British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 24th August 2015
Welcome to this week's email. We start off with some news that may or may not excite Blackadder fans; read on for a full guide to this coming Bank Holiday weekend's telly treats.
Latest Comedy News
News Picture New Blackadder revival rumours

Sir Tony Robinson has given one of the strongest hints yet about a possible Blackadder revival. Read
News Picture Andrew Lawrence gets Radio 4 sitcom

Andrew Lawrence is to star in his own BBC Radio 4 sitcom, There Is No Escape, alongside Diane Morgan. Read
News Picture Catherine Tate to star in new hotel comedy Do Not Disturb

TV channel Gold has commissioned a one-off hour long comedy drama set in a boutique hotel. Catherine Tate and Miles Jupp are amongst the stars. Read
News Picture Alan Partridge's idea comes true

As you may remember, Alan Partridge once suggested the TV format Youth Hostelling With Chris Eubank. It's now actually a thing. Seriously. Whatever next? Monkey Tennis?! Read
Features
Feature Picture Ben Spiteri on Bad Robots Series 2

Ben Spiteri, the producer and co-writer of E4's riotous hidden camera prank show Bad Robots, which returns for a new series tomorrow, talks about writing and making Series 2, including creating all new Tezcorp machines. Read
Feature Picture Edinburgh Fringe Features

We have a whole host of content in our Edinburgh Fringe section. Find out who won the Amused Moose award, read lots of interviews (including a great one with Mark Thomas), and much more. Read
Feature Picture A new season of TV

September sees the launch of a number of TV shows. Check out our list here for the start dates for things like Rotters, a silent comedy starring Frank Skinner. View
Feature Picture Free TV & Radio Tickets

Mrs. Brown's Boys (in Glasgow) is amongst the shows you can find on our list of TV and radio shows you can go and watch being recorded for free. List
Feature Picture Podcasts

Podcasts are great for listening to when travelling or working at your desk. Head to our website for a whole list of shows, including the latest RHLSTP: Listen
Feature Picture Edinburgh Fringe reviews

Interested in how a comedian is doing at the Edinburgh Festival? We have collected up all the reviews from over 50 publications on our website. Just search for their name to see all. View
TV Listings
Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week...

Yonderland Yonderland
Monday, Sky1, 8pm

The final episode of the fantasy comedy series, and a terrible threat looms over the magical kingdom as Imperatrix finishes her secret weapon and issues an ultimatum. Guide
Taskmaster Taskmaster
Tuesday, Dave, 10pm

The fifth episode of challenges for the five comedians involved in this weekly game. Frank Skinner takes a boulder onto a train for a pleasant excursion. Guide
Bad Robots Bad Robots
Tuesday, E4, 10pm

A new series of the prank show that uses technology to frustrate the general public. For example there's a Currency Exchange machine that ruins holidays before anyone has even got on a plane. It's easily as funny as Series 1, so don't miss out! Guide
Goodness Gracious Me Goodness Gracious Me
Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm

After the successful reunion in 2014, the cast of Goodness Gracious Me are returning for another one-off special of the ground-breaking British Asian sketch show, part of BBC Two's India Season. Guide
Fried Fried
Tuesday, BBC Three, 10:30pm

You may have seen the pilot episode of this fast food takeaway shop sitcom on BBC iPlayer last year as part of 2014's Comedy Feeds. A full series is now here. More info and a trailer in our guide. Guide
Top Coppers Top Coppers
Wednesday, BBC Three, 10pm

Episode 2 of the spoof cop show. When the ageing star of hit sci-fi show Future Space starts receiving anonymous death threats, John Mahogany finds himself coming face to face with his childhood hero. Guide
Very British Problems Very British Problems
Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

The third (and final) episode of the show in which comedians discuss the good and bad points about being British. This week the celebrities talk about Brits' excruciating inability to express emotions and feelings. Guide
Safeword Safeword
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm

The guests in this episode of the panels how are TOWIE regular Gemma Collins and former X Factor judge Louis Walsh. Dane Baptiste and Tom Davis are the comedy guests. Guide
Would I Lie To You? Would I Lie To You?
Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm

This week the guests on the always-funny panel show are Clare Balding, Rhod Gilbert, Nick Grimshaw and Rob Delaney. Play along at home and try and spot who is fibbing before the other team do. Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

Jimmy Carr hosts the 16th episode in this latest series (yes, 16th). Sean Lock and Sara Pascoe who take on Jon Richardson and Josh Widdicombe. Susie Dent is joined by The Horne Section. Guide
The Last Leg The Last Leg
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker once again provide some offbeat commentary on the significant moments of the past seven days. As always, it's live. Guide
Mountain Goats Mountain Goats
Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm

Episode 3 of the BBC's new studio audience sitcom about a team of mountain rescue volunteers. This week Jimmy loses Tom Jones - not the singer, but Bill's favourite dog. Guide
Sunny D Sunny D
Friday, BBC Three, 11:05pm

