BCG Daily Tuesday 16th December 2014

Review: Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy)

Not The Messiah is no serious work, but it is, at moments, seriously beautiful nonetheless

Radio Times review

Charlie Brooker's digital dystopia delivers a festive mystery in anthology form, with three connected stories about dark things in a twisted near-future. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall lead the cast as two men sharing a Christmas meal somewhere remote and snowy. Where are they? And who are they, really? As the companions exchange stories, we see Oona Chaplin as a woman bedevilled by "smart" gadgets, and Hamm himself offering unconventional romantic advice.

Plus, in the sort of flip between virtual and tangible worlds that's the trademark of the series, the question is asked: what would happen if you could "block" people and never see or hear from them again in real life, as you can on Twitter and Facebook?

Radio Times review

A second slice of the joyfully funny Simon Day-fronted spoof rockumentary sees our hero desperate to finally stage his Day of the Triffids rock opera. But will Pern be upstaged by the other members of his erstwhile prog-rock band Thotch (Paul Whitehouse's Pat Quid and Nigel Havers's Tony Pebble, pronounced "Pebblay")? Not likely.

He has a few problems ensuring the confectionery stand stocks vegetarian-only Jelly Babies, however, and a Twitter storm erupts when a stray mic catches him remarking how he "hates Blacks". Pern, of course, is referring to the outdoor clothing specialists. Roger Moore and Paul Young are among the guest stars.

Radio Times review

Spend a magical Christmas with a jolly bearded man. In a shed. Comedian and multimediagician Adam Buxton brings his distinctive mix of songs, animation and internet flotsam to this festive special. If you have never heard his hilarious take on bug-eyed YouTube commenters then you're in for a treat, but even longtime Adam & Joe fans should find something new.

In the best tradition of telly Christmas specials Adam is joined by some old friends, including poet Tim Key and Buxton's five-year-old daughter Hope. There'll be music and laughter and a hefty dose of nostalgia provided by...well, us, as Adam flicks through old copies of Radio Times. It'll be the best Christmas you've ever spent in a shed.

Noel Fielding: I called Alice Cooper at 5am for a chat

The Never Mind The Buzzcocks captain and comedian, 41, discusses steam with Stephen Fry and wallpaper with Courtney Love as he takes us through his photo album...

Mark Watson to undertake 27 hour gig for Comic Relief

Mark Watson is to perform a stand-up marathon next year, in aid of Comic Relief. Beginning at 9pm on February 27 2015, the comic will gig for 27 hours straight; one for each year since Comic Relief launched.

TV documentary for Elaine C Smith

Elaine C Smith's first stand-up tour in a decade is to captured for a TV documentary for STV.

Only time all of Twitter agrees with Russell Brand?

This week has seen a social media turn-around for the star following the airing of BBC Three's Russell Brand: End the Drugs War.

MacAulay and Co set to end after 17 years on air

BBC Radio Scotland's much loved MacAulay and Co morning show is coming off the airwaves after seventeen years in the spotlight. Radio Scotland is working on three major new series with Fred MacAulay including a new comedy panel show. Breaking The News, a weekly satirical panel series, will see Fred chair alongside fellow comedians and journalists in a round up of the week's news.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks, series 28 review

Never Mind The Buzzcocks has entered it's 28th series and what could possibly make this all-inclusive and sharp-witted musical-based panel show any better? Rhod Gilbert, that's what.

Miranda: It's been such fun... or has it?

Miranda will bow out - clumsily, presumably - on Christmas Eve. And so it's the last chance to debate whether this was a trailblazing triumph for comedy - or an embarrassment that pandered to the worst kind of stereotypes about women.

Black Mirror: White Christmas, Channel 4 - TV review

Black Mirror is great on our technology culture, but also just great.

Black Mirror: Rafe Spall excels but rest is too grim

Call me old fashioned, but I like my Christmas specials to have a bit of festive cheer. I only knew Black Mirror by its reputation as a dark satire of modern life, so I sat down to watch expecting to be both horrified and depressed.

War on Christmas: interview with Gary McNair

Comedian joyrides the festive season through the Arches by declaring War on Christmas.

Top 5 comedy gigs of 2014

You laughed, you cried, you heckled: Brian Donaldson breaks down the best acts of the year.

Live comedy DVDs roundup

Featuring Lee Mack, Richard Herring, Al Murray, Jon Richardson, Jim Davidson and Harry Hill.

Black Mirror Christmas special review

This Christmas special of Charlie Brooker's techno-horror show manages to compact the show's usual three-part run into one, feature-length, portmanteau episode.

Black Mirror: We wish you a very bleak Christmas

"There's nothing in this that's as bleak as whatever the fuck EastEnders is going to do" claims Charlie Brooker in the casually scornful manner in which only he can. Speaking at the preview screening of White Christmas, last night's 'festive special' of his dystopian Channel 4 anthology Black Mirror, I have to disagree with Brooker. The ninety minute feature length special of his disconcerting dystopian drama was markedly more gloomy and disturbing than your average shouty, death-strewn festive soap instalment. But an incomparably more insightful, entertaining piece of television.

Black Mirror: White Christmas review

White Christmas' nightmarish tales of isolation might be dark, but they show sage concern about the kind of world we're building for ourselves. They ask us to consider the humanity of how we treat people online and in the real world. An extreme reflection it might be, but underneath it all, Black Mirror may well have the most charitable heart of any of this year's seasonal specials.

Brian Pern: The funniest show on TV right now

He's the man who "invented world music" and who created the first ever music video using Plasticine. Yes, we're talking about '70s rock legend Brian Pern - the frontman of Thotch.

Black Mirror: White Christmas, review

Charlie Brooker's festive special shows a dark side to our digital obsession.

British Comedy Awards 2014 programme

Read an online copy of the programme for the British Comedy Awards. It includes various articles, including tributes to Rik Mayall and Addison Cresswell.