British Comedy Guide
Passionate about comedy and ready to turn professional? Join BCG Pro now

BCG Daily Tuesday 20th December 2011

Features

Press clippings

Ab Fab: not before the watershed, sweetie

Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders is absolutely clear about her views of a BBC suit who rang her over where to schedule the comedy, reports the Daily Mail.

Monkey, The Guardian, 20th December 2011

Video: Simon Pegg wants more 'serious' film roles

Simon Pegg has said he'd like to take on more serious roles in the future.

The actor joked that he is "sick of being funny" after starring in a series of comedy films.

The Shaun of the Dead star was talking to Newsbeat's entertainment reporter Natalie Jamieson ahead of the release of his new film Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

Natalie Jamieson, BBC News, 20th December 2011

June Whitfield interview

The return of Ab Fab finds June Whitfield on top form. She's even hopeful of a small part in Downton Abbey.

Glenda Cooper, The Telegraph, 20th December 2011

Joanna Lumley interview: Ab Fab will steal Christmas

Joanna Lumley talks about the boozy return of Patsy and Edina in Absolutely Fabulous this Christmas.

Tessa Gibbs, The Telegraph, 20th December 2011

Jack Whitehall shoots down Beeb for axing comedy shows

Fresh Meat star Jack Whitehall has blasted the BBC for axing Shooting Stars - saying they are no longer committed to comedy.

Angharad Llewellyn, The Sun, 20th December 2011

Bleak Old Shop of Stuff provided some Dickensian cheer

The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff saw a star-studded cast send up the entire works of Charles Dickens, rarely hilarious but a chucklesome bit of festive silliness nonetheless.

Christopher Hooton, Metro, 20th December 2011

David Jason on first BBC comedy role in 20 years

The Royal Bodyguard is 71-year-old David Jason's first comedy for the BBC for 20 years, but he says he has never really strayed far from the genre.

Cathy Owen, Wales Online, 20th December 2011

The Krankies tipped for pay day after sex revelations

Swinging panto stars The Krankies yesterday basked in the limelight sparked by their kinky sex revelations. PR guru Max Clifford said the two 64-year-olds could be set for the biggest year of their career.

Beverley Lyons, Daily Record, 20th December 2011

'Misfits': Second star confirms show exit

Iwan Rheon has become the second Misfits star to confirm that they will not be returning for the fourth series of the E4 drama.

Alex Fletcher, Digital Spy, 20th December 2011

True or False? The QI Christmas quiz

In this year's QI quiz we look at some events of 2011 and ask you to sort the fact from fiction. So which yarns are true and which are false? See below for the answers. Compiled by Piers Fletcher.

Piers Fletcher, Saga Magazine, 20th December 2011

Audio: Absolutely Fabulous characters 'more desperate'

Absolutely Fabulous is to return to BBC One later this year with three specials to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary.

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will return as Edina and Patsy along with other original cast members.

Saunders told Mark Lawson on Radio 4's Front Row that Edina and Patsy are "more desperate" as they age.

Mark Lawson, BBC News, 20th December 2011

Victoria Wood and Stephen Fry star in The Borrowers

Victoria Wood and Stephen Fry are among the stars bringing The Borrowers delightfully back to life - this time with added gizmos.

Dominic Cavandish, The Telegraph, 20th December 2011

Matt Berry: 'I don't mind naff Christmas songs'

Matt Berry has said that he doesn't mind "naff" Christmas songs.

Mayer Nissim, Digital Spy, 20th December 2011

Rev, Christmas Special, BBC Two, review

Ed Cumming finds the conclusion to the second series of the Bafta-winning sitcom, Rev, hilarious, heart-warming and suitably festive.

Ed Cumming, The Telegraph, 20th December 2011

Bleak Old Shop of Stuff - looking at the reviews

This show was always going to divide the viewers - into the group of those who like jokes and those who find jokes rather insulting to the intelligence. I am obviously in the former group. And tend to find critics in the latter.

James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 20th December 2011

Live comedy in pictures - autumn round-up

Photos from around the circuit. Including Pappy's Christmas special, Dr Brown assaulting an audience member, Ken Livingstone laughing at Rich Hall, Patrick Monahan crowdsurfing and much more...

London Is Funny, 20th December 2011

Videos

TV & radio

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Mark Steel's In Town. Mark Steel. Copyright: BBC

Mark Steel's In Town

Series 3, Episode 3 - Basingstoke

Mark performs from The Haymarket in Basingstoke, Hampshire, where he talks about prehistoric roundabouts and a rather unusual world record set in a shopping centre.

BBC Two 9pm
30 min
Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Chris Addison, Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Mock The Week

Series 10, Christmas Special

Dara O'Briain and the regulars present the now traditional heartwarming festive special, featuring all new material and some hilarious out-takes.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV 9pm
60 min
The Comedy Annual. Phillip Schofield. Copyright: ITV Studios

The Comedy Annual

Episode 2 - The Comedy Annual 2011

Phillip Schofield is joined by Jason Manford, Alistair McGowan, Jason Byrne and Patrick Monahan to look back at some of the key moments from 2011.

Sky One logo. Copyright: Sky 9pm
15 min
Little Crackers. Comedian (Alan Davies)

Little Crackers

Little Crackers 2011, Episode 5 - Alan Davies' Little Cracker

The adage about a man and his dog is put to the test in a short inspired and co-written by Alan Davies.

Sky One logo. Copyright: Sky 9:15pm
15 min
Little Crackers. Shaparak Khorsandi

Little Crackers

Little Crackers 2011, Episode 6 - Shappi Khorsandi's Little Cracker

Someone's fondness for Tucker Jenkins goes too far in a short inspired and written by Shappi Khorsandi.

BBC Two 9:30pm
30 min
Rev.. Image shows from L to R: Ellie Pattman (Lucy Liemann), Alex Smallbone (Olivia Colman), Adoha Onyeka (Ellen Thomas), Rev Adam Smallbone (Tom Hollander), Nigel McCall (Miles Jupp), Colin Lambert (Steve Evets), Archdeacon Robert (Simon McBurney). Copyright: Big Talk Productions

Rev.

Series 2, Christmas Special

Christmas is the busiest time of year for a vicar - and the worst time for a vicar's wife.

BBC Two 10pm
30 min
Life's Too Short. Warwick (Warwick Davis). Copyright: BBC

Life's Too Short

Episode 7

In the series finale, Warwick attends a charity event in the hope of hanging out with celebrities. However, in trying to impress Sting he ends up spending more than he can afford. Consequently he has to look for a new home and hopes Amy will see him again.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 10:35pm
70 min
Imagine: The Art Of Stand-Up. Image shows from L to R: Frank Skinner, Alan Yentob. Copyright: BBC

Imagine: The Art Of Stand-Up

Episode 2 - Part Two

The second of a two-part series for Imagine on the art of stand-up comedy. Alan Yentob talks to comedians in Britain and America, exploring the evolution of stand-up and how it transfers to other mediums. He also joins Eddie Izzard backstage for the first solo stand-up show at the Hollywood Bowl.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 11:45pm
30 min
The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson. Image shows from L to R: Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson. Copyright: BBC

The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson

Series 3, Highlights Special

Highlights from the third series, plus new material.

Share this page