Weekly Newsletter	Monday 16th February 2015

Whether you're loved up, bitter, ambivalent or oblivious to the weekend's romantic theme, we've got our most diverse selection of news in ages, so there's bound to be something to perk up your Monday. Dig in...

Latest Comedy News

Basil Brush stars in his own online sketch show Classic children's TV character Basil Brush is moving online, with a 32-part sketch show broadcasting on YouTube. Read Julia Davis comedy Hunderby to return to Sky Atlantic Julia Davis's black comedy Hunderby is to return to Sky Atlantic for a two-part special before the creator moves on to a new project for the channel. Read ITV2 orders Job Lot Series 3 ITV2 sitcom The Job Lot, starring Russell Tovey and Sarah Hadland, has been recommissioned for a third series. Read Jack Docherty sitcom Stop/Start to be piloted on TV Stop/Start, a sitcom by Jack Docherty about three married couples, is to be piloted on TV as part of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse strand. Read Leo Kearse crowned UK Pun Champion 2015 Leo Kearse has been named the winner of the UK Pun Championships 2015, having triumphed in the knockout "joke battle" final at the Leicester Comedy Festival. Read Bad Robots to return for Series 2 E4 hidden-camera prank series Bad Robots will return for a second series. Read E4 orders Phoebe Waller-Bridge comedy Crashing E4 has commissioned a sitcom about six 20- and 30-something Property Guardians from award-winning actress and playwright Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Read Detectorists leads Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2015 nominations Nominees for the annual TV & radio awards of the Broadcasting Press Guild have been revealed, with Detectorists up for three prizes. Other nominees include Rev, David Threlfall and Crackanory. Read Goodness Gracious Me to return for another special The team behind hit sketch show Goodness Gracious Me are to reunite to make another special TV episode of the comedy. Read ITV to launch new topical puppet show Newzoids Ahead of the General Election, ITV is to launch Newzoids, a new satirical puppet show which is being dubbed "a modern day Spitting Image". Read Vic and Bob planning live comedy tour Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer say they are planning to tour the UK with a live show later this year. They also say Shooting Stars could return one day. Read Rich Hall to present new comedy pilot Search History Rich Hall will host the pilot episode of Search History, a new comedy format based around internet search engines. Read Adam Buxton and Graham Linehan writing new sitcom The Cloud Adam Buxton and Graham Linehan are working together to write a new Channel 4 sitcom set on a spaceship. Read Line-up revealed for new Greg Davies show Taskmaster Taskmaster, the new comedy show for channel Dave starring Greg Davies and Alex Horne, will feature guests including Frank Skinner and Tim Key. Read

Also of interest...

Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in... - A video of Rowan Atkinson recording his voice for the new animated series of Mr Bean: Radio Times - Lee Mack has given the strongest public hint yet that Not Going Out might have a future: What's on TV - Daniel Kitson joins the list of stand-up comedians complaining about 'secondary ticketing': Beyond The Joke - There's an uncertain future for Gleneagles Hotel, the venue which inspired John Cleese to make Fawlty Towers: Western Morning News - Following the success of the first Paddington movie, a sequel is now planned: The Mirror Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

Features

Shaun The Sheep facts Here's some interesting facts about the Shaun The Sheep Movie. For example, there are 1589 'baa' sounds in the film. Read Guide: BBC iPlayer Funny Valentines comedies The BBC have released a collection of nine romance-related original short comedy films on iPlayer, written and starring many of Britain's finest comedians. We've details, trailers and links to watch here. Watch Lee & Herring reunite for a podcast chat Listen in as Stewart Lee and Richard Herring chat about their 1990s TV show, This Morning With Richard Not Judy. There're some funny stories. Listen Richard Herring has also released a new podcast series linked to his tour: Lord of the Dance Settee BattleActs discuss the audience's bad ideas Improv group BattleActs say they sometimes receive some unwanted advice from the audience. Here's what they think of some of the 'good ideas': Read

