BCG Daily Tuesday 16th July 2013
Press clippings
Radio Times review
If you like the kind of amiable comedy that doesn't hammer every joke home, this could be for you. It's co-written and directed by Christopher Guest, who helped popularise mock-documentaries (This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind) and stars the excellent Chris O'Dowd as Tom, an unemployed 30-something who sets about tracing his family history.
Future episodes take Tom to America (HBO co-produces the series) but for now the action meanders around London, where Tom receives a case of family memorabilia from a great aunt and starts wondering about his ancestors. Was one a field marshall?
The plot is silly but in a confident sort of way: what other comedy would feature a character (Tom's sister) who expresses her deeper feelings via a ventriloquist's dummy of a monkey?
David Butcher, Radio Times, 16th July 2013The Spotlight on ... Josh Howie
Bit of an LiF favourite is Josh Howie - and that's with his top on!! He goes, under the spotlight ...
London Is Funny, 16th July 2013Tom Parry interview
When Digital Spy recently spoke to Tom Parry - one third of comedy troupe Pappy's - about their upcoming sitcom Badults, conversation inevitably turned to the group's famous podcasts.
Mayer Nissim, Digital Spy, 16th July 2013Edinburgh Fringe interview: Aisling Bea
Aisling Bea is heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a lot of expectation having won So You Think You're Funny? last year, appearing in numerous TV comedy things (Dead Boss, Cardinal Burns, Russell Howard's Good News) and featuring in our top Festival stand-up recommendations for 2013.
Laugh Out London, 16th July 2013Steve Delaney interview
We meet the man behind the trilby-wearing variety entertainer and BBC Two star.
Michael Hodges, Time Out, 16th July 2013QI: some quite interesting facts about books
A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI is brought to book.
Molly Oldfield & John Mitchinson, The Telegraph, 16th July 2013Comedy play in world record bid
The producers of the stage version of Calendar Girls are aiming for the Guinness Book of Records of the most productions of a play in one year, at the same time raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
John-Paul Stephenson, Giggle Beats, 16th July 2013TV preview: Badults, BBC3
It's the unquenchable likability of Pappy's that makes Badults so funny.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th July 2013Our top 10 comedy shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2013
Here, to help you decide what you might want to spend your hard-earned cash on this August, are a few recommendations, with a couple of less well known acts thrown in for good measure.
The Scotsman, 16th July 2013Ray Butt obituary
Ray Butt, who has died aged 78, was the original producer of Only Fools And Horses, BBC Television's award-winning comedy series which was regularly voted the nation's favourite sitcom.
The Telegraph, 16th July 2013The comedians returning to stand-up at 2013 Fringe
David Baddiel, Jem Rolls, John Lloyd and Jenny Éclair return to their stand-up roots.
The List, 16th July 2013Tig Notaro set to perform at 2013 Fringe
Comic diagnosed with breast cancer hoping for a relatively calm Edinburgh debut.
Murray Robertson, The List, 16th July 2013Interview: Alexei Sayle
The alternative comedy pioneer in why he's happier now that he can just be himself.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 16th July 2013Seann Walsh World review
Thankfully, both Seann Walsh and the clips in this show are brilliant, ranging from the cute to the painful and the generally odd.
Matthew McLane, UK TV Reviewer, 16th July 2013Podcast Interview with James Acaster
James Acaster is "one of the sharpest comic minds to have emerged in recent years".
Comedy Blogedy, 16th July 2013Chris O'Dowd Q&A
Chris O'Dowd talked to Sunday Mirror's Notebook magazine ahead of his new BBC sitcom.
Anna Jury, The Mirror, 16th July 2013Family Tree review
Perhaps Guest and Piddock fell into the trap of thinking that the naturalism of a mockumentary would take care of the comedy side of things, meaning they didn't really need to write any jokes?
Matthew McLane, UK TV Reviewer, 16th July 2013Edinburgh 10x10: Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
Ten comedians from Australia.
Chortle, 16th July 2013Christopher Guest interview
Christopher Guest talks to Jay Richardson about his first TV series, Family Tree.
Jay Richardson, Chortle, 16th July 2013Chris O'Dowd and the rest of the cast talk Family Tree
It's the press junket to launch his latest show, Family Tree, but Christopher Guest has cried off sick, leaving journalists and cast to speak about him in the third person.
Chortle, 16th July 2013Pappy's talk Badults
A stage troupe who have been building up a cult audience for over a decade, Pappy's are set to burst into the mainstream this month with the launch of sitcom Badults.
Mayer Nissim, Digital Spy, 16th July 2013Family Tree review
Sure there are laughs and funny moments across the series but 'feel-good' is probably a better term to use than 'comedy'.
Elliot Gonzalez, I Talk Telly, 16th July 2013Paul Zerdin: Ventriloquism goes back 1000s of years
Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin on fooling his neighbours, the return of variety shows - and trying to perform without his puppets.
The Big Issue, 16th July 2013Videos
Videos
TV
TV
Podcasts
TV & radio
10:45am15 min
Lunch
Series 1, Episode 2 - Takin' A Chance On LoveBella has begun dating, while Bill is worried his wife is a racist.
5pm30 min
Horrible Histories
Series 5, Episode 12We meet a female dinosaur expert who sells seashells down on the seashore and there's a fitting musical finale to the end of the series.
6:30pm30 min
It's Not What You Know
Series 2, Episode 2Frank Skinner, Grace Dent and Jonathan Agnew each nominate someone they know well to answer a series of questions and they than have to second guess how they answered.
9pm60 min
Starlings
Series 2, Episode 3Jan reminds Terry of a promise he made years ago about getting the "snippity-snip" once the kids were older, and, though normally a man of his word, this is one deal he might want to back out of.
10pm30 min
Family Tree
Episode 1 - The BoxTom Chadwick and his sister Bea find out from their father that a great-aunt, Victoria, has died. An old picture in the box of things that she's left for Tom sends him on a search, accompanied by his pal Pete, to discover the identity of the man in the photograph.
10pm30 min
Seann Walsh World
Episode 1Seann Walsh presents an energetic mix of stand-up comedy, sketch and viral clips. This first episode includes Seann discussing the 'toilet roll walk'.