BCG Daily Friday 9th January 2015

Radio Times review

Sometimes this celebrity whinge party gets up a head of comic steam. The mix of guests doesn't always gel but when it does - as here - you feel as if you're eavesdropping on a heated chat in a pub full of famous people.

In this episode that means Gary Lineker, Jack Dee and Fay Ripley offering up their personal peeves: Dee hates white vans and hand dryers; Lineker hates internet trolls; Ripley hates jeggings - and people who tell the truth.

In railing against "people who tell it like it is" Ripley includes a nice story of meeting up with an actress she used to work with, whose deflating first words were "Oh Fay! Oh my God, how we've all aged!"

Radio Times review

It can't be a coincidence that whenever Richard Osman appears as a panellist, QI seems to trip along in a higher gear. It's the snappiest episode for a while, and although some credit for that goes (I suppose) to the questions and curiosities dug up by the QI Elves, I prefer to credit Osman, Phill Jupitus and Lucy Porter for upping the banter.

As Fry hands out plastic bags to be blown up, Jupitus quips, "Time for the controversial auto-erotic asphyxiation round..." and Osman's off-the-cuff name for a penguin dating service is inspired. We learn stuff too, about Turgenev, our fingertips and the largest native land animal in Antarctica - not what you might think.

Rapper Laughs: An introduction to Crapbattles

Comedian Rap Battles (which also run regularly at The Stand venues) are a thing of wonder: all sweat and testosterone, as screams, gasps and uproarious laughter fill the space.

James Corden interview

As the star of new film Into The Woods gets ready for his big showbiz break in the US, James Corden tells why he relishes getting the time to be with his children.

Review - Beasts, Solo

The reason I didn't find it a 4-star show is nothing more complicated than a lack of real quality. For me too many skits fell short of being truly funny.

Lewis Schaffer on madness, his mother and himself

"Honestly!" I said to Lewis Schaffer's official stalker Blanche Cameron at the end of last night's show, "It's so frustrating! The things I can't blog about!"

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Alex Edelman, Austentatious and Dara O'Briain.

Irish famine comedy: Your reaction

As expected, the blog generated lots of comments from people saying that the idea was "not funny" and that there were "some sick idiots in the arts today." But there were also plenty of people who defended the concept and pointed out that it would not be like reinventing the wheel.

Man enters Guinness World Records for Fringe record

The comedy fan who watched 304 shows over the Edinburgh Fringe has officially been accepted into the Guinness book of records.

Lance Percival, star of Up Pompeii, dies aged 81

Actor Lance Percival, who starred in British hit comedy Up Pompeii, has died at the age of 81.

Among his notable film roles were Carry On Cruising, Postman's Knock and Darling Lili.

Dapper Laughs is back

Daniel O'Reilly's sexist alter-ego has returned in a 10-second clip posted to Instagram and Facebook weeks after he vowed to 'kill off' the character.

Lance Percival obituary

Star of the satirical 60s television show That Was the Week That Was.

Charlie Hebdo, The Interview and our right to satirise

Given all that's gone on over the last few weeks, it's a wonder I'm still allowed to voice an opinion in public.

Mongrels puppeteers to be guests at "furry" convention

FurCon (Further Confusion) is one of the world's largest anthropomorphic (or "furry") conventions, and is now in its fifteenth year. This year, two of the puppeteers from Mongrels will be appearing at the event!

Review - I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: live on stage

With a relentless barrage of hilarity for over two hours, the Sunderland audience was left helpless with laughter and although the vast majority seemed to be fans of the radio show, this is an excellent introduction to people unfamiliar with the joys of Clue.

Edinburgh Comedy Award newcomers in London - Profiles

These six rising stars (Alex Edelman, Dane Baptiste, Gein's Family Giftshop, Lazy Susan, Lucy Beaumont, Steen Raskopoulos) earned Best Newcomer nominations at last year's Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards. You can catch them all at Soho Theatre this month... except one.