BCG Daily Friday 15th January 2010

Press clippings

Ricky Gervais: Twitter is 'undignified' for adults

Ricky Gervais has broken celebrity ranks to criticise Twitter, claiming that posting on the micro-blogging site is an "undignified" activity for adults.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 15th January 2010

Bellamy's People: The celebrity road trip gets skewered

Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson have adapted their hugely popular radio satire about a spoof phone-in for the small screen. The character-comedy masters tell James Rampton how they did it.

James Rampton, The Independent, 15th January 2010

Ricky Gervais gears up to host Golden Globes

"It could be the end of my career," laughs comedian Ricky Gervais, who is set to present the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Fiona Pryor, BBC News, 15th January 2010

Ricky Gervais to guest star on The Office USA?

There are unconfirmed rumours that Ricky Gervais is seriously considering reprising his role as David Brent for the U.S. version of The Office later this season.

Michael Ausiello, Entertainment Weekly, 15th January 2010

Tom Deacon to serve up Sunday show on Radio 1

Comedian and presenter Tom Deacon is joining BBC Radio 1 to present a new Sunday night show, it has been announced today.

BBC Press Office, 15th January 2010

Last Night's TV - Material Girl

Oh God... another programme for which the prerequisite in terms of viewer demographics is to have nothing but fluffy pink tumbleweeds floating through your brain accompanied by birdsong and perhaps shiny things. And of course, quelle surprise, it's all about the 'glam' world of fashion and clichés abound; there's the bitchy one, the gay ones, the girl-next-door character and the hunky bloke. It's all very predictable and bit Ugly Betty without the fun.

Lynn Rowlands-Connolly, Unreality TV, 15th January 2010

Watching Comedy as a Comedy Writer

Whenever a new sitcom arrives on TV, I always try and watch it. I do this for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is that I'm sitcom writer myself and a bad person, and I therefore want it to fail. I then repent of this, and try to watch it without prejudice, remembering that I have more reasons to want this show to succeed. Why?

James Cary, Hut 33 Blog, 15th January 2010

Preview: Rik Mayall launches a World Cup England song

Motivation Records presents Rik Mayall's football anthem 'Noble England'.

Facebook, 15th January 2010

How these brutal edits are ruining comedy

Studio warm-up comedian Richard Sandling rails against heavy-handed post-production techniques.

Richard Sandling, Chortle, 15th January 2010

Mark Watson responds to Political 'Think Tank'

On Thursday this week our very own We Need Answers found itself in the firing line of a report on public broadcasting from political think tank Policy Exchange.

Mark Watson, BBC Comedy, 15th January 2010

Gregor Fisher on Rab C Nesbitt

After more than ten years away from the screen Rab C Nesbitt is back. Its star Gregor Fisher on the comedy he thought he'd hate.

Michael Deacon, The Telegraph, 15th January 2010

TV & radio

11:30am
30 min

Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!

Series 5, Episode 5 - Cookery Book

Arthur's latest scheme to secure an advance for his celebrity cookery book idea goes somewhat askew when he stands in for old pal Billy to demonstrate a kitchen appliance in the local shopping centre.

6:30pm
30 min

The News Quiz

Series 70, Episode 2

Anchors, Astrology and Alastair: Sandi Toksvig hosts in the week that the Chilcot Inquiry got in a spin, expenses were written in the stars, and Sarah Palin became a Fox-y lady. Andy Hamilton, Fred Macaulay, Miles Jupp and John Gordillo make up the illustrious panel.