BCG Daily Tuesday 30th December 2014

Derek Jacobi on how an accident left him unable to walk

Sir Derek said that filming the latest TV series of Last Tango In Halifax was sometimes painful as he was still recovering.

Lenny Henry: is media industry sufficiently diverse?

Comedian Lenny Henry has led the campaign for greater diversity in the media this year, and so grabbed the opportunity to speak to Culture Secretary Sajid Javid on the issue.

Charlie Brooker: Xmas, CB radios & 1 toilet households

The acerbic writer is no Grinch, especially with his former Blue Peter presenter wife making decorations from Fairy Liquid bottles.

Radio Times review

2014 was a gruelling year of violence and confusion. The news was a horror show and our culture was replaced by hashtags. The high point was people dousing themselves in buckets of iced water like penitent monks. Even on television, things got grim. Remember Benefits Street? Remember Tumble?

As is tradition, Charlie Brooker peers deeply into this annus horribilis to make sure no old grievances are forgot. As is tradition, you will find yourself getting worn out around September: a year's worth of vitriol is a lot in one dose. But it's a necessary rite to round off 2014, one last cleansing shower of bile before we do it all again. Roll on 2015.

Radio Times review

The piquant minutiae of Tilling make the world of Mapp and Lucia go around. It's about bridge parties and who takes tea with whom. Since Lucia's arrival the social map has been re-drawn now that she dominates its cultural life, to the exclusion of its grinning once-grande dame, Elizabeth Mapp.

In the second episode of Steve Pemberton's adaptations, the quaint town is thrilled by the arrival of a mysterious Indian gentleman who claims he is a "guru". He is immediately annexed by a ravenous Mapp (Miranda Richardson, outrageous teeth bared) who aims to run him while excluding her arch rival and nemesis, Lucia (Anna Chancellor, oh-so-chic).

Devotees of E.F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia books will know that the guru didn't visit Tilling (he went to Riseholme) but no matter, it's another deliciously snooty hour.

The ten most memorable comedy gigs of 2014

Focussing on the positives, here are the ten shows of 2014 that made my entirely subjective cut.

Dr Death's new career - as a comedian

Controversial euthanasia advocate to perform at Edinburgh Fringe.

This year in comedy, part two

2014 was the year that truly proved that the British comedy scene is an exciting place to be. But with all things in life, there have been ups and downs and the industry has lost some of its brightest talents this year.

Gervais reveals there's an "even better" Derek special

Netflix viewers will see an extended version of the final moments at Broad Hill Nursing Home, as Ricky Gervais's thoughts turn to Life on the Road and Special Correspondents.

Early Miranda Hart comedy discovered

Early film of a live performance of a sitcom pilot starring Miranda Hart has resurfaced on YouTube.

Charlie Brooker's 2014 Wipe, BBC2, review

Brooker's Wipe might be uncomfortably similar to Russell Brand's YouTube rant 'The Trews' were it not for the top-notch contributors.

TV preview: Crims

Welsh stand-up Elis James makes his TV debut in BBC Three's new prison-based sitcom.

'Mapp and Lucia' episode 2 review

Insufferable is the word I keep coming back to when I try to find new and novel ways of describing the two titular characters of BBC One's Mapp and Lucia. Insufferable, insufferable, insufferable.