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... Mr Bean Monday - Friday, CITV, 9:25am A new series of the animated comedy based on the famous character. There's two new episodes every morning this week. See our guide for synopsis. Guide Asylum Monday, BBC Four, 9pm Episode 2 of the new sitcom. MI6 try to lure Dan out of the embassy by setting up an internet-based honey trap. Meanwhile, Ludo's birthday is approaching. Guide Drunk History Monday, Comedy Central, 9:30pm Sloshed storytelling. Kerry Howard discusses the pirate Blackbeard, Joel Dommett yaks Colonel Blood stealing the crown jewels, and Tiff Stevenson talks Henry VIII starting a war. Guide House Of Fools Monday, BBC Two, 10pm A brand new series of the sitcom from Vic & Bob. Julie opens a bistro, and Vic and Beef help arrange a blind date for Erik. More information in our guide. Guide Catastrophe Monday, Channel 4, 10:05pm Episode 5 of the sitcom from Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. This week the duo plan their wedding, while Rob prepares a surprise birthday party for Sharon. Guide The Graham Norton Show Monday, BBC One, 10:45pm A new episode, on a Monday! This is a special episode to celebrate 30 years of the BBC soap EastEnders. There's a whole bunch of current and past stars chatting (too many to write here - see our guide), and Graham gets a slap from Pat. Guide Cockroaches Tuesday, ITV2, 10pm The last episode of the comedy set after a nuclear war. Tom and Laura are kidnapped by the Spectrum gang of cannibals, and thrown into jail. Will they be rescued in time? Guide Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Tuesday, Dave, 10pm More relaxed chat. Alan Davies muses on Las Vegas marriages and hit singles with Johnny Vegas, David O'Doherty, Grace Dent and Sean Kelly. Guide Uncle Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm Episode 2 of the new series. Andy wants his latest fling to think he's mature, Errol wants to show a girl he's cool and Sam wants Ben's girlfriend, Veronica, to love her. Guide Count Arthur Strong Tuesday, BBC One, 10:40pm Arthur gets a job as a television psychic and the resulting fame starts to go to his head. Meanwhile, Michael's health is suffering as a result of his rather unique reaction to a tempting job offer. Last in the series. Guide Would I Lie To You? Wednesday, BBC One, 7:30pm A bit out-of-the-blue, here's an episode of the panel show featuring previously unseen material alongside highlights from the last series. Guide Revolution Presents: Democracy Dealers Wednesday, BBC Three, 9pm The duo behind The Revolution Will Be Televised prank show present a fly-on-the-wall portrait of some terrifyingly inept Members of Parliament in this politics-focused special. Guide Room 101 Wednesday, BBC One, 9:30pm Frank Skinner is joined by Bob Mortimer, Countdown star Rachel Riley and Mrs Brown's Boys actor Brendan O'Carroll to chat about wrapping food in bacon, small pedal bins and un-ripe fruit being sold in supermarkets. Guide Up The Women Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm The members of the Banbury Intricate Craft Circle Politely Request Women's Suffrage group are taken 'hostage' when the hall is used as a polling station. Guide Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm Charlie Brooker, Diane Morgan, Al Campbell, Morgana Robinson and Jake Yapp present their thoughts on the last seven days of news and television in their own unique way. Guide The Keith Lemon Sketch Show Thursday, ITV2, 10pm TV presenter Christine Bleakley is amongst the guest stars in this episode of the sketch show allowing Keith Lemon to play around with her nice public image. Guide Reality Bites Thursday, ITV2, 10:30pm Episode 3 of the panel show focusing on the world of reality television. As in previous episodes, Emma Willis and Joel Dommett (looking rather different now he's grown a beard) are the captains. Guide Stella Friday, Sky1, 9pm After being fired from the cafe by Little Alan, Michael heads to the pub to drown his sorrows, and bumps into flirty client Beyonce. Guide The Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 10pm A big movie star guest this week... Russell Crowe is set to join Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker this time. Hills and Crowe may end up having some side-chat about their home country. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm Among the guests on Graham's sofa this Friday: Richard Gere and Celia Imrie, appearing in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (yes, another week of plugs); actor Sean Penn; and music from Kelly Clarkson. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV, 9:40pm It's a comedy-based couch this week. Jennifer Saunders is on the show, as is Nick Frost. Paddy McGuinness is on too - depends on your views as to whether his label is 'presenter' or 'comedian'. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New Products

