Phill Jupitus: Why I'm avoiding Star Wars trailer

Star Wars fans across the globe rejoiced last month when the first teaser trailer for JJ Abrams' keenly anticipated continuation of the saga was unveiled. Yet comedian Phill Jupitus, star of TV shows including QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks - and a one-time aficionado of George Lucas's intergalactic saga - was pointedly not one of them.

Toast of London, Channel 4 - TV review

Matt Berry has been nominated in six categories at this year's British Comedy Awards, so any gripe about last night's Toast of London series finale (Channel 4) will soon be drowned out by applause. Here's my gripe, anyway: Josh Homme's cameo in "Fool in Love" was exactly the sort of pointless, "meet my famous chums" name-dropping that Toast of London usually skewers so mercilessly. It made for a disappointingly dull denouement to the best sitcom on television.

Radio Times review

The gloriously silly spoof documentary from Down the Line star Rhys Thomas may have grown up with a move from BBC Four to BBC Two - even if its lead character, played by Fast Show alumnus Simon Day, certainly has not. There's also a slight format change. Pern, former front man of fictional prog rock band Thotch, no longer narrates and this opener is more of a spoof arts doc fronted by Thomas and focusing on Stowe Boys, a West End rock musical about the band directed by Kathy Burke. What could go wrong? Well, everything of course.

Yes, it clearly owes a debt to Spinal Tap, Christopher Guest's 1984 masterpiece, but Thomas (who won a Rose d'Or for a Freddie Mercury documentary) has a scalpel-sharp eye for rock-star foibles. And there are joyous contributions once again from Michael Kitchen as Pern's fantastically arrogant and unpleasant manager John Farrow, Paul Whitehouse as the band's guitarist Pat Quid and Nigel Havers's priapic Tony Pebblé (pronounced "Peblay").

John Bishop turned into a waxwork

Madame Tussauds Blackpool has confirmed John Bishop is the next British comedian to be honoured with his own wax figure.

Simon Day & Rhys Thomas on life with Brian Pern

This week sees the launch of Brian Pern: A Life in Rock on BBC Two. The mockumentary focuses on prog-rock singer Brian Pern, as he attempts to adapt to life after fronting one of rock's biggest bands. Featuring a host of big name guest stars, the show is an absolute treasure, and TVO was lucky enough to talk to its creators, writers and stars, Simon Day and Rhys Thomas about the life of Brian.

Russell Brand called a bully by Katie Hopkins

Professional provocateur and relentless troll Katie Hopkins has taken issue with the comedian and activist's decision to tweet the contact details of a Daily Mail journalist's phone number to his 8.7million viewers.

Toast Of London, series 2 review

The second series of Toast of London has taught me a lot about my own taste in comedy, and the more I think about the programme, the more I realise how much I enjoyed watching it.

John Cleese's most extravagant purchase: my third wife

"Ask me something rude" says John Cleese as I take my seat for the interview, "that's always funniest".

Peter Capaldi: My new sympathy for Malcolm Tucker

Malcolm Tucker and the Time Lord may appear to have little in common, but Peter Capaldi has said that his starring role in Doctor Who has made him much more sympathetic to the foul-mouthed spin doctor.

Interview: Jim Davidson

Jim Davidson on being "racist, sexist, homophobic" - and Operation Yewtree.

TV review: Puppy Love, Episode 4, BBC Four

I think I know where Puppy Love is going wrong. They actually seem to have played down the presence of pooches in an effort to avoid the humans being upstaged. Yet what's the point in creating a sitcom about dog lovers and not featuring lovely dogs? Puppy Love is good, but it could have been so much better.

Dad's Army film sets its sights on a release date

The film adaptation of much-loved British comedy Dad's Army will march into cinemas on February 5th, 2016.

Eric Morecambe statue is coming home

Excitement is building as the town prepares to welcome home the Eric Morecambe statue.

Brian Pern: a Life in Rock, BBC2 - TV review

Brian Pern: a Life in Rock (BBC Two) also had the feel of a reunion, or perhaps the office Christmas party for British comedy's hardest workers - Martin Freeman, Jack Whitehall, Kathy Burke, Paul Whitehouse and Phil Cornwell all popped up in various roles.

CityLife Awards 2014: Our five Comedy Clubs finalists

In times of trouble, we all like a good laugh - and the proliferation of comedy clubs in Greater Manchester this year proved it. But as always, the story of a successful comedy club is also about the MC.

CityLife Awards 2014: Our Best Comedy Shows nominees

As always, Manchester was visited by many top comedians in 2014, but there has to be a winner - and here are our five contenders...

Brian Pern: a Life in Rock review

Despite a strong start this rock-mockumentary ended up less than the sum of its parts.

Miranda Richardson interview

"I constantly want to give up acting, but I don't know what else I'd do."

Gary Hollywood interview

TV Choice caught up with Gary Hollywood, who plays Rory's boyfriend, gay crimper Dino in the series, to find out what the cast have been up to over the past twelve months, how he'll be spending the festive season, and what the next few years have in store...