British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 26th January 2015
This newsletter starts with the results of our annual TV and radio awards...
Latest Comedy News
News Picture Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 results announced

The results of the ninth annual Comedy.co.uk Awards have been announced, with Cabin Pressure writer John Finnemore the biggest winner of the year. Read
News Picture Reality TV panel show coming to ITV2

ITV2 has ordered a brand new panel show focussed on the world of reality television, to be hosted by Stephen Mulhern with team captains Emma Willis and Joel Dommett. Read
News Picture BBC announces iPlayer Valentine's comedies

The BBC has announced a set of 9 new iPlayer comedy programmes to mark Valentine's Day 2015. Contributors include Roy Clarke, Nick Helm, Katy Wix and Bill Bailey. Read
News Picture Sky unveils Moone Boy Series 3 guest stars

Sky has announced a raft of guest stars for the third series of hit sitcom Moone Boy, which begins in March - including Sir Terry Wogan. Read
News Picture BBC axes new sitcom The Walshes

The BBC has axed new sitcom The Walshes, prompting writer Graham Linehan to complain they didn't give it any publicity. Read
News Picture Rich Fulcher to pilot sitcom about an adult shop

Mighty Boosh actor Rich Fulcher is to star in a Channel 4 sitcom pilot set around a struggling family-run shop selling adult things. Read
News Picture Mr Bean to return for Comic Relief 2015

Rowan Atkinson is to return as Mr Bean for a new sketch for Comic Relief 2015. Read
News Picture Katherine Ryan to pilot new comedy format

Canadian comic Katherine Ryan is to host a pilot episode for her own series, The Katherine Ryan Show. Read
Also of interest...
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...

- Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have been recognised as comedy legends at Bristol's annual Slapstick Festival: BBC News

- One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson has said "I wouldn't mind considering another sitcom": Digital Spy

- Kayvan Novak is to present a one-off show on TalkSport in character as Terry Tibbs: TalkSport

- Despite a poor critical reception to the first, Leigh Francis is planning a sequel to Keith Lemon: The Film. Digital Spy

- Martin Clunes confirms in this interview that Series 7 of Doc Martin starts filming soon: The Telegraph

- Outnumbered was the most watched comedy on the iPlayer in 2014. A total of 2,859,600 viewers watched Episode 1 on that platform: BBC Press Office

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 Goodbye - The (After) Life of Cook & Moore

A preview of the comic play about the partnership between Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Creators Jonathan Hansler and Clive Greenwood explain more here. Read
Feature Picture Count Arthur Strong interview

BCG chats to Count Arthur Strong. Somehow he gets the impression we've booked him to appear on Just A Minute. Oops. Read
Feature Picture Podcasts

This week's new podcast offerings include Pappy's at a music festival; Richard Herring looking at good versus evil; and Stuart Goldsmith interviewing Thom Tuck. The first in a new series of No Pressure To Be Funny will be published tonight too: Listen
Feature Picture Leicester Comedy Festival competition

The Leicester Comedy Festival runs between the 4th to 22nd February. Here's how you can win a VIP trip, including tickets, a hotel stay, food and shopping cash: Enter
TV Listings
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...

Backchat Backchat
Monday, BBC Two, 10pm

Hollywood's Joan Collins flies over to discuss fashion faux pas with Jack Whitehall and his dad. She appears on the sofa alongside Miranda Hart, who reveals her love for a sock in a croc. Guide
Drunk History Drunk History
Monday, Comedy Central, 10pm

Slurred storytelling. Romesh Ranganathan talks Tutankhamun, Joe Lycett on highway man Dick Turpin, and Tom Rosenthal explains how Byron had a pet bear! Guide
Catastrophe Catastrophe
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

Episode 2 of the new sitcom. Sharon faces the reality of having a giant new room-mate in the form of Rob, the man whose child she happens to be carrying. Guide
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm

This time it's David Baddiel, Sharon Horgan, James Brown and Nish Kumar joining Alan Davies for some relaxed ad-libbed absurdity. Guide
Cockroaches Cockroaches
Tuesday, ITV2, 10pm

