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Weekly Newsletter	Monday 12th January 2015

Hello! Welcome to our first newsletter of the year, packed with treats. We hope your 2015 has got off to a great start. Don't forget to vote in our annual awards!

Latest Comedy News

Voting open for Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 Vote for the best and worst TV and radio comedies of 2014 in our annual awards. There's no shortlists - every show is in the running. Vote Now Vicar Of Dibley to return for Red Nose Day Hit sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley is to be revived for Comic Relief's 2015 Red Nose Day, as Geraldine aims to become a bishop. Read Sky1 commissions comedy thriller Apocalypse Slough Sky has ordered a comedy drama about characters from Slough, faced with the end of the world as an 8-mile-wide comet hurtles toward Earth. Read Jack Whitehall working on Bad Education film Jack Whitehall is working on a film version of Bad Education, according to his father. Read Comedy Central to make new version of Impractical Jokers Comedy Central has commissioned a pilot episode for a new version of Impractical Jokers, the format in which comedians must set each other challenges. Read Rowan Atkinson to star in Horrible Histories Blackadder and Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson is to return to television comedy this year with a guest starring role in CBBC sketch show Horrible Histories. Read

Advert

Free tickets to The Unbelievable Truth David Mitchell hosts the BBC Radio 4 panel game in which panellists are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they are able to smuggle past their opponents. To get free tickets to see the show being recorded in London visit Lost In TV

Also of interest...

Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in... - Johnny Vegas has criticised TV comedy commissioning. "It's career suicide to commission something original". Digital Spy - Jennifer Saunders has finished the first draft of the script for the new Ab Fab movie: Daily Mail - Peter Cook died 20 years ago. Here's a tribute to "the most inspiring British comic ever". The Telegraph - Stephen Fry has confirmed he will marry his partner Elliott Spencer. The Daily Mail has pictures of the couple: Daily Mail Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

Features

Cockroaches interview Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Esther Smith, Tom Davis, Jack Whitehall, Robert Bathurst and Nigel Planer talk about their roles ITV2's new post-apocalyptic sitcom Cockroaches. Read British TV comedies most repeated in 2014 Here's a list of the ten British comedy shows that were repeated the most in 2014. There's some big numbers in this! Read The Unbelievable Truth - 10 surprising facts We've selected 10 great facts from David Mitchell's Radio 4 show The Unbelievable Truth. For example, just how did a squirrel stop the stock market? Read Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown The hit panel show podcast returns. Pappy's are joined by guests Alex Brooker and Angela Barnes. Listen Josie Long interview 2014 saw the usually politics-fuelled Josie Long take a more personal fork of the comedy freeway, with the show Cara Josephine. But into 2015 she's still ranting about rabid right-wingers - during interviews, at least. Read More podcasts Head to our podcast area for shows presented by Richard Herring, Brendon Burns, Carl & Chris, Stuart Goldsmith and more. Lots of people love the RHLSTP with Victoria Coren Mitchell. Listen Take part in the 2015 British comedy survey A comedy survey has been launched, aiming to collect the thoughts of comedy fans across the UK. Details