Cockroaches PRE-ORDER. The ITV2 sitcom about a group of misfits who've managed to survive a nuclear apocalypse concludes this week, and will be available to own on DVD from next Monday. Starring Esther Smith and Daniel Lawrence Taylor, it's written by Bad Education co-creator Freddie Syborn. Guest stars include Caroline Quentin, Jack Whitehall, Alexander Armstrong and Nigel Planer. Details House Of Fools - Series One PRE-ORDER. Stand by for unadulterated daft fun in this warm and wonderfully original sitcom written by and starring iconic comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. As the second series prepares to begin tonight, we're only left wondering why Vic, Bob, Julie, Bosh and Beef's insane escapades weren't released a week or two ago for fans to re-live before the new run starts? Details Mapp & Lucia OUT NOW. As ITV today begin a re-run of the original 1980s Channel 4 adaptation of E.F. Benson's novels, fans of the new BBC version, adapted by Steve Pemberton, may well be itching to revisit the comic snobbery we enjoyed in Tilling over the Christmas period. The three-part series stars an acclaimed ensemble cast led by Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor in the title roles. Details Horrible Histories - The Specials PRE-ORDER. This brand new DVD includes the two 2014 special episodes from the award-winning CBBC history show. Based on the best-selling children's books of the same name, the series offers an anarchic and unconventional take on some of history's most gruesome and funny moments. These two programmes focus on Valentine's Day and the First World War. Details Bluestone 42 - Series Two PRE-ORDER. All six episodes from the second series of the comedy about the members of a British Army bomb disposal unit working in Afghanistan. A third series begins on BBC Three next month (we've seen the first two episodes and they're as great as ever), with this DVD release scheduled for around the same time. Details We Joined The Navy OUT NOW. British film icon Kenneth More - at the height of his fame - plays an unlucky Dartmouth Naval College cadet leader who sails out to further misfortune when he joins the US fleet in the Mediterranean. Released in 1962, the spectacular cast also includes Dinsdale Landen, Jeremy Lloyd, John Le Mesurier, Derek Fowlds, Andrew Cruikshank, Warren Mitchell and Kenneth Griffith. Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Valentine's Day 2015 - Sketches The actual day may have been and gone, but this bunch of new sketches from British comedy groups linked to Valentine's Day are worth a watch: Watch The Graham Norton Show - EastEnders slaps A clip from tonight's show. Graham gets a lesson in how to receive an EastEnders slap from Pam St Clement. Watch Twirlywoos preview Take a look at the world of the Twirlywoos. It's a new comedy for pre-schoolers coming soon to CBeebies. It's made by the people who made Tellytubbies. Watch How do you play poker? A secret agent has to infiltrate a poker game. There's just one problem... no one seems to know how to do anything! Watch

Guide Spotlight

I Give It A Year This 2013 British comedy film seemed to pass by with little notice, but - chronicling the first year of marriage for misfit couple Nat and Josh (Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall) - it seems a fitting antidote to the Valentine's weekend just gone. The pair initially seem deeply in love, but something just hasn't quite worked out - and their families and friends don't think it'll last. Is this a case of happily never after? Guide

Thanks for Reading

Here's a song from Maid Marian And Her Merry Men to remind you tomorrow is Pancake Day! The British Comedy Guide

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