More post-apocalyptic troubles. Tom assembles a team to go to the supermarket as the camp is running out of food. Our heroes' lives are put at risk along the way. Guide
Count Arthur Strong Count Arthur Strong
Tuesday, BBC One, 10:45pm

Conman Phil is doing well in the area as a so-called plumber, swindling the locals out of hundreds of pounds. Will Arthur be his next victim? Guide
Blue Go Mad In Ibiza Blue Go Mad In Ibiza
Tuesday, ITV2, 11:35pm

As the prank series draws to a close, the boyband's mettle is tested to the limit. How far will things go before it's revealed that they've actually been interacting with comic actors? Guide
Up The Women Up The Women
Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm

The new series continues. Margaret tries to recruit new supporters of suffrage, whilst Eva, Myrtle and Gwen indulge in Dr Hamm's invigorator. Guide
Birds Of A Feather Birds Of A Feather
Thursday, ITV, 8:30pm

Dorien's gambling debts are mounting up and now she cannot pay the rent, so Sharon arranges employment for her - at a frock exchange. Guide
Monty Python's Personal Best Monty Python's Personal Best
Thursday, Sky Arts 1, 9pm

UK broadcast of this 2006 US series. This episode begins with a spoof memorial to 'the late' John Cleese before cutting to a series of sketches performed by the Pythons. Guide
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm

Charlie Brooker is back for another series of his satirical news show. He, along with the other regulars, will be casting their eyes over all that is ridiculous on the telly, news and online as well as anything else that's generally causing a stir. Guide
Crims Crims
Thursday, BBC Three, 10pm

The prison-based sitcom starring Elis James and Kadiff Kirwan continues. This week Sunnybank View goes into panic when prisoner Esteban escapes overnight. Guide
Room 101 Room 101
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm

Frank Skinner is literally joined by stand-up Sara Pascoe, chat show host Jonathan Ross and ex-cricketer Michael Vaughan. Nominations literally include people who misuse the word 'literally'. Guide
Benidorm Benidorm
Friday, ITV, 9pm

Joan Collins returns to Benidorm. This episode sees Solana Group CEO Crystal Hennessy-Vass sweep into the resort and take Joyce out to lunch. It can't be good news, can it? Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

Another new episode. Jon Richardson and Johnny Vegas take on Sean Lock and Romesh Ranganathan. Josie Long joins resident lexicographer Susie Dent. Guide
QI QI
Friday & Saturday, BBC Two, 10pm

After 16 episodes, we've reached the end of 'Series L' of the brainy panel show. If you missed some of it, take a look at these two highlights shows, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Guide
The Last Leg The Last Leg
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

Lots of people pointed out last week's episode of this format was particularly funny. This time Miranda Hart joins Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. Guide
The Graham Norton Show The Graham Norton Show
Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm

Among the guests on Graham's sofa this week: the one and only Dame Judi Dench, and Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel. Plus music from First Aid Kit, whoever they are. Guide
The Jonathan Ross Show The Jonathan Ross Show
Saturday, ITV, 9:20pm

Wossy welcomes the queens of The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins; plus distinguished actress Dame Diana Rigg. Johnny Vegas is also on the show to talk about his return to Benidorm. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Products
Last Tango In Halifax - Series Three Last Tango In Halifax - Series Three

PRE-ORDER. Going from strength to strength, Sally Wainwright's ratings-winning BBC One comedy drama concludes this week with the final episode of its third series. Have you kept up with the stresses and joys between Alan, Celia, and their respective families? Starring Sir Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker, the new series is out on DVD next Monday. Details
Eskimo Nell - 40th Anniversary Special Edition Eskimo Nell - 40th Anniversary Special Edition

PRE-ORDER. One of the most celebrated British adult comedies of the 1970s, Eskimo Nell is a satire on the low-budget British movie industry. Featuring a witty script from Michael Armstrong (who also stars) and directed by a young Martin Campbell years before the James Bond movies GoldenEye and Casino Royale, it's now been freshly remastered. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Still Open All Hours - Series One Still Open All Hours - Series One

PRE-ORDER. Almost 8 million people watched the final episode of the series live last night. 8 million. Not even the new series of Top Gear attracted that kind of audience, so surely the BBC will be desperate to commission a second run of the revived sitcom classic? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: Sir David Jason, who turns 75 next Monday, is a true comedy superstar. Details
Love, Rosie Love, Rosie

PRE-ORDER. Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since the age of six, but as they are approaching university, fate forces them to go their separate ways. Can their relationship survive the years and the miles? Based on Irish novelist Cecilia Ahern's Where Rainbows End the film shows how sometimes fate just can't stop meddling. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Shaun The Sheep - Flock To The Floor Shaun The Sheep - Flock To The Floor

OUT NOW. Ten episodes from the children's animated series following Shaun, a mischievous and unique sheep who leads his flock into all manner of trouble. Spinning off from the much-loved Wallace & Gromit, this is some of the finest childrens' comedy around, and comes with 5 DVD-exclusive episodes of the new web series of Morph. Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Video Picture Drunk History - Joe Lycett on Dick Turpin

A clip from this week's episode of the Comedy Central show. Joe Lycett, after downing a few drinks, tells the story of the famous highwayman Dick Turpin. Watch
Video Picture Sir Winston Churchill on his famous speech

Winston Churchill died 50 ago. Sounding a little different than you'd perhaps expect, here he is talking about the famous speech he gave. No, not that one. The one in the bar. Watch
Video Picture The Perverted Opticians

Your eyes are precious miracles of nature. Well worth taking care of. But you might rather go blind than visit Derek and Tony, as this sketch from This Glorious Monster demonstrates. Watch
Video Picture Where's The Baby?

The hunt is on to find a baby. It's a surprisingly dark sketch from YouTube star Tom Ska. Watch
Video Picture Cat Rap

The sketch group Four Screws Loose present a song about the cats on YouTube. Watch
Video Picture National Hug Day: A Guide

It was National Hug Day sometime last week (doesn't really matter when, does it?). The Noise Next Door explain how you're supposed to do hugging. Watch
Video Picture The Keith Lemon Sketch Show - One Direction

One Direction get interviewed by Fearne Cotton. They're just every girl's dream! Watch
Video Picture Maggie Smith talks about Judi Dench

Downton Abbey and Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith wants to chat to us about her friend, Dame Judi Dench. A sketch from The Jest comedy group. Watch
Video Picture Totally Trented Prank Show - Series 2

Totally Trented, the hidden camera prank show in which the stars don't seem to understand how to carry out pranks, returns. As we start, it appears David Trent has been fired from hosting his own show... Joel Dommett is now in charge! Watch
Video Picture The Truth About Girls

In this energetic music video, double-act That Pair reveal everything you've ever needed to know about girls (although Kat may have missed the point). Watch
Video Picture Cockroaches - Bloopers

Here's some mistakes from the ITV2 sitcom, plus footage of some funky dancing from the cast. Watch
Video Picture Spoof of Vogue interview with Victoria Beckham

Holly Burn spoofs that '73 Questions with Victoria Beckham' Vogue interview. This video went viral after the target herself shared it with her 8m Twitter followers. Watch
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight Never The Twain

Starring screen legends Windsor Davies and the late Sir Donald Sinden, Never The Twain remains one of ITV's longest-running sitcoms, clocking up 11 series from 1981 to 1991. Currently enjoying a repeat run on ITV3 (catch up on ITV Player), the comedy follows warring antique dealers, next-door neighbours and former business partners Simon Peel and Oliver Smallbridge, whose lives are thrown far closer together than either of them would care for when their children fall in love and get married. Guide
Thanks for Reading
That's all for another week, folks. We hope you've found plenty in the above to spark your interest for the 7 days ahead. Until next Monday,

The British Comedy Guide

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