Weekly Newsletter	Monday 9th March 2015

The BBC has announced lots of new shows in the past week. That news and much more below. Enjoy!

Latest Comedy News

Peter Kay to star as Danny Baker's father in Cradle To Grave Peter Kay will play Danny Baker's father in a new comedy series based on his autobiography, Cradle To Grave. Read Michael McIntyre to host BBC One Easter special Stand-up comedian Michael McIntyre will host a one-off Easter special for BBC One. Read BBC announces annual Ronnie Barker Comedy Lecture The BBC has announced the creation of an annual Ronnie Barker Comedy Lecture, named in honour of the late writer and actor, and intended to address key current themes in British comedy. Read New Ben Miller sitcom from Worst Week Of My Life writers Ben Miller will be reunited with the writers of The Worst Week Of My Life, Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni, for new BBC One sitcom I Want My Wife Back. Read US star Tracey Ullman returns to the BBC Comedian Tracey Ullman, whose 1980s US series gave birth to The Simpsons, is to make a brand new series for the BBC, more than 30 years since last working for the corporation. Read Morgana Robinson gets her own BBC Two pilot Morgana Robinson has been awarded her own sketch show pilot for BBC Two. Morgana & Friends will explore the world of celebrity both on and off camera. Read BBC Two confirms Harry & Paul retrospective BBC Two has confirmed it has commissioned a one-off programme celebrating the 25-year working partnership of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse. Read Rory Bremner will return with post-election satire Rory Bremner will follow up his Coalition Report programme with an Election Report special after May's General Election. Read Kerry Howard to star in new sitcom Witless BBC Three has commissioned a sitcom starring Him & Her's Kerry Howard, about two flatmates who go into witness protection. Read More Bad Education Movie details revealed Sarah Solemani, Mathew Horne and Harry Enfield have now all been confirmed to be appearing in The Bad Education Movie. Read Vic & Bob confirm 25th anniversary live tour Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer will tour the country later this year with their Poignant Moments show, celebrating 25 years of their double-act. Read Dapper Laughs films sitcom pilot Daniel O'Reilly - aka controversial comedy character Dapper Laughs - has posted a new sitcom pilot on his YouTube channel. Read

Also of interest...

Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in... - The Pub Landlord, aka Al Murray, is to publish his own manifesto of sorts, ahead of May's General Election. Let's Re-Great Britain is available to pre-order now: Details - Steve Coogan and his Baby Cow production company are supporting a joint bid by Hat Trick and Avalon to buy BBC Three and save it from closure: The Guardian - In an interview ahead of an Australian tour, Noel Fielding has said he doubts he'll make any more Luxury Comedy - but has teased the idea of more Mighty Boosh: The Music Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

Features

Interview with Paul Whitehouse & David Cummings An interview with writers Paul Whitehouse and David Cummings ahead of their new TV sitcom, Nurse. Read Margaret Thatcher: Queen of Podcasts Check out Episode 2 of our new satirical sketch show podcast. It's hosted by Margaret Thatcher! Hear what our former PM thinks about Madonna's stage fall, and more: Listen

