BCG Daily Friday 10th August 2012

Edinburgh Festival 2012: Mike McShane, interview

Improvisation whizz Mike McShane has prepared an entertaining, oddball play of his own for the Edinburgh Festival, he tells Dominic Cavendish.

Susan Calman's Edinburgh festival diary

Today, she wonders if working on death row has helped her deal with tough crowds.

Sam Fletcher - illustrations of Edinburgh no2

Free Fringer, former Tim Key sidekick and comic-magician-musician-illustrator, Sam Fletcher, (12.30pm Aug 4-25, Bannerman's), tells us about his first week of his first solo Fringe.

David Walliams to narrate ITV's 'Top Dog Model'

David Walliams will reportedly narrate an upcoming dog-themed talent show on ITV.

Radio 4 at the Edinburgh Fringe

Radio 4 is returning to the the world's largest arts festival this month - The Edinburgh Fringe. Over 100 shows and masterclasses are taking place on the BBC's pop-up site in Potterow - including many Radio 4 shows.

New talent at the Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh Year 34! I've been going to Edinburgh each August since I was student in 1978. This year as ever I'll be looking for shows to commission for Radio 4 later in the year, comedians and writers to develop series with and new for 2012 brand new comedians for a new show this October, Fresh from the Fringe.

Mr Viz fizzing over trams

Viz co-founder Simon Donald, who is performing his School Of Swearing show at the Stand, said the tram work in York Place had ruined the chances of passing trade.

Two Jews jabbering about sex, drugs and suicide

At the Edinburgh Fringe, I know comic Lewis Schaffer and bumped into comic Laura Levites. It turns out they were both brought up in Great Neck, New York, but had never met. I suggested we should have a chat. Two New York Jewish comedians. What was I thinking? I hardly got a word in.

Joel Dommett promises epic festival fun

The rising comic star is gearing up for his second Edinburgh Festival and hopes to top last years success with the help of some sausage rolls.

Benny Boot is bursting to get started

Stand-up comedian Benny Boot explains why he loves the city, the people and the buzz at the Edinburgh Festival.

Who wouldn't want to sell out, Stewart?

Call it what you want and pay what you can afford to pay, says Corrie McGuire - everybody has a right to be there.

McNeil and Pamphillon interview

See McNeil and Pamphillon on stage assassinating each other's characters.

Nish Kumar, full of aerated lager

Nish Kumar asks who he is and hopes he doesn't fall foul of a heavy metal band again.

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets

Five things about 2012 Edinburgh show Boo Lingerie!

Audio: Jon Culshaw on Spamalot role

5 Live interviews impressionist Jon Culshaw, who will star as King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot in the West End.

Manchester comedy festival scrapped

In the month that the Edinburgh fringe festival showcases the best of British humour, the Manchester comedy festival has been scrapped after the city council withdrew funding.

Video - Russell Brand: 'I took drugs every day'

Russell Brand has told Newsnight's Stephanie Flanders he believes in "abstinence-based recovery" as a method to tackle drug and alcohol addiction.

The comedian has made a documentary for BBC Three charting his own recovery, which includes footage of his life as a drug addict.

"I took drugs every single day," he said.

Julia Davis: laughing in the dark

Julia Davis is famous for creating some of the most uncomfortably bleak comedies of recent times. Now the star of Nighty Night is turning her dark powers to period drama in her new series Hunderby.

Going solo: an interview with Marek Larwood

"In Klang I played an idiot, partly because when you work with someone who's 6"8 you have to play low status." Marek Larwood talks to Emma McAlpine about his first solo show Typecast.

Gareth Morinan's Fringe zodiac

Comedian and artist Gareth Morinan has drawn us some classic Fringe visitor stereotypes. Take a look and see if they remind you of anyone you know...

Lord of the dunce

Alan Davies, star of QI, tells Charlotte Lytton why he's getting back into standup.

Nothing left to say

There are more standup performances at this year's Fringe than ever before. But rising above the cacophonous din is a comedian who remains quiet. Stevie Martin talks to The Boy With Tape on His Face about the power of silence.

Russell Howard: There's certainly enough mad news

Good News presenter Russell Howard on bad news, mad news and why he refused to cover the Samantha Brick media story.

Raising the Wickerman

TV comic Greg Hemphill, star of hit Scottish show Chewing the Fat, teams up with the prestigious National Theatre of Scotland. Malcolm Jack finds out what inspired this unlikely connection..

Spamalot interviews

The new production of Spamalot has been pared down but not at the expense of laughs or its Pythonesque essence, composer John Du Prez and star Bonnie Langford say.

Angelos Epithemiou Show review - Episode 1.5

The only real criticism I unfortunately have with The Angelos Epithemiou Show - and it pains me to say it - is the host's sidekick, Gupta. I genuinely believe that the show could work just as well without him.