BCG Daily Tuesday 13th January 2015

Tamsin Greig jokes about idea of a Green Wing musical

Tamsin Greig has joked that Green Wing would make a good musical.

Drunk History review

In execution, the simple idea of drunk storytellers proves more entertaining than it ought to be, although there's probably a question mark over how long the joke will remain funny.

Archive: 13 January 1968: BBC may lose Sooty to ITV

After 15 years, and about 200 programmes, dear old Auntie is showing signs of disenchantment with the puppet's creator Harry Corbett.

Why post-apocalyptic Britain isn't the end of the world

Fleeces, So Solid Crew and third nipples - Freddy Syborn, writer of ITV2's new black comedy, explains why armageddon doesn't have to be doom and gloom.

Greatest TV shows to watch now - the British comedies

20 great British comedies available on demand, from Peep Show and The Thick of It to Fawlty Towers.

Radio Times review

It's one long, surreal trip down memory lane for ageing impresario and self-styled noble, Count Arthur Strong. Recalling his teddy-boy days via unreliable flashback, the episode riffs on West Side Story, Oliver! and even The Great Escape. It all begins when a guilt offering from Michael (Rory Kinnear) takes Arthur out of the cocoon of Bulent's greasy caff and out to the airfield. Thanks to a cleverly constructed misunderstanding, an ordinary scene of two people walking towards some light aircraft becomes something hysterical.

Radio Times review

The complete nuclear destruction of society might not seem like the obvious basis for a sitcom, but that's how this new ITV2 series kicks off. Youngsters Tom and Suze are brought together romantically by their assumed imminent death, only to get stuck with each other after the bomb drops.

Despite the slightly tasteless premise Cockroaches is actually pretty funny, with a vein of dark comedy well mined from the tropes of post-apocalyptic films combined with a very British rationalisation of events. Also, watch out for a fun role from Jack Whitehall (who co-wrote Bad Education with Cockroaches writer Freddy Syborn) - he pops up as Suze's street-talking ex, Oscar.

James Corden on taking over Late Late Show

James Corden has acknowledged that replacing Craig Ferguson as host of The Late Late Show will be "daunting".

Russell T. Davies says Four Weddings 'infected' drama

Screenwriter Russell T. Davies has blamed Hugh Grant's bumbling character in Four Weddings and a Funeral for "infecting the whole of fiction".

Video: Adil Ray on Fox News 'Muslim Birmingham' comment

The Birmingham-born creator of BBC comedy Citizen Khan has criticised a terrorism commentator who said the city was a no-go area for non-Muslims.

Jack Whitehall and Michael Whitehall blogs

An eccentric son? A grumbling father? What do the comedian and dad Michael really think of each other?

US TV orders Happyish series, starring Steve Coogan

Showtime has picked up the new series Happyish, starring Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Steve Coogan.

Opinion: never make friends with a comedian

After I posted a story yesterday about Stewart Lee standing in for Stuart Maconie on BBC6 Music's Freak Zone, it was pointed out to me that Lee had previously been critical of Maconie in his 2008 show 41st Best Stand-Up Ever. Lee was putting the boot into talking head pundits-for-hire and mentioned that Maconie, for a fee, can recall any aspect of human experience.

Bishop Dawn? No! The Vicar of Dibley has had its day

Am I alone in wanting this sitcom revival madness to cease?

Comedy and public information films?

