BCG Daily Monday 17th November 2014

Breaking down The British Comedy Awards

The nominations for this year's British Comedy Awards have been announced and, as is traditional, if you look hard enough you can find a twinkling gem of talent amidst the grey sludge of interchangeable panel games, banterrific sketch shows and sitcoms about being middle class in socially awkward scenarios.

Review: Jason Byrne You Name the Show

With such a receptive audience, it's not long before he has them engaged in a mass debate of sorts about local social hierarchy, while he tries to pronounce Holmfirth correctly.

Review: Noel Fielding

Only by suspending your disbelief for the evening can you navigate his wonderfully whimsical flights of fancy and the bonkers characters along the way.

Some Girls cast say they are 'just as funny as boys'

The Some Girls characters spend a lot of time in cafes, so it is fitting that Newsbeat meets them in a cafe too.

An insider's guide to corporate comedy

Georgia Sharp is an agent's assistant at JLA and writes exclusively for Comedy Blogedy about the corporate comedy world.

Review: Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook, with Peter Kay

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook took to the stage at The Lowry for an intimate unplugged gig - along with a surprise appearance by funnyman Peter Kay.

Dapper Laughs not laughing any more after ITV turn off

Controversy over vlogger shows that online popularity is no guarantee that talent will flourish in the mainstream.

Video: Kate Smurthwaite hosts comedy workshop

'True story, you can learn to be funny.' This is the view of successful stand-up comedian Kate Smurthwaite, who 11 years ago took a course in comedy.

Radio Times review

Overtired after an all-nighter in the studio doing "Sat Nav for the Elderly" ("Abbotsbury...Abingdon...Acton") bumptious actor/voiceover artist Steven Toast accidentally reveals on Woman's Hour the name of the murderer in Anthea Crippen's creaky old play The Moose Trap. So, after a 60-year run, attendances dwindle and Toast's chance of a West End comeback as Inspector Attenborough are torpedoed.

Maybe Toast is too insider-y for some, though it's not as full of actors' inside jokes as you might think, but when it soars, it hits the comedy sun. There's a good running gag about Breaking Bad bores, and Toast (Matt Berry) has a catastrophic encounter with Jeremy Paxman (The Mimic's Terry Mynott) when he auditions for the job of the man who shouts out the contestants' names on a "university quiz."

Ofcom investigates Dapper Laughs: gets 99 complaints

Broadcasting regulator to rule on whether comedian Daniel O'Reilly's ITV2 show, which was cancelled last week, met standards.

Peter Kay promises 'big announcement' on Phoenix Nights

Peter Kay says fans of his sitcom Phoenix Nights can expect a 'big announcement' before the month is out.

Dapper Laughs was sexist cretin, but others are worse

We're good at selective outrage in this country, aren't we? I'm just as glad as you are that Dapper Laughs is off the TV, but it's hardly the moral victory we're making it out to be.

Galton & Simpson - Our favourite Hancock: Part 2

A look at the episode "Twelve Angry Men".

Noel Fielding talks us through his paintings

Funnyman, zoo keeper and artist - Noel Fielding is a man of many talents! But what's going on inside the head of this crazy-haired maverick? He talks us through some of his paintings...

Dave Gorman review

Surprise and significance are at a premium in a show that echoes the comic's small-screen patter too closely to excite.

Tony Law: Enter the Tonezone - Salford, review

Law's proficient eccentricity ensures that no matter what style of comedy you are in to, there is definitely something here for everyone, from freewheeling anecdotes to fiery observations. His witty charm and likability guide him through the splinters of narrative, which in the hands of a less dexterous comedian would be left discarded on the floor.

Dissecting misogyny in comedy

To me, as pleased as I am that some good has been done to remove Dapper Laughs from the limelight, the whole process is only a small victory of under-the-carpet sweeping that still, unfortunately, does little to tackle the very real existence of parodied misogyny in both comedy, and in everyday life.

Dave Gorman, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith - comedy review

Dave Gorman celebrates life's ridiculousness and never condemns it.

Terry Jones co-directs 'Boom Bust Boom'

Monty Python star Terry Jones has co-written, co-directed and presents a documentary feature on economics called Boom Bust Boom, which includes a contribution from John Cusack.

Ken Dodd: Top gags and catchphrases

Ken Dodd brings his Happiness Show to New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. We look at some of his gags and words of wisdom.

Interview: Funny Team

After a mighty fine debut show at Jesterval earlier this year, Funny Team - that's Lee Kyle, Sammy Dobson, Catherine Scott, Nicola Mantalios-Lovett and Matt Reed to me and you - are back! We catch up with the gang to talk comedy.

Jill Halfpenny interview

Rehearsing on a purpose built town designed to train real police officers to deal with riots, Jill was given an insight into the tough job the police actually do.

Peter Andre in hot water for Iceland joke on Cele Juice

Peter Andre is currently the face of supermarket chain Iceland. But fans have called for him to be sacked after the singer and TV star made a quip about the fact he appears in their TV adverts, hinting that it's embarrassing.

Babylon review

I believe Babylon is much improved due to its slicker gags and better-paced story.