| August! How is it August already? We enter a quiet couple of weeks for TV news now, but still lots to read below... |
| Latest Comedy News |
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| Features |
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Edinburgh Fringe 2015
We have a huge guide to the Edinburgh Fringe on our website. It includes over 1,500 detailed listings (more info that you'll find anywhere else), plus over 100 interviews with acts (with many more due to be added daily). Website |
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Podcasts
We've new podcast episodes from Sitcom Geeks, Do The Right Thing, John Dredge, and Richard Herring on the website this week. This Johnny Vegas interview has been particularly well received. Listen |
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Archive Feature: How the BBC nearly didn't make Dad's Army
Ian Lavender, the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon's sole surviving member, has said the BBC wouldn't make Dad's Army today because the Corporation ignores older viewers. He may well be right, but here's a feature in which we explain how Dad's Army nearly wasn't made at all. Read |
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Win tickets to the Reading and Leeds festival
The Reading and Leeds festivals - due to take place at the end of August - have great comedy line-ups this year. We've got a pair of highly sought after tickets to give away. Enter |
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| TV Listings |
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...
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Yonderland
Monday, Sky1, 8pm
The fantasy comedy series continues. Negatus revels in the glory of discovering the elusive second scroll and delivering its message to the evil Imperatrix. Guide |
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Not Safe For Work
Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm
The workplace comedy drama comes to an end. We re-join the action a week on from the big presentation and the department is still awaiting news on its fate. Guide |
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Taskmaster
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm
This week the contestants have to identify the contents of a table full of mystery pies. The backwards films they have to make are very good - see Romesh Ranganathan's creation in our guide now. Guide
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People Just Do Nothing
Wednesday, BBC Three, 10pm
The mockumentary continues. Chabuddy prepares for his latest business venture and Grindah has a big announcement for Miche. Meanwhile, Beats takes Craig on a father and son fishing trip. Guide |
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Safeword
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm
The third episode of the new panel show from ITV. This one features dancing diva Louie Spence and rapper Tinchy Stryder. The comedy guests delivering a ribbing are Russell Kane and Johnny Cochrane. Guide |
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Would I Lie To You?
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm
Bob Mortimer, Gabby Logan, Katherine Parkinson and Steve Backshall are the guests this week. Last time Mortimer was on the show he came up with some great lies... will he tell the truth this time? Guide |
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8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday, Channel 4, 9pm
Another new episode. Sean Lock and Liza Tarbuck take on guest captain Sarah Millican with Romesh Ranganathan. Susie Dent is joined by Phill Jupitus in Dictionary Corner. Guide |
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The Last Leg
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker provide yet more offbeat commentary. The extended run of this show means the stand-up hosts will only be doing a few dates at the Edinburgh Festival this year though. Guide |
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The Javone Prince Show
Sunday, BBC Two, 9:45pm
This week, in the final episode of his short series, Javone finally finds out what Omar really thinks of him. Meanwhile pre-filmed sketches include the Feisty Girls, who continue in their quest to find the ideal job. Guide |
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule. |
| New Products |
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It's a great day to do some purchasing on Amazon. Spend £50 or more, and you can get a very nice £10 discount with the code BIGTHANKS. Hurry though - it really is for today only!
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Get Well Soon
PRE-ORDER. Sitcom set in an NHS tuberculosis sanatorium, based on the meeting of comedy-writing powerhouse team Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
One day in 1947, Roy Osborne (Matthew Cottle) is admitted to a TB sanatorium. He thinks he'll only be there for a few weeks, then finds that it could be several years be. Details |
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Episodes - Series 4
OUT NOW. The hit British-American sitcom Episodes recently concluded its fourth series on BBC Two, and is available to own now on DVD. Starring Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig & Stephen Mangan, the 9-part series continues to follow the trio's attempts to further their careers in Hollywood, amidst the backdrop of network changes, pilots, and their dreadful sitcom, Pucks!. Details |
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The Maggie - Digitally Restored
PRE-ORDER. Ealing Studios comedy set in the Scottish isles.
Hollywood's Paul Douglas plays Marshall, an American businessman who becomes involved with The Maggie, a rundown old shipping vessel captained by the taciturn skipper (Alex Mackenzie). It's not long before he realises the crew have pulled a fast one on him - but what can he do to stop them? Blu-ray Details & DVD Details |
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Small Hotel
OUT NOW. In his penultimate film, Gordon Harker heads a strong cast in a charming comedy charting the battle between the staff of a none-too-prosperous hotel, and a supervisor eager to make some unpopular changes.
Co-starring Marie Lohr, John Loder and Billie Whitelaw, Small Hotel is featured here in a brand new transfer from the original film. Details |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon. |
| Comedy Videos |
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Top Coppers: Trailer
Welcome to Justice City where the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are worse. This new sitcom - a spoof of 70s police shows - starts later this month on BBC Three. Watch |
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Russell Howard on The Tonight Show
Russell Howard is currently in America and doing rather well over there. For those interested, here he is appearing on The Tonight Show. He jokes about being an Englishman in the States. Watch |
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Stage Of No Importance
We really enjoyed this short and snappy 5-part online series that had an important thing to say about dinosaurs (you'll need to watch all 5 to discover what though). Watch |
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The History Of The Selfie
This is a really good sketch! In it, we meet the man who first invented the selfie (the 'self portrait', that is). Watch |
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Paul Zerdin on America's Got Talent
British ventriloquist Paul Zerdin is doing rather well on America's Got Talent at the moment. Here's his performance in the semi-finals. Watch |
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| Guide Spotlight |
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Very British Problems
Do you suffer from Very British Problems? Exasperated by queueing but know there's no alternative? Infuriated when guests don't leave your home in a timely fashion, but too polite to tell them to sling their hook? Then this new Channel 4 series along the lines of Grumpy Old Men is for you. Based on the popular @VeryBritishProblems Twitter account, stars include Vic Reeves, James Corden, Aisling Bea, Ruth Jones, Jocelyn Jee Esien, and Baroness Trumpington. It starts next week. Guide |
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| Thanks for Reading |
If you haven't already, do check out The John Dredge Show and Do The Right Thing podcasts - we think you'll love them. It only takes 2 clicks and you can be playing them to find out - what have you got to lose?
The British Comedy Guide
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