BCG Daily Thursday 2nd August 2012

A class act: Jack Whitehall talks about his new sitcom

The public school-educated comedian Jack Whitehall writes and stars in the new sitcom Bad Education, set in an inner-city comprehensive.

Ab Fab at 20 shows great sitcom well past its prime

The recent trio of Absolutely Fabulous specials arrive on DVD - offering an unfortunate reminder of how this once mighty sitcom has fallen.

Vexed returned with as many faults as it had before

Offbeat crime drama Vexed returned to our screens, pairing Toby Stephens with new cast member Miranda Raison - but the only real mystery here is how the show got re-commissioned in the first place.

Secret Edinburgh: Gimps go people watching in Starbucks

If you were a gimp loose in the Scottish capital for a day where would you go? To Starbucks of course!

Interview: Stewart Lee, comedian

Stewart Lee Lee is a perennial Fringe hit but his stage alter ego scorns success, so shiny TV showcases are not his natural habitat. Now he's trying something different, writes Jay Richardson.

Celebrity Bedlam review

To be fair to those involved here, pretty much everyone expressed some doubt about what they were being asked to do. "This is all true, this is?" asked Howard from the Halifax ads, before doing a piece to camera for a children's science programme, about bats with human testicles.

Picture: Russell Brand as Captain Hook

Russell Brand has appeared as Captain Hook as part of a new Disney campaign.

Boom Pictures signs comedy deal with Graham Linehan

Newly-launched independent production group Boom Pictures has announced its first deal with a move into comedy, securing Graham Linehan's label Delightful Industries.

John Bishop interview

"I went back to the Comedy Store and said 'Can I get on for 10 minutes'. I went on and thought 'This is what I've missed'. Hearing people laugh... that's the thing you want to keep on hearing.

Secret Edinburgh: Andrew O'Neill

SSP goes a little goth this afternoon as we delve into Edinburgh's alternative clothing shops, wizard-like people and proprietors who dress like pirates with Andrew O'Neill.

My Edinburgh: Henry Rollins

Former Black Flag frontman brings comedy show to Edinburgh Fringe 2012.

Five Fringe double acts that'll have you doubling up

Shirley & Shirley, Jack & Niki, Max & Ivan, Croft & Pearce and Pajama Men[/i] are the hot tickets.

My Edinburgh: Lucy Porter

Festival veteran comes back to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe 2012.

The best of comedy at the 2012 Fringe

Dylan Moran, Tim Key, Russell Kane, Jimmy Carr amongst big names set to perform.

Sandi Toksvig comes to Fringe with My Valentine

The author and broadcaster's show is inspired by her latest novel, Valentine Grey.

The man who successfully cashed a junk mail cheque

Combs' show, Man 1 Bank 0, tells the story of how he cashed a fake $95,093.35 cheque.

Rhod Gilbert rages at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe

The comedian who makes Basil Fawlty look like a Pilates teacher speaks to The List.

Interview: Les Dennis, comedian, actor

Popular funnyman Les Dennis is describing Jigsy, the jobbing comic he plays at the Assembly Rooms for the next three weeks.

Sean Hughes: How I've changed since my Fringe debut

Fringe favourite Sean Hughes is a changed man. The 46-year-old first came to Edinburgh 25 years ago. Casting his mind back to that debut, he admits that the young Sean and the middle-aged model are very different beasts.

Snapshot: Stewart Francis, comedian

A quick guide to Stewart Francis.

High 5: The Boy With Tape On His Face

A short interview with The Boy With Tape On His Face.

Mel Brown: My hot tip for the Fringe

With no quality control, sometimes it's good to get a tip from an expert when deciding what Fringe show to splash out on. And who better to recognise up-and- coming comic talent than comedy aficionado Mel Brown of Impressive PR. This year, her hot tip is The Chris And Barry Show, a double-act she first discovered at the festival 12 months ago. Or to be more precise, they discovered her, as she reveals...

Hanks and Conran: An unusual duo

French and Saunders. Wood and Walters. Both the epitome of the double-act and duos every aspiring two-some look up to. Susan Hanks and Lou Conran, who make their Fringe debut at Just The Tonic, admire them too, although their act is probably more Two Ronnies than Dawn and Jennifer.

10 questions with Mark Restuccia

Ever wondered how to succeed at internet dating? BBC New Comedy Awards finalist Mark Restuccia explains all in his new show at this year's Fringe. But we managed to drag him away from dating sites for long enough to do our Edinburgh Q&A...

Joel Dommett interview

Do you like MTV? Do you like comedy? Can you stomach the news? If so, you've probably heard of Joel Dommett. If not, what are you doing with your life?! Oh, a job and responsibility, right...

Tom Ellis: now he's a star with adoring fans of his own

When Tom Ellis was first asked to star in BBC Two's brilliant hit comedy Miranda, the show's hilarious writer, actor and stand-up comic Miranda Hart wasn't even on his radar.

In truth, he wasn't really on ours either, unless you happened to catch the moment he locked himself out of the house naked during a five-month stint as the dashing Dr Oliver Cousins on EastEnders.