Fingers crossed a third is soon on its way! Details |
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Uncle - Series 1
PRE-ORDER. Andy (Nick Helm) is a dissolute out-of work musician who forges an unlikely alliance with his 12-year-old nephew Errol after being morally blackmailed into looking after him by his chaotic sister Sam - all on the day Andy was planning to kill himself. This critically acclaimed show has a host of British Comedy Awards nominations: see what all the fuss is about here. Details |
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What We Did On Our Holiday
PRE-ORDER. Rosamund Pike, David Tennant and Billy Connolly star in this family comedy written and directed by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (creators of Outnumbered). As Doug, his wife Abi, and their three children prepare to travel up to the Scottish Highlands for his father Gordie's birthday, they are about to see all the secrets of their London lives come out! Blu-ray Details & DVD Details |
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Frank Skinner Live - Man In A Suit
OUT NOW. Comedy legend Frank Skinner brings his new live show Man In A Suit to DVD and Blu-ray. Recorded during his 40 night sell-out run at the Leicester Square Theatre and part of his highly anticipated 2014 tour, Frank delivers this critically acclaimed show in his usual witty style. A DVD box set of all his shows to date is also available. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
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| Comedy Videos |
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Simon Evans interview
In this exclusive video interview, top stand-up Simon Evans talks to us about topics like how comedians remember their jokes. Watch |
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Ship Of Eagles
A new animated sci-fi comedy published by Wildseed Studios. Fresh Meat star Zawe Ashton voices a small time crook who finds herself in lots of trouble. Watch |
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One Rogue Reporter - Trailer
One Rogue Reporter is the story of Rich Peppiatt, an ex-tabloid hack, who decides to use the skills he's honed on Fleet Street to turn-the-tables on the press barons. Watch |
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Crims - Preview
A preview of new BBC Three prison-based sitcom Crims. It starts in early January, and things look encouraging. Watch |
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Drunk History preview
Some brief clips from this new series in which comedians get drunk and then try to re-tell a historic event. Russell Kane looks battered. Watch |
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Brian Pern - Deleted Scenes
Here's some scenes that wouldn't fit in last week's episode. Brian shows us around Poggle studios, meets Martin Freeman, and argues with the police. Watch |
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Avoiding Chuggers
Here's some tips on how to avoid those annoying charity people with clipboards who plague our highstreets. Watch |
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Good Omens preview
An introduction to Radio 4's much anticipated adaptation of Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman's comic novel about an angel and demon trying to stop the Apocalypse. Watch |
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| Guide Spotlight |
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Partners
Written by prolific sitcom powerhouse Richard Waring (Marriage Lines, ...And Mother Makes Three, Miss Jones And Son, and much more!) and starring his actor brother, Derek, Partners is a domestic comedy focusing on the crumbling marriage of Rupert and Diana Bannister. With his business interests having suffered recent hardships, also leading to the breakdown of his marriage, Derek is keen to jump at an opportunity that arises: unfortunately, it involves shares he gifted to his wife on their wedding night... Guide
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| Thanks for Reading |
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We'll be sending our final newsletter of the year on Friday, featuring a guide to Christmas TV and the best new festive comedy videos. In the meantime keep an eye on the site as tomorrow night (Tuesday) we'll be live backstage at the British Comedy Awards. If you're reading this on Monday you still have time to enter the BCA sweepstake competition.
Until then, thanks for reading!
The British Comedy Guide
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