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... Backchat Monday, BBC Two, 10pm Join Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, for another eclectic mix of guests and chat. On the sofa this week are John Prescott and Noel Fielding. Guide Drunk History Monday, Comedy Central, 10pm A new British version of the hit US format in which an inebriated narrator attempts to recount an event from history. Check out our preview clips - the comedians are proper sozzled. Guide Blue Go Mad In Ibiza Tuesday, ITV2, 9pm The prank show continues. The boyband find themselves being wedding planners and 'Bluesmaids' at a crazed fan's wedding. What could possibly go wrong? Guide Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Tuesday, Dave, 10pm Ben Miller, Lizzie Roper, Patrick Kielty and Felicity Ward join Alan Davies for the free-form chat show. An hour of amusing anecdotes. Guide Cockroaches Tuesday, ITV2, 10pm A new sitcom set after a nuclear war. Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Esther Smith and Jack Whitehall are amongst a cast that also features the likes of Nigel Planer. Guide Count Arthur Strong Tuesday, BBC One, 10:35pm Arthur takes a flying lesson. A broken heart and Arthur's inability to get his head around the concept of the clocks going back leads to a terrifying mix-up at 2000 feet. Guide Birds Of A Feather Thursday, ITV, 8:30pm When Tracey is nominated by Auntie Vera to succeed her as Pearly Queen of Thornton Heath and Sharon finds out, the gloves are off and it is war. Guide Monty Python's Personal Best Thursday, Sky Arts 1, 9pm A new documentary series focusing on each of the Monty Python stars in turn. There's been loads of documentaries recently - but this one is different. It features newly filmed footage and sketches! Guide Never Mind The Buzzcocks Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm A highlights show. The clips are presented in a documentary format with the idea being people are looking back on the series from the distant future. Guide Crims Thursday, BBC Three, 10pm Episode 2 of the popular new comedy. It's the start of the academic programme at Sunnybank View Young Offender Institution and Luke and Jason opt for Creg's dull life skills class. Guide Room 101 Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm Frank Skinner is joined by newsreader Fiona Bruce, survivalist Ray Mears and Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan. Nominations include nappies, bread and Cheryl Cole. Guide Benidorm Friday, ITV, 9pm All change at the holiday resort. The Oracle (Johnny Vegas) and Noreen are back in town: they've heard about the big quiz that Lesley is hosting. Clive's sister Terri arrives for a holiday, too. Guide 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Friday, Channel 4, 9pm Jimmy, Sean and Jon are joined by Jack Whitehall and Roisin Conaty, while Rob Beckett joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner and Joe Wilkinson 'helps' Rachel Riley again. Guide QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm Jimmy Carr, Claudia O'Doherty and, er, Madness frontman Suggs, are the guests joining Alan and Stephen this week. There's an upside down glass of water trick to witness. Guide The Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 10pm Alan Davies pops up in this show too. He's the guest joining Adam, Josh and Alex this week. If you like Alex Brooker don't miss him in the Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown podcast in our features section. Guide Comedy Central At The Comedy Store Friday, Comedy Central, 10:30pm More stand-up. Andrew Ryan is not too impressed with marriage, Angela Barnes has too many ailments, Peter White says he became fat in a day, and Funbi Omotayo talks the Olympics. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm Among the guests on Graham's sofa tonight: Award-winning stage and screen actors, David Tennant and Olivia Colman; and - most interestingly - Hollywood mogul, Harvey Weinstein. Guide Greg Davies: The Back Of My Mum's Head Saturday, Channel 4, 11:15pm A television version of Greg Davies's 2013 stand-up show, The Back Of My Mum's Head. There lots of laughs in this from the very tall comedian. Guide Still Open All Hours Sunday, BBC One, 7:30pm Granville has bought a job lot of bargain stock but needs a clever plan to sell it all. A visiting salesman gives him a marketing idea. Guide Last Tango In Halifax Sunday, BBC One, 9pm Caroline is overwhelmed at the prospect of looking after baby Flora on her own until a stranger walks into her life who may be the answer to her prayers. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New Products

Mapp & Lucia OUT NOW. An audience pleaser over the Christmas period, Steve Pemberton's brand new adaptation of EF Benson's classic comic novels is now available to own on DVD. The series charts one summer in the seaside town of Tilling and the manipulative adventures of the two women waging a war of social diplomacy to be the most important person for miles... Details I'm All Right Jack - Digitally Restored PRE-ORDER. Starring Peter Sellers and Terry-Thomas, this sequel to Private's Progress takes a satirical look at trade unions and labour relations. Upon leaving the army, upper class twit Windrush (Ian Carmichael) takes a job in industry. Before long he has inadvertently started a national strike, which is subsequently mishandled by everyone involved. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details The Wrong Mans - Series One & Two PRE-ORDER. Both series of the thriller-comedy created, written by and starring James Corden and Mathew Baynton. If you've already got a copy of Series 1, then you can get the brand new 2-part second series on its own. Details A Nice Girl Like Me OUT NOW. Barbara Ferris, Harry Andrews and triple Oscar-nominee Gladys Cooper star in this quintessentially 1960s romantic comedy from award-winning director Desmond Davis. Liberated Londoner Candida finds herself with two unplanned pregnancies in quick succession, and charged with the care of a third child. Friend Savage helps where he can, but she hopes for a suitor. Details Miranda - The Finale PRE-ORDER. For one last time, enjoy Miranda Hart's farcical, laugh out loud BBC sitcom; a place where the nation has embraced a woman who simply just wants to fit in. It begins where Series 3 left off, with the unlucky-in-love shop owner having received two proposals of marriage - one from dreamboat chef Gary, and one from the charming Mike. Will it all work out for Miranda? Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Up The Women - Series 2 Trailer Series 2 of this sitcom from Jessica Hynes comes to BBC Two soon. Here's a short teaser to get you in the mood. Watch Richard Soames showreel Out-of-work actor Richard Soames needs a job. He shows off his impressive acting range in this video. Watch Marijana - Emotional Smear Test Life-coach Marijana asks you to answer three questions to help her determine what sort of person you are. Watch The Keith Lemon Sketch Show Trailer The latest comedy vehicle for Keith Lemon launches on ITV2 next month. It's an impressions-based sketch show. It's almost like Leigh Francis is returning to his Bo' Selecta! roots now. Watch Russell Brand's 2014 Jake Yapp gets Russell Brand spot on. Basically, all mouth and no trewsers. Watch

Guide Spotlight

Bonobo Released last month but only on a small scale, this is the latest British comedy to hit cinema screens. Starring Only Fools And Horses' Tessa Peake-Jones and the Queen of improvisation, Josie Lawrence, it follows a mother and daughter whose relationship is put under severe strain when law student Lily quits university and moves into a free-loving hippie commune... Guide

Thanks for Reading

That's all for this week. We hope there's plenty to make you laugh in the 7 days ahead! Don't forget to vote in the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014, and we'll be back in your inbox next Monday. Until then, The British Comedy Guide

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