BCG Daily Thursday 9th June 2011

In with the Flynns, BBC One, review

Let's start today with a spot of free association. If I say the words "BBC One primetime sitcom", what do you think of? My guess is a family of harassed but likeable parents and their mischievous but likeable children - all of whom exchange mild banter that convulses the studio audience with inexplicable mirth. You might further imagine a couple of eccentric relatives and some contrived misunderstandings that lead to a few easily resolved scrapes. Throw in a title that's a pun on the family's name and Bob is pretty much your uncle.

And if that's what you did think of, then congratulations - because the new show In with the Flynns contains all of the above.

Dull, tired and completely edge-less

In With The Flynns has been described as edgy by lead star Will Mellor, but the truth is that this sitcom is about as tired and old as a brand new TV programme can get.

The unbearable smugness of Sandi Toksvig

I love the Danes. If they want to ban Marmite, that's fine by me. Yes of course it's tasty, in small doses, but isn't there something inherently WRONG about something of which A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY? If it's so great, why would you have to SPREAD THINLY? What other foodstuff takes as its USP the fact that LOTS OF PEOPLE HATE IT? Face it, if Marmite was a person, it would be a pervert.

Now they've banned Marmite, can we ban Sandi Toksvig?

Dawn French loses five stone in a year & that's no joke

Dawn French, who once tipped the scales at 19 stone, looked a new woman at an awards ceremony in London.

King Arthur and Camelot: Why the cultural fascination?

Opinion: Whose joke is it anyway?

Last month I wrote a witty one-liner; it referenced a high profile news story at the time and was unique. I told a couple of my friends who thought it was really funny, so I posted it on Twitter. 4 days later, whilst watching a very popular comedy news programme on mainstream television, I saw my joke being repeated verbatim by a well known comedian.

Video: Coogan on The Trip's journey to feature film

Talking Movies' Tom Brook reports on the feature film The Trip, which stars British comedian Steve Coogan.

In what started as a six part British television series, the feature film is set to be released internationally.

The film opens in the US on Friday 10 June.

BBC Comedy hits the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011

Here's why 2011 is going to be a big, BIG year for BBC Comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe...

In With The Flynns review: The new My Family?

Although at first the characters don't come across as believable, by the end of the episode everyone seems to fit into the set-up well, and there are more than a few genuinely funny moments.

Mighty Boosh star's 'crash course' in theatre acting

The Mighty Boosh star Julian Barratt has admitted he did not know what he was letting himself in for when he signed up for his first theatre role in The Government Inspector.

Pink & Ricky Gervais commercial wins PETA top ad prize

An animal rights public service announcement narrated by Pink and Ricky Gervais has won a major advertising prize.

Les Dawson's daughter aims for Miss Manchester title

The daughter of comedy legend Les Dawson is hoping to represent the city he loved - by winning the title of Miss Manchester.

QI: Quite interesting facts about shortness

A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI is cut short.

Happy birthday Ideal!

Tonight will see Ideal reach it's 50th episode. An uncommon achievement for any programme. Especially a British comedy series. Whilst U.S. comedies frequently rack up hundreds of installments, it's very rare indeed for a UK production to pass the 12 episode mark. Many of course, don't even make it that far.

The Edinburgh Fringe - The beginning of the end?

It is a big day in the comedy calender. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Programme is launched today. All over London, the UK and elsewhere around the world, comedians will be scouring the listings to check that they've got the right times, dates and venues printed. All you need for a bad start to your Fringe is a great show but listed an hour earlier than it should be, as once happened to one comedian I know.

Fringe comedy shows to look out for in 2011

Margaret Cho, Todd Barry and Imran Yusuf among 2011 ones to watch.

Carr jacking the Channel 4 Comedy Gala adverts

Specially recording adverts starring Jimmy Carr and Alan Carr will play in multiple spots throughout the transmission of this year's Channel 4 Comedy Gala.

Inbetweeners star James Buckley to be a dad

In The Inbetweeners, his character Jay Cartwright is renowned for his immature behaviour and unbelievable bragging about his fictional sex life. But in reality, actor James Buckley is set to take on the most grown-up role of his life - by becoming a father.

Pegg feared sneaky photo would anger Star Trek director

Simon Pegg feared he would be thrown off the set of the 2009 Star Trek movie after sneakily taking a photo of himself in costume.

Video: Ideal fans celebrate with Cartoon Head flashmob

Johnny Vegas is a larger than life character - but his Ideal co-star Cartoon Head gave him a run for his money when 50 masked fans formed a flashmob.

The group wore mouse masks as they paraded and danced around Media City and the Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford.

Cartoon Head, who never speaks in the Salford-set comedy-drama, is a favourite character for many Ideal fans.

The 50th episode of the show goes out tonight at 10.30pm on BBC3.