BCG Daily Wednesday 10th December 2014

Brian Pern review

If there's a funnier show than Brian Pern: a Life in Rock, I'll be staggered.

Video - Frank Skinner: UKIP is interesting phenomenon

Frank Skinner talks about Russell Brand, the rise of UKIP and why he has extended his live tour.

Radio Times review

"I'm quite surprised they've let me on as well," Frankie Boyle tells his audience before he insults the celebrity guests and makes tasteless jokes about Glasgow's view of Hepatitis B and Oscar Pistorius's future girlfriends. He counters this with "If you are offended by any jokes tonight, feel free to tweet your outrage on a mobile phone made by a 10-year-old in China." Boyle isn't to everyone's taste, but this crowd isn't affronted by anything.

Also on the bill are Aisling Bea (riffing on the joys of sitting down and doing nothing) and growly-voiced Simon Evans, whose witty Jack Dee-style take on life is delivered with the occasional smile. Or maybe grimace.

Radio Times review

You may be expecting a breezy, knockabout profile of a zany comic talent. Certainly there are ripping clips: the sort of humour that constantly tore up the rulebook and demolished the fourth wall ("What are we going to do now?"). But Verity Maidlow's detailed biography ends up being a profound meditation on work pressure, mental pain, and the things that really matter in life.

The story of his life (born in India, scarred by the Second World, dedicated to entertaining) is told by Milligan himself in archive interviews, his daughters and admirers. A poet, trumpeter and green campaigner, Milligan developed a style of comedy that was like freeform jazz. As director Richard Lester says, he had ideas "like fireworks going off".

The goofing clown of anarchic classics The Goon Show and Q comes across as a passionate, sometimes tormented soul - he bravely admitted his depression at a time when it was taboo to do so. But it was his children that brought out the inner calm in Milligan (Love, Light and Peace refers to his sign-off in letters). Asked what he considered his greatest success, he replied, "Being a good father."

Radio Times review

Some of the freewheeling lunacy, cracker-joke disguises and general corpsing from Milligan's six Q series for the BBC from 1969-82 are shown tonight and tomorrow at 10.30pm. Fortunately most of the stereotyping and sexism of the period has hit the editor's bin. But the programmes do show how many great stooges Milligan had, from Huw Wheldon/Hughie Green impersonator John Bluthal and simpleton-voiced Alan Clare to David "I was in Cockleshell Heroes, you know" Lodge.

Jon Richardson interview

Jon Richardson talks to Closer about shunning Jimmy Carr's showbiz parties, wedding plans and his love of slippers

John Cleese interview

Chatting about writing, The Muppets, DreamWorks, Clockwise and Charles Crichton, all with Mr John Cleese...

Paddington stays top at the UK box office

Children's favourite Paddington has maintained pole position at the UK and Ireland box office for a second week.

Adam Riches review

Once you're over your participation-phobia, Riches' combination of broad character-comedy and coercive stunts makes for daft fun.

Comic Sunna Jarman dies aged 40 after cancer battle

Comedian Sunna Jarman has died of cancer, at the age of 40.

The war on banter is killing comedy

Comedians' crusade against Dapper Laughs is coming back to haunt them.

BBC Three: ditch comedy for shows that 'make you laugh'

The online BBC Three proposal wants to ditch comedy & docs for "make you laugh" and "make you think" shows. So, comedy & docs then?

Ginger Ale Comedy Awards: no prize, but I got giggles

Though Glasgow Now's funniest columnist didn't take away a trophy, Sarah-May Philo is taking away happy memories and a refreshed sense of purpose from the awards.

Comedy Central hires Joe McVey as Head of Development

McVey will be responsible for developing sourcing and developing original commissions for both the UK channel and Viacom International Media Networks' global comedy channels.

Plaque for Monty Python star Graham Chapman

A plaque has been unveiled at Monty Python star Graham Chapman's childhood home by Michael Palin.

Review: Dead Cat Comedy, Sandbar, Manchester

It's impressive that this 'pay what you want' gig is soon to enter into its third year. Comedy nights like Dead Cat not only provide a platform to both new and established acts, but give comedy fans in Manchester the opportunity to have a laugh for peanuts on a Monday night.

Peter Kay tops comedy rich list with over £25million

Accounts show two of the Bolton-born star's ­companies are worth a combined £25.2million, a rise of £1million on last year.

Review: Sara Pascoe

There's something surprisingly, undeservedly, meek about Sara Pascoe. She has a sharp intelligence and has crafted some devastatingly funny material for her current show, Sara Pascoe vs History, but there's something about her demeanour that suggests she believes she's on the losing side: and she really isn't.

QI facts: 77 incredible things you never knew

The ultimate book of useless trivia has been compiled by the team behind the incredible facts of the hit BBC show.

Review: Sam Simmons, XS Malarkey

The brilliantly bizarre Sam Simmons headlined at XS Malarkey this week, their last show of the year.

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 in this year's Strictly. So with all that good fun/ hard work in hand - how does she keep going?

Harry Hill interview

'I made stink bombs and sold them at school!' says Professor Branestawm star Harry Hill.

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace review: 'tender'

Inevitably, it was Milligan's mind that we kept coming back to: breakdowns, suicide attempts, the moment when his children saw him being led into the bathroom for electroconvulsive therapy.

Sandi Toksvig marries partner Debbie

Sandi Toksvig and partner Debbie have converted their civil partnership to a marriage - in their third wedding ceremony.

The ten best comedy shows of 2014

Featuring John Kearns, James Acaster, What Does the Title Matter Anyway?, Bridget Christie, Anthony Jeselnik, Brian Gittins, Sara Pascoe, Funz and Gamez, Tim Key and Kraken.