Comics spread Christmas cheer with food bank donations

A leading charity has praised two TV stand-ups, Justin Moorhouse and Jason Manford, for encouraging their fans to donate advent calendars to food banks.

Katherine Ryan interview

Katherine Ryan is one of Canadian comedy's most successful exports. Now 31, she's a veteran of the Edinburgh Festival and panel shows such as QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News For You, as well as the sitcoms Campus and Episodes. Here - ahead of a gig at Cambridge Junction - she talks about feeling like a Londoner, and having a 'ridiculous' accent.

Radio Times review

Dad's Army goes a bit Mack Sennett in this episode when a sealed-order mission turns into a frantic choo-choo chase. King George VI is due to pass through the station, but a mix-up between sleeping pills and saccharine puts a spanner - or a defective brake wheel - in the works.

One false alarm sees Captain Mainwaring moving along a stopped train while sheepishly inquiring, "Your Majesty, are you there?" But the sight of the Vicar, Verger and Hodges on a pump trolley takes some beating.

Lee Evans review

It's not the best comedy gig I've been to but most definitely not the worst.

Noel James review

The biggest shame about Noel James's set, however, was that in terms of his subject matter, nothing new was really offered up.

Dawn French on her childhood

When she was just 18, Dawn's father Denys killed himself. Growing up, she and her brother had been shielded from his depression. It was, she says, "just like a bomb went off in our family. My mum of course would have known there was danger."

Susan Calman review

She is a warm and engaging presence on stage, pacing with an infectious energy, listing the things she likes about Susan Calman.

Review: John Bishop

He warms to an audience and treats you like a trusted friend. He doesn't try and educate an like many modern comics whose shows feel closer to a sermon at times.

Russell Brand urged by fans to denounce Julien Blanc

Sleazy so-called pick-up artist Julien Blanc appears to have been pictured posing with Russell Brand and has encouraged his fans to be more like the comedian - but now Brand's fans have hit back.

Lee Evans reveals depression battle

Comic Lee Evans has opened up about his battle with depression, revealing that he gets depressed "every single day".

20 questions: Will Adamsdale

The award-winning writer, actor and comedian brings his new show Borders to The Invisible Dot this week.

Interview: Alan Davies

Apparently simply being Alan Davies is not enough to make you the leading authority on being Alan Davies. And I tell you what, Alan Davies is a little bit miffed about it.

DVD review: Jason Manford - First World Problems

As befits a long running show, First World Problems is tightly written and beautifully performed. So what if it's not groundbreaking or even edgy? What Jason Manford has got right is he knows his audience and how to please them. That'll do for me.

Photos: Dad's Army record parade scene

Hundreds of people have turned out to catch a glimpse of the stars from the new Dad's Army movie as a big, set-piece scene was filmed in a seaside town.

Steve Coogan to play fictional version of himself

Steve Coogan is to play a fictional version of himself in The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jeffries, the ITV drama about how the media treated the innocent teacher arrested for the murder of Joanna Yates. Coogan appears in a fictionalised scene when he speaks to the Jeffries as they wait to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry about media conduct.

DVD review: Simon Evans, Live At The Theatre Royal

It's easy to miss some of the smartest gags in the set, making this a perfect release for a DVD, worth watching again and again.

Review: Thursday / Saturday Club, Edinburgh

Overall an enjoyable evening but perhaps not one to go down in comedy history.