BCG Daily Thursday 23rd October 2014

ITV sets out comedy wishlist

ITV comedy commissioner Saskia Schuster wants to work with new writers as she bids to fill slots across the commercial broadcaster's main channel and ITV2.

Nick Frost lands lead role in US comedy The Finger

ABC have snapped up Mr Nick Frost to lead their new comedy, the wonderfully ridiculous-sounding The Finger...

Cardinal Burns interview

For all his manic sketches and borderline certifiable characters, Dustin Demri-Burns, one half of award-winning comedy duo Cardinal Burns, takes a serious approach to his craft.

London-specific comedy from Andrew Maxwell

Comedian Andrew Maxwell is putting on a paean to London over the next few weeks with a show marking 20 years of his living in the capital, full of anecdotes and social commentary, plus special guests to add something a bit different.

Review: Lee Mack, Eventim Apollo

Amiable comic races through a disappointing set.

Miranda: the 10 funniest moments

As Miranda Hart publishes a collection of her favourite Miranda scripts, we select the 10 most memorable moments from the award-winning sitcom.

Radio Times review

A bizarre decision by BBC4 to consign this gently beguiling sitcom to a 10pm grave. Anyone would think the channel was trying to bury it. But Mackenzie Crook's show deserves to stand the test of time, with its sly, nerdy humour and touching interactions.

This week Danebury Metal Detecting Club is looking for a new president, a wedge is driven between friends Andy and Lance, and heartache is in the air. There are nuggets of drama amid the well-staged gags (writer/star Mackenzie Crook is also doing a terrific directing job - look at the opening gag for just one example) and we're desperate to know how the series will pan out. The nervy dynamics of the pub quiz will be familiar to anyone who does them: "Round three: the Balearic Islands"!

Jimmy Carr's Oscar Pistorius joke goes too far

The comedian's quip about blaming Reeva Steenkamp for her death was less than well received at the music magazine's awards show in London.

Jessica Knappett interview

The writer and star of E4's Drifters talks "inherently sexist" panel shows, token women and overcoming expectations.

Opinion: did Jimmy Carr go too far?

Now I'm not going to dissect the joke here and suggest that his first remark was punching up while his second was punching down. Nor am I going to discuss the timing of the gag, only a day after the sentencing of Pistorius. What I'm interested in is the question of whether the audience was really as offended by the gag as some reports suggest?

Russell Howard's comedy inspirations

What makes that "nice" Russell Howard so hilarious? Is it Lee Evans - or his mum?

Chuckle Brothers & Tinchy Stryder: ultimate supergroup?

TV presenters Paul and Barry Elliott have unveiled their charity single To Me To You featuring the grime star.

Why Miranda ending is the worst news ever

I am, what I call, distraught. Miranda Hart's announcement is such the opposite of fun, says Ellie Walker-Arnott.

Did 10 O'Clock Live ever stand a chance?

It's worth listening to the old episodes - especially by the time of the third series. Maybe if this had started as a low-profile show filled with unknowns then they might have started to build a fanbase and eventually become half the hit deluded executives had thought it would be from the start.

Neville's Island review

The one thing the production undoubtedly has going for it is a fantastic naturalistic set where the cast really do emerge from a chilly lake as they reach the island and the people in the front row are supplied with emergency ponchos to shield them from rogue spume. But for me that's the main splash this damp comedy makes.

Morecambe and Wise tribute plan revealed

A bronze piece of wall art paying tribute to both Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise could go on permanent display in Morecambe.

Mark Watson celebrates 10 years in comedy

So what is the secret to conquering your nerves on stage? Mark said: "You are quite scared when you do it. If you weren't a bit nervous doing stand-up then I think you would be an unpleasant person - you'd be an arrogant person."

How two brothers helped set up Feeling Nuts

Wendy Gough lost her teenage son Matthew to the disease 16 years ago. Now, two of her disciples - Simon Salter and Andrew Salter - are using social media to shatter the taboo of talking about testicular cancer.