A TV broadcast for this Comedy Feeds sitcom pilot starring up-and-coming stand-up comedian Dane Baptiste as a 29 year-old man who feels trapped still living with his parents. Guide
Through The Keyhole Through The Keyhole
Saturday, ITV, 9:30pm

Keith Lemon is back for a third series of the revamped game show. Gino D'Acampo, Corrie battle-axe Sue Cleaver and Johnny Vegas try to guess whose house Keith Lemon is in. Guide
Duck Quacks Don't Echo Duck Quacks Don't Echo
Monday 31st, Sky1, 8pm

A third series of Lee Mack's fact testing panel show launches on Bank Holiday Monday. Jerry Springer, Emma Bunton and Jason Byrne are the guests putting further fascinating titbits to the test. Guide
An Evening With Harry Enfield And Paul Whitehouse An Evening With Harry Enfield And Paul Whitehouse
Monday 31st, BBC Two, 9pm

Given how good their Story Of The Twos special was, we're really looking for this one: it's a special celebrating 25 years of the partnership between Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse. Most of it is new sketches. Guide
Danny And The Human Zoo Danny And The Human Zoo
Monday 31st, BBC One, 9pm

This new one-off BBC drama is due to be shown on Bank Holiday Monday. It's a fictionalised account of Lenny Henry's life as a working-class teenager in 1970s Dudley. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Products
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel & The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel & The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

OUT NOW. Double bill of British comedies directed by John Madden and starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel and Maggie Smith. The hit films follow the goings-on at a slightly ramshackle Indian hotel, marketing itself as a relaxing retirement destination "for the elderly and beautiful". Blu-ray Details & DVD Details
Mr Bean - Number 7 Mr Bean - Number 7

PRE-ORDER. Join family favourite Mr Bean in nine new adventures from the second series of the animated Mr Bean series. Episodes: Home Movie, Fish Sitting, The Cruise, Coconut Shy, Green Bean, Cash Machine, Litterbugs, Rat Trap, Valentine's Bean. Details
Bad Education - Series Three Bad Education - Series Three

PRE-ORDER. It's summer term at Abbey Grove and Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall) is back, however this term is going to be a challenge. Exams are looming and it's time for Alfie to finally knuckle down and start teaching his class, but the path to A*s never did run smooth... With The Bad Education Movie in cinemas now, if you missed Series 3 on TV it's time to order the DVD: Details
Get Well Soon Get Well Soon

PRE-ORDER. Sitcom 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 before he can leave. Also featuring Eddie Marsan, Anita Dobson & Samantha Beckinsale. Details
Hue & Cry Hue & Cry

OUT NOW. A bunch of crooks use a comic paper, featuring stories penned by Felix H. Wilkinson (Alastair Sim), to pass on coded messages for robberies. When the comic's readers, a bunch of East End boys, discover what's going on they go to the police; unfortunately the constabulary are no help, so the plucky lads set out to foil the robbers themselves. Blu-ray Details & DVD Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Video Picture 8/10 Cats Countdown - Joe Lycett gets off a parking fine

In case you missed it, here's the funny story Joe Lycett told in Dictionary Corner about how he managed to dodge a parking fine. Watch
Video Picture Ken Loach's Star Wars

This is what Star Wars would have been like it if had been directed in the North of England by Ken Loach. A great parody by double-act Haiste & Lawrence. Watch
Video Picture Short & Curly - How To Selfie

In the first instalment of Judith and John's guide to modern living they reveal the best way to take a self portrait with your phone. Watch
Video Picture Bill - Second Trailer

This film starring the original cast of Horrible Histories is out in cinemas next month. Here's the latest trailer for the movie. Watch
Video Picture The Bad Education Movie interviews

Here're various video interviews featuring the cast of The Bad Education Movie, including our interview with Jack Whitehall if you missed that last week. Watch
Video Picture Newsjack is back soon

Newsjack, the topical comedy sketch show that anyone can write for, is back for its 13th series on Thursday 10th September. Here's the trailer, with more details on how to submit sketches. Watch
Video Picture Thanks a bunch

A discussion on how you should sign off your emails. This one probably isn't safe to watch at work, not only because of the language, but because it might give you ideas. Watch
Video Picture Cradle To Grave trailer

Here's the trailer for the anticipated new sitcom based on Danny Baker's childhood. Peter Kay stars in the show, which launches next month. Watch
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight All Our Saturdays

Do you remember this short-lived sitcom starring blonde bombshell Diana Dors? Often labelled Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe, Dors starred as Di Dorkins, the owner of clothing business Garsley Garments. When the company's rugby league team flounder at the bottom of the table, she decides to take over managing the team herself, in an effort to boost morale and the company's public image. Guide
Thanks for Reading
If you visit our homepage on Tuesday morning you'll be able to start your day by laughing at the top 10 jokes from the Edinburgh Fringe, which are set to be announced tomorrow. In the meantime, have a great week!

The British Comedy Guide

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