BCG Daily Tuesday 25th November 2014

A letter to the British comedy scene

If you consider yourself an "artistè", don't go doing smaller gigs because it's a tasty amount of money and whinge when they don't listen to you or 'don't get it'.

What would have happened to The Likely Lads?

"The BBC head of comedy said that when he took over he was given a list of programmes, and right at the bottom of the list was something called The Likely Lads." He was told: 'It won't do anything, but it's cheap.'"

Romesh Ranganathan's top ten stand-up comedians

The 2014 Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee reveals his favourite comics.

Review: Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense: Glasgow

This is a delightful reminder of how funny good old Jeeves and Wooster are - it may be time to dust of the novels for a well-deserved re-visit over the cold winter months.

Miranda Hart explains why her sitcom had to end

"I will really miss her - she has been so very good to me"

The first UK Jewish comedy festival

Can Britain's Jewish standups become a cultural force to rival their US counterparts? Brian Logan finds out from Ruby Wax and other comics.

What do Lewis Hamilton & Lee Evans have in common?

It's nothing to be bashful about if a comedian works with someone else. It is not often that comedians actually buy jokes from a production line by the metre. It is more like a sitcom writers room, with gags and topics being workshopped until something stage-worthy emerges.

Jon Richardson interview: I don't want to play the O2

Jon Richardson has said that he has no desire to perform at The O2.

Seven questions with... Sara Pascoe

I asked Sara these seven questions to get insight into the mind behind the comedy...

Chris Dangerfield on Dapper Laughs: victim of jealousy?

"Look, I don't give a shit about the bullshit personal private greedy agendas of these liberal f***s who draw arbitrary lines to serve their own agendas - and that's what they've done. That's why they're not talking about Russell Brand, Doug Stanhope, Bill Burr. But Dapper Laughs - some working class shitbag from nowhere who has said a couple of pretty unfunny things - he's a target. He hasn't said anything anywhere near as 'bad' as any of that other lot. I don't care what they say, myself. I love it. But, if you look at the criteria these people have used when talking about Dapper Laughs, then these people - Brand, Stanhope, Burr - are far 'worse'. It's all bullshit."

Radio Times review

As the title suggests, this sketch-comedy doesn't purport to offer a balanced portrayal of the historical subjects it puts in the therapist's chair. Instead, it's a rare chance to see some of our finest comic actresses freed from the shackles of realism.

In the first of a double bill, we see Kathy Burke transformed into a louche, foul-mouthed Queen, Sharon Horgan crooning angst as country singer Tammy Wynette and a breathy Morgana Robinson as Anna Nicole Smith. Fresh from playing enigmatic Missy in Doctor Who, Michelle Gomez steals the show as a clipped, impeccably coiffed Margaret Thatcher. "Love?" she sneers, when Rebecca Front's long-suffering therapist tentatively broaches the subject - "it's a fictitious concept, like heaven or peace or God."

DVD review: Jon Richardson, Nidiot

A few of the routines will be familiar to anyone who has watched some of Richardson's recent TV work, but recontextualised and packaged as a full show, his material is endlessly rewatchable.

Psychobitches stars: comedy heroes... & Margaret Thatcher

Comedy isn't easy, especially for women in a male-dominated market - but Sky Arts 1 series Psychobitches has bucked the trend by giving the fairer sex the spotlight. Now, these funny ladies are undoubtably an inspiration to other comedy performers - but who were the women who inspired them?

DLT Entertainment makes key hires for comedy push

Darren Smith and Jack Cheshire have joined the indie's growing development team on a part time basis, and will be responsible for driving DLT's push into comedy.

Why you should be watching Psychobitches

Michelle Gomez steals the first episode of Season 2, portraying a psychopathic Maggie Thatcher.

Phoenix Nights: The top 10 best moments

Peter Kay fans rejoiced last week as it was revealed that there would be an ominous "announcement" surrounding comedy favourite Phoenix Nights, rumoured to be a return. So in preparation for this news, we've compiled a list of our top ten favourite moments from the hit comedy.

Review: Michael McIntyre

The brilliance of his comedy is the use of his voice & physicality on the stage. He can make the most mundane of everyday things into a very humorous situation and this was certainly the case at the Colston Hall in front of a very appreciative audience.