| From Partridge to politics, we've got the week's main comedy-related news and TV covered here... |
| Latest Comedy News |
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| Also of interest... |
Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in...
- Father Ted is 20 years old tomorrow, and various articles are marking that fact: Press Clippings
- Rik Mayall's family face a big tax bill because there's no will to deal with his £1.2m estate: Daily Mail
- Congratulations to Dave Gorman. Writing in a blog, he revealed "I'm going to be a Dad. Woo hoo!" Blog
- Here's the first picture of The Dawsons, the new family joining ITV sitcom Benidorm next year: British Comedy Guide, and it looks like Madge is coming back. Sheila Reid has been spotted on set: Facebook photo
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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Ballot Monkeys preview
Drop The Dead Donkey writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin introduce their new political sitcom, a show so topical much of it hasn't been filmed yet, even though it's on TV tomorrow. Read |
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Frankie and Benny: A remembrance
Comedy historian Robert Ross celebrates the lives and memories of comedy superstars Frankie Howerd and Benny Hill, who both died this same week in April in 1992. Read |
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No second thoughts: Jan Etherington interview
An interview with Jan Etherington, one half of the husband-and-wife writing team behind hit late-1990s ITV sitcom Faith In The Future, starring Lynda Bellingham. With an early role for Simon Pegg, it's out now on DVD: Read |
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Lee Nelson interview
Now embarking on a lengthy, nationwide live tour, we talked to Lee Nelson about his plans for the future, politics, and his smart new look. Read |
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Podcasts
Head to our Podcasts area to listen to some interesting and funny comedy-related shows. Offerings include a RHLSTP bonus episode, and an outspoken interview with Gina Yashere. Podcasts |
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'Make It' newsletter
Interested in writing or performing? You should read our 'Make It' newsletter. It includes a chance to win some new writing and stand-up books: Read |
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| TV Listings |
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...
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Raised By Wolves
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm
Last episode in the series. Germaine drags a reluctant Aretha and Yoko to legendary nightclub 'The Dorch' in a final attempt to win Lee's heart. Guide |
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Jack Dee's Election Helpdesk
Monday, BBC Two, 10pm
Jack Dee and guests attempt to help the studio audience with more of their problems in the second of three episodes. It's technically election-themed, but actually more of a general show. Guide |
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Virtually Famous
Monday, E4, 10pm
Kevin McHale, Seann Walsh and Chris Stark are joined by Stacey Solomon, comedians Rob Beckett and Bobby Mair, plus American YouTube superstar Tyler Oakley. Guide |
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Ross Noble Freewheeling
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm
More adventures with Ross Noble. Where else on TV would you see arm-wrestling OAPs, crab-taunting and multiple Chris de Burghs? Marcus Brigstocke tries potato sports too. Guide |
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Ballot Monkeys
Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm
A new topical sitcom created by the team behind Drop The Dead Donkey. This is being filmed so close to transmission no one is yet sure how it is going to turn out. See our guide for more information. Guide |
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Newzoids
Wednesday, ITV, 9pm
Episode 1 of this new satirical puppet sketch show launched last week with 3.69m viewers - not a bad start. Every preview also featured the words 'Spitting Image' so now it's time for Newzoids to try to prove it can be a hit in its own right. Guide |
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The Delivery Man
Wednesday, ITV, 9:30pm
Episode 2 of the new ITV sitcom about a male midwife. A 'double dad' has to rush between the bedsides of two expectant mothers, while Matthew realises he's landed Lisa's boyfriend in trouble. Guide |
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You, Me & Them
Wednesday, Gold, 10pm
Comedy starring Anthony Head and Eve Myles. Tensions fly when Keith's handyman skills see Ed and Lauren needing to seek shelter at the Masons'. Guide |
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W1A
Thursday, BBC Two, 9pm
Ian Fletcher, Siobhan Sharpe and the rest of the BBC team are back for a second series of management blunders. This week's episode is a one-hour special to kick off the run. Guide |
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Celebrity Juice
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm
Guests joining Keith Lemon this week include Pointless creator and co-presenter Richard Osman and 'the ultimate Essex girl', actress Denise Van Outen. Guide |
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Inside No. 9
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton pop up as yet more different characters (these two have such a great range) in another instalment of their show. It's someone's birthday in this one. Guide |
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The Last Leg
Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker return for a series of specials linked to the forthcoming election. Executives will no doubt be hoping for more TV moments like when Alex interviewed Nick Clegg. Guide |
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Have I Got News For You
Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm
Jeremy Clarkson was supposed to be hosting this episode, but sadly he pulled out - it would have made great TV! No news on his replacement yet, but the panellists are Miles Jupp and Camilla Long. Guide |
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Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
