BCG Daily Friday 7th January 2011

Sign up for laughter lessons at the British Library

Comedy is a serious matter and, as if to underline how much the art form has developed, later this month it will be the subject of a conference, at London's British Library, featuring comedians alongside a host of academics.

Cultural Life: Rhod Gilbert, comedian

Interview about the cultural tastes of Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert

Radio review: Mark Thomas - The Manifesto

Recreational drugs should be legalised for senior citizens - Mark Thomas endorses his audience's manifesto suggestions.

Not Going Out series 4 episode 1 review

Lee Mack and Tim Vine return in the first episode of Not Going Out since its reprieve from the axe. And the show is on very, very good form...

David Jason's daughter joins him on red carpet

To use Del Boy's vernacular, she may still only be a littl'un. However, even at the tender age of nine, Sir David Jason's daughter Sophie is already a chip off the old block.

Come Fly With Me Defended... by Jim Davidson

TV viewers have complained that Matt Lucas and David Walliams' new comedy series set in an airport is racist.

Interview: James Corden

Having had a a rough time in the past year after his rise to success, James Corden feels like he's a different man, and not just because he's going to be a dad.

Weird Phil Zimmerman rushes pregnant Amanda Holden

A strange Britain's Got Talent auditionee launched himself at pregnant judge Amanda Holden yesterday.

Amanda was overseeing proceedings at London's Hammersmith Apollo along with Michael McIntyre and Louis Walsh and had been spooked by Phil Zimmerman's weird comedy routine.

Wossy: I don't watch Norton

Jonathan Ross has confessed he shuns his TV chat show replacement Graham Norton's programme. He revealed: "I never used to watch him when he was on Monday nights, so I don't watch him when he's on Friday now."

Shameless remake set for US TV debut

Remarkably faithful US version of Shameless transplants action to downtrodden Chicago suburb, but changes little else.

Video - Pete Postlethwaite: Brassed Off

Saying goodbye to one of our overlooked national treasures is not the best way to start the year but let's remember him in one of his greatest performances as band conductor Danny in the brilliant and no less undervalued classic British movie, Brassed Off.