BCG Daily Monday 1st December 2014

Stephen Fry joins Danger Mouse voice cast

Stephen Fry will be part of the cast of Danger Mouse when the cartoon favourite returns to TV next year. The broadcaster and actor will voice the role of veteran spy Colonel K.

An evening to remember: John Shuttleworth

John's got songs detailing the 'nightmare scenario' of having two tubs of margarine on the go at the same time.

Frank Skinner: 'I've got better at stand-up comedy'

Frank Skinner has joked that his stand-up comedy has improved in recent years.

Radio Times review

Actor Steven Toast is buried alive on a film set (it's a long story) and flashes back to his wedding day on a Thai beach. His speech to the guests and his bored bride (played by Amanda Donohoe) is a litany of the actors who've wronged him, though he puts this in more choice language: "Colin Firth... Hugh Bonneville... Trevor Eve... Martin Shaw."

In an underpowered, thinly written episode with a sprinkling of good moments, Toast (Matt Berry) is offered a job in a Hollywood movie on the strict understanding he doesn't look at or eat or drink within two miles of its megastar lead actor, Max Gland. And we get a disturbing glimpse into the home life of Toast's agent, Jane Plough (pronounced "Pluff").

Dave Gorman review

Dave Gorman's tried and tested formula might need shaking up.

Frank Skinner interview

"I wish that wasn't the case in many ways, but I think every stand-up show is a negotiation. 'Here's some stuff I want to do, and here's some stuff I know you want me to do - let's see if we can do a deal."

Noel Fielding review

The fantasy never dragged or lost its comic edge for all its random weirdness.

The Stand boss Tommy Sheppard bids to be SNP MP

Comedy boss Tommy Sheppard is bidding to become the SNP candidate in what is seen as the party's most winnable seat in the Capital at next year's general election.

Jimmy Carr forks out '£4,000 on drinks' for audience

Hats off to comedian Jimmy Carr for buying his audience a very big round of drinks after his train broke down.

Review: Lee Mack

The encore was simply to invite questions from the floor. A risky strategy but the good folk of Queen of the Midlands delivered - and gave him the perfect material to round off a busy night.

Comedy competitions, awards & reviews: a matter of luck

As any regular reader of this blog knows, I try not to review shows. That just leads to people unleashing verbal abuse on me in later months and years. So I really do not know why I agree to be a judge on award shows. I think I have been on two - it might have been three - this year.

Interview: rarely asked questions - Simon Evans

Simon Evans is one of the country's most stylish stand-up comedians. And I'm not just talking about his bespoke suits.

Sunetra Sarker on Puppy Love: I'm not great with dogs!

Casualty star Sunetra Sarker has a cameo in Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine's new comedy Puppy Love on BBC Four... that would be as well as making it to week 10 partnering Brendan Cole in this year's Strictly. So with all that good fun/hard work in hand - how does she keep going?

What does a comic think when an audience member leaves?

We asked Alfie Brown to write about what goes through his head when experiencing a walkout.

Review: Sara Pascoe vs History - The Lowry, Salford

Considering Pascoe spent a month at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the show, it's impressive how off-the-cuff she manages to make some of her zigzagging trains of thought sound as she tries valiantly to stick to the point before jumping off to another matter frequently.

Russell Brand on New Era rent row - video

Comedian Russell Brand tells Channel 4 News why he is supporting tenants at the New Era estate who fear their rent could be increased after a takeover by a US property company.

Funz and Gamez: you can't do that to children, can you?

It's a kids' show - or is it? Funz and Gamez has child-innapropriate jokes, prizes that cannot be won and an alcoholic host.

Review: Funz and Gamez, The Comedy Store, Manchester

Funz and Gamez is a massively funny treat for everyone - though perhaps more for the adults than the children will ever know.

Sunderland trio's sitcom gets a helping hand from C4

Hot Gulp have secured funding from Ch4 and are working with a script editor who has Red Dwarf, Miranda and The IT Crowd on their CV.

Interview: Rob Newman

Rob Newman had the opportunity for supersonic mainstream success, decided it wasn't for him, and is now producing exactly the comedy he wants to for an audience that wants to hear it.

Mapp and Lucia, TV review

The ensemble cast save the day in this quaint and quirky comedy.

Bonobo review

The words 'low-budget British sex comedy' are enough to strike fear into the hardiest of hearts. But fear not - Bonobo is well shot, breezily scripted and superbly performed by a cast of TV stalwarts.

An immigration lawyer reviews Paddington

"If detected by the authorities, Paddington would in all likelihood be detained in one of our virulently multiplying private immigration detention spaces."