BCG Daily Friday 8th January 2010

News

Press clippings

Working with Gary's faltering nerves

"We spent a lot of time interviewing Tony Beckton, mainly because Gary was too frightened to ask him any challenging questions, so we had to keep on filming."

Ben Mycroft, BBC Comedy, 8th January 2010

Jonathan Ross 'was forced out by BBC'

Jonathan Ross decided to quit the BBC after hearing that he was to be dropped by the corporation, reports have claimed today.

Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy, 8th January 2010

New sitcom reveals the truth about British ad agencies

Populated by over-the-top admen characters and extreme plots rooted more in truth than fiction, you get a flavour of the series with his original title - The Scum Also Rises - which BBC2 has delicately changed to The Persuasionists.

Michael Hellicar, Daily Mail, 8th January 2010

Jonathan Ross bids for stardom on American TV

Sources close to Ross say he is planning to become a roving presenter, working for a range of British broadcasters, and also harboured ambitions to work in the United States.

Patrick Foster, The Times, 8th January 2010

Sean Lock Interview

He's written for Lee Evans, Bill Bailey and Mark Lamaar. He's a regular panellist on survey-based 8 Out Of 10 Cats, as well as the intellectually stimulating QI. But even he admits to being as thick as a brick.

Tommy Holgate, The Sun, 8th January 2010

Bill Oddie feared depression would kill him

Bill Oddie has told how he feared he would die while battling crippling depression for the past 12 months.

Georgina Littlejohn, Daily Mail, 8th January 2010

Peter Serafinowicz tells us a story about Driver Dan

An interview with Peter Serafinowicz about Driver Dan's Story Time, the new kids' TV show he provides voices for.

Andy Welch, AOL, 8th January 2010

Newsjack Uncut (Actually no)

So, the first show of the new series has been written, re-written, collated, re-written again, rehearsed, performed, edited and broadcast so this seems as good a time as any to start this series of blogs aimed at giving you an insider's view of the ravening script-hungry beast that is Newsjack. You can tell I'm an insider through my use of hipster, cutting-edge industry jargon like 'show' and 'series'.

Dan Tetsell, BBC Writersroom, 8th January 2010

Scottish comic jumps from cyberspace into TV

If you can design a swearing Internet xylophone you may end up with your own BBC comedy show one day - just ask Brian "Limmy" Limond.

Dave Graham, Reuters, 8th January 2010

What is Jinsy?

This is Jinsy is a brand new comedy coming soon both online and on TV. Here is an introduction from the BBC Comedy Blog.

Jon Aird, BBC Comedy, 8th January 2010

Paul Merton on European eccentricities

Paul Merton reveals the strangest aspects of his new European travelogue for Five.

Adam Sweeting, The Telegraph, 8th January 2010

Videos

TV & radio

11:30am
30 min

Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!

Series 5, Episode 4 - Yes Count Arthur

Frustrated by a dispute at the local opticians over repairs to his glasses, Arthur decides to stand up for the 'little man' and seeks high office in the local council elections. With his protege Malcolm as his assistant campaigns manager, surely Number 10 has to be the next stop for the Dream Team?

2:15pm
30 min

Family Soup

Comedy drama focusing on a journalist's attempts to write a weekly family newspaper column - when his family have deserted him.

6:30pm
30 min

The News Quiz

Series 70, Episode 1

Campaigning, Coups and the Cold: Sandi Toksvig leads the teams in the week that a Labour revolution got left in the cold, Iceland gave the UK the cold shoulder and marriage gave Cameron cold feet. Jeremy Hardy, Fred Macaulay, Will Smith and Danielle Ward make up the illustrious panel.