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... Moone Boy Monday, Sky1, 9pm Sick of being caught between two warring parents, Padraic goes on the run with Martin. Crunchie Haystacks (returning guest star Johnny Vegas) struggles to cope too. Guide I Live With Models Monday, Comedy Central, 9:30pm Comedy Central's new sitcom continues. Tommy buys a flash white suit he can't afford. He's about to return it, when he meets a beautiful girl with expensive tastes. Guide House Of Fools Monday, BBC Two, 10pm Vic and Bob's surreal sitcom gets ever more crazy. This time the housemates have to deal with a giant monster-moth with an insatiable appetite. Guide Bluestone 42 Monday, BBC Three, 10pm The new third series of the comedy about an army bomb disposal unit. We re-join Bluestone 42 as an IED hits their transport... not all of them come out of the vehicle unscathed. Guide Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Tuesday, Dave, 10pm The last episode in the current run of the enjoyable chat show series. Jonathan Ross, Germaine Greer, Tom Wrigglesworth and Lucy Beaumont are the guests this time. Guide Uncle Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm Andy's desperate for cash to pay his rent, so when he hears his estranged Uncle Frank is dying, he thinks it's his chance to get written into his will. Guide Nurse Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm The new TV version of the Radio 4 series in which Paul Whitehouse plays various characters visited by a community psychiatric nurse. It's an acting masterclass. Guide In And Out Of The Kitchen Wednesday, BBC Four, 10pm Another comedy transferring from the radio. Miles Jupp plays a neurotic cookery writer who lives with his partner in a house that always seems to have the builders in doing something. Guide Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm A look at the best bits from the latest series of Charlie Brooker's topical comedy show. The episode synopsis promises "quite a lot of new bits too". Guide The Keith Lemon Sketch Show Thursday, ITV2, 10pm The fast-paced sketch show in which Keith Lemon affectionately spoofs celebrities concludes. Having notched up lots of hits on Facebook, some TV producers are wondering if social media is the future for the sketch show genre now. Guide Reality Bites Thursday, ITV2, 10:30pm Stephen Mulhern hosts another episode of the panel show focusing on the world of reality television. No news yet on who the panellists will be, but no matter, as we probably wouldn't have heard of the non-comedians anyway. Guide Comic Relief Friday, BBC One, 7pm to 2am The comedian-backed charity movement is aiming to pass the £1bn mark this year, so if you laugh at anything on Friday, do donate to help out. The main highlights in the seven hour broadcast are the return of Mr Bean and The Vicar of Dibley, plus a new sketch from David Walliams. Stephen Fry and Miranda Hart are just some of the many stars who will be appearing throughout the evening to encourage you to donate. Guide Stella Friday, Sky1, 9pm While Stella struggles to move on from Michael, Celia receives a blast from the past. Aunty Brenda's political campaign hits an unexpected snag, too. Guide You're Back In The Room Saturday, ITV, 8:20pm A new comedy game show where the contestants are hypnotised. It's hosted by Phillip Schofield. The first episode features some cooking-based tasks. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV, 9:20pm In an exclusive interview, Jonathan welcomes Madonna to his show. As can be seen in preview the video in our guide, amongst other things, they discuss that fall at the BRIT Awards. Guide Pompidou Sunday, BBC Two, 6:30pm Pompidou realises that a bowl he gave to a friend is worth a lot of money. We see Pompidou and Hove do everything from haggling in a charity shop to trying their hand at pottery to reclaim it. Guide Off Their Rockers Sunday, ITV, 7:30pm The prank show in which OAPs target the general public. This week Mo embraces modern fashion, Tony reveals a saucy secret and Royston shares his odd inventions. Guide The Revolution Will Be Televised Sunday, BBC Two, 10:35pm A second compilation of the best bits of Series 1, 2 and 3 of the political prank show starring Heydon Prowse and Jolyon Rubinstein. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New Products

Bluestone 42 - Series 2 PRE-ORDER. All six episodes from the second series of the BBC comedy about the members of a British Army bomb disposal unit working in Afghanistan. In Series 2, events are overshadowed by the race to identify and eliminate a particularly nasty Taliban bomber. Will Nick be able to piece the clues together before it's too late? Don't miss Series 3, starting tonight on BBC Three. Details Pride OUT NOW. Released in cinemas last year, Pride is a culture-clash comedy set amidst the 1984 miners' strike. The wonderful cast includes Bill Nighy, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton, as a group of gays and lesbians from London set out to raise funds to support striking miners in Wales against the backdrop of a homophobic union and locals. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details Moone Boy - All Three Series PRE-ORDER. Series 3 has only just begun, and already a box set of all the episodes is available to pre-order. Starring David Rawle and Chris O'Dowd, the show is filmed on location in Ireland and follows the young Martin Moone and his imaginary best friend Sean trying to make their way in the world as Martin broaches the gap between childhood and adolescence. And it's very funny. Details Captain Bill OUT NOW. Majestic scenes of the Thames provide a backdrop to the high-spirited clowning of Leslie Fuller in this 1935 nautical comedy. Fuller reprises his popular dim Cockney character as he plays a luckless bargee who unwittingly gets himself involved with a gang of gun-runners. Details Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror - White Christmas OUT NOW. Christmas special of the Channel 4 comedy drama written by Charlie Brooker, exploring the role of technology in modern society. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall star as two men who are forced to celebrate Christmas together whilst working in a remote cabin. A complete box set is also available. Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Inside No. 9 - Introducing the first episode The stars of the first episode of the new series of Inside No. 9 talk about filming the train-based story. Watch The Lunch Break Sometimes you have to go a long way to find a good meal. A sketch featuring John Dredge. Watch The Last Leg - Series 5 Finale with RJ Mitte In case you missed it, here's the the dance music based ending to the fifth series of the hit Channel 4 show. Watch

Guide Spotlight

Trouble In Store We bet that most of you will have seen this film multiple times, although perhaps not for a few years now. Starring Norman Wisdom, it's the first of the core cannon of films for which he is best remembered. He plays the earnest but luckless fool character who would later become known as Norman Pitkin. In this feature, Norman's working at an upmarket London department store when he gets on the wrong side of new boss Mr Freeman whilst trying to impress colleague Sally. Guide

Thanks for Reading

We only put the main items in this newsletter, so if that's not enough for you do check out our website and social media accounts for more across the week. The British Comedy Guide

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