BCG Daily Thursday 9th December 2010

Review: Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting

One of radio's most sorely missed talents is comedian Linda Smith, so it's a joy to be tucking into repeats of Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting (Radio 7). Yesterday's episode of the sitcom, from 2002, was silly and marvellous, and it's a real treat to hear both her writing and her voice again.

Jordan considering legal action against Frankie Boyle

Katie Price is consulting her lawyers after comedian Frankie Boyle made fun of her disabled son Harvey on his Channel 4 show Tramadol Nights.

Billy Connolly takes to Route 66 for ITV

The Scottish comedian is to get his kicks on America's most famous highway, Route 66, for a new ITV1 series.

Stephen Mangan: "People still yell 'Dan' at me!"

"He physically abused me every day," says Stephen Mangan of recent co-star Matt Le Blanc. "He'd pin me down and fart in my face." We think he's joking. But the lank-haired comic actor has such a scurrilous sense of humour that it's hard to distinguish between a deadpan gag and a world-breaking exclusive.

It's no wonder, then, that he's been chosen to breathe life into Douglas Adams's huckster detective Dirk Gently in a new BBC drama...

Russell Brand to haunt cinemas in Rentaghost revival

Russell Brand is set to play the deceased deadbeat who offers ghosts for hire in remake of BBC children's TV comedy.

Dom Joly reveals what he learnt in the I'm A Celeb...

For 20 days, Dom Joly withstood the tarantulas and tantrums of I'm a Celebrity, his moves controlled by a jungle army of 500. So what did he learn?

Video - Simon's Cat: Santa Claws

Simon Tofield's endearingly anarchic pet is back, lending a paw with the Christmas decorations.

The Now Show asks for a short poem of complaint

Each week The Now Show asks their audience a question, and read out the funniest and sometimes the most bizarre answers at the end of the show.

What is Qatar?

I can't believe I am writing this but is it show 8 tonight, wow, this series has gone really fast. Anyway, I could tell you about the show tonight but it is probably better I just show you instead, so here you go.... Enjoy!

Who should star alongside Russell Brand in Rentaghost?

Brand is being lined up for the big-screen adaptation as Fred Mumford. But who should play the other characters?

Ricky Gervais muses on Steve Carell's Office exit

Ricky Gervais has insisted that NBC's The Office should not attempt to replace lead actor Steve Carell.

TV review: Freedom

It didn't have many jokes and, written down, some of the ones it did perhaps don't sound clever. Here's Frank introducing his mate: "I call him Doug. Actually everybody calls him Doug. I think it's mainly because that's his name." But, while it might not be to everyone's taste, I did find Freedom funny - thanks, mostly, to Kay's appealingly slow, glaikit delivery which, somehow, becomes funnier even as he stretches out each line past the point where you've already guessed the gag.