Alan Carr welcomes property gurus Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer to the sofa. Plus Stephen Mangan drops by to talk about his new National Theatre play, Rules for Living. Music is from Charles Hamilton and Rita Ora. Guide |
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The Graham Norton Show
Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm
Graham Norton returns presents another episode of his chat show. At the time of sending this, there's no news on who the guests will be. Will the host's new beard continue to upstage them all? Guide |
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Play To The Whistle
Saturday, ITV, 9:15pm
On this week's episode of the sports-based panel show, team captains Frank Lampard and Bradley Walsh are joined by guests Harry Redknapp, Piers Morgan and Alex Brooker. Guide |
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Celebrity Squares
Sunday, ITV, 7:15pm
Warwick Davis, Tim Vine and Joe Wilkinson are joined by comedy duo Vic & Bob, Sherrie Hewson, Carl Fogarty, Chris Ramsey, Jessica Hynes, Marek Larwood and Rachel Yankey. Guide |
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
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| New Products |
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French Dressing
OUT NOW. Cinema's enfant terrible Ken Russell's debut feature is an exuberant farce that has become a cult classic since its theatrical release fifty years ago. Featuring early lead roles for James Booth and Roy Kinnear, and with script input from Johnny Speight, this much sought-after comedy gem is available on DVD now. Details |
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A Bear's Tail - The Complete First Series
PRE-ORDER. From the creator and star of Celebrity Juice and The Keith Lemon Sketch Show, Leigh Francis, comes a different breed of sitcom. A spin-off from Bo' Selecta!, Francis plays that weird little bear, living with a family. Alongside the full (and to date, only) series is an impressive collection of extras. Details |
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Fierce Creatures
PRE-ORDER. John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Academy Award winner Kevin Kline follow their smash hit A Fish Called Wanda with another joyous farce.
A quaint English zoo director attempts to rid the park of its cute, cuddly animals and display only 'Fierce Creatures'.
Re-released, it's available here for the first time on Blu-ray. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details |
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British Comedies Of The 1930s - Volume 1
OUT NOW. The ebullient comedy films of the 1930s brought escape and laughter to millions of British cinemagoers, enabling veteran stars of the music-hall and theatre to reach out to a wider audience - making household names of performers like Leslie Fuller, Hal Gordon, Bobby Howes, Ernest Lotinga and Gene Ge. Details |
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Mr Bean - Funny Faces
PRE-ORDER. A bean-tastic collection of Mr Bean's funniest faces across the animated series and the original live action show. This single-disc release includes 2 cartoon episodes, and 4 original live Mr. Bean sketches. Details |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon. |
| Comedy Videos |
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All Mouth No Trewsers
Have you registered to vote? Today is the last day to do so. As Jake Yapp smartly and amusingly explains in this video ripping apart Russell Brand's ideology, you should vote. Watch |
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Peter Kay's Car Share preview
The new sitcom starring Peter Kay launches on BBC One next Wednesday. Here's a preview clip, showing that John and Kayleigh's first day of sharing a lift to work doesn't start well. Watch |
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Stand-Up Comedy on the London Underground
Watch as five stand-up comedians try and cheer up passengers on the London underground... the results are mixed. Watch |
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Man Up trailer
The trailer for Simon Pegg's new movie, made by the people behind Shaun Of The Dead. It's about a single woman who's mistaken for a stranger's blind date, leading to her finding the perfect boyfriend. Watch |
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Peter's Place - Episode 1
An animated sitcom set in a pub in Manchester. In this opening episode landlord Peter threatens to move Susan (the talking Moose head) into the back room of the pub. Watch |
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A League Of Their Own preview
A new series of Sky's sporty panel show is coming soon. Here's a clip in which John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp sing. Watch |
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Supermarket Delivery
A sketch involving a supermarket making a home delivery. Can you guess where this is going? Maybe not... Watch |
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Murder In Successville trailer
A trailer for the new BBC Three comedy series, which starts next week. It's hard to explain, but basically each week DI Sleet (Tom Davis) has a murder to solve with help from a celebrity who is trying their hand at acting. Watch |
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| Guide Spotlight |
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Strange Hill High
If you watched ITV's new satirical show Newzoids last week, you'll have spotted a really interesting method of animation: traditional stick puppets, with moving mouths and eyes added in computer graphics. Unfortunately it looked somewhat on the cheap side in Newzoids, but it was first used in CBBC sitcom Strange Hill High - whose head writer is The Simpsons and Futurama alumnus Josh Weinstein. This original version of the animation method, known as 'hypervynorama', was created by Strange Hill creator Kat Van Henderson and pioneered online before making it to TV. Strange Hill itself, meanwhile, is due to return for a third series a little later this year. Seven episodes from the wonderful first series are out now on DVD. Guide |
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| Thanks for Reading |
As ever, you'll find more on our website and social media every day!
The British Comedy Guide
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