BCG Daily Tuesday 17th January 2012

Russell Brand: All I want to do is make people laugh

Russell Brand has spoken publicly for the first time since his marriage split - and then wouldn't shut up.

Vic and Bob plan hit 'like no other'

Shooting Stars will not return on another channel, hosts Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer confirmed last night. Instead, they are working on a secret comedy show "the like of which has never been seen".

Miranda Hart interview

Miranda Hart has always felt like an outsider, though her ability to laugh at her own insecurities has endeared her to the nation. Now she's playing a straight role - but can she deliver?

Anniversary of Steptoe & Son and the US version

An article celebrating the 50th anniversary of Steptoe and Son and the 40th anniversary of the American version of the show Sanford and Son.

Leveson inquiry: Ian Hislop - live

Live coverage of Private Eye editor and Have I Got News for You panellist Ian Hislop at the Leveson inquiry.

Comedy overlooked in drama-dominated Bafta nominations

Comedy has mustered only nine nominations in this year's Bafta nominations, with only comedy drama and US comedy Bridesmaids, starring The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd, saving the category from being completely sidelined.

Leveson: Ian Hislop says new press laws not needed

New laws are not needed to govern the press, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop has told an inquiry into media ethics.

Miranda Hart: we should learn from 1950s austerity

Call the Midwife actress lauds the "physical and mental strength" of postwar Brits.

Armando Iannucci: Cameron & Salmond are being childish

Armadno Iannucci created one of TV's most petty political characters. And now the man who brought us ­foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker has weighed into the independence row - calling the behaviour of David Cameron and Alex Salmond "childish".

My heroes and heroines: Barry Cryer

Barry Cryer talks about some of his personal heroes and heroines.

Chris Addison interview

Chris Addison, 40, stars in The Thick Of It and Skins. He's currently on a British tour with new show The Time Is Now, Again and here he speaks to Metro about reading reviews of his shows, his worst ever gig and why he is such fan of Skins.

Video: Private Eye's Ian Hislop at media ethics inquiry

Private Eye's Ian Hislop has talked about the satirical magazine's sources at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

He said that new laws are not needed to govern the press, saying "statutory regulation is not required".

Mr Hislop also criticised the close relationships between the press, police and politicians.

"There are reasons News International thought it could get away with whatever it liked... the Murdoch family was deeply embedded in our political top class," he added.

The One Griff Rhys Jones review

It was surprising that this half hour had turned out to be a genuinely odd little pleasure, as opposed to a tired retread of comedy's nearly-forgotten landscapes.

Portrait of the artist: Caroline Quentin, actor

'I could name on one hand the things I've done that are OK. The rest are rubbish.'

TV revisits city's legendary Late 'n' Live comedy club

Over a quarter of a century, the Late 'n' Live stage has welcomed those brave enough to accept its challenge. A new BBC Scotland series entitled The Late 'n' Live Guide To Comedy begins a four-week run on BBC One from next Monday.

Archive letter: Douglas Adams writes to Disney exec

During the return flight of a fruitless trip to L.A., close to boiling point, Adams expertly wrote the following letter to Disney executive David Vogel, complete with a comically long list of ways for him to get in touch.

The One Griff Rhys Jones review

History, as it often isn't, has not been as kind. Their comedy about ordinary blokes now seems gruellingly ordinary.