This newsletter starts with the results of our annual TV and radio awards... |
Latest Comedy News |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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TV Listings |
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Where's The Baby?
The hunt is on to find a baby. It's a surprisingly dark sketch from YouTube star Tom Ska. Watch |
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Cat Rap
The sketch group Four Screws Loose present a song about the cats on YouTube. Watch |
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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 |
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The Keith Lemon Sketch Show - One Direction
One Direction get interviewed by Fearne Cotton. They're just every girl's dream! Watch |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Cockroaches - Bloopers
Here's some mistakes from the ITV2 sitcom, plus footage of some funky dancing from the cast. Watch |
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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 |
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Guide Spotlight |
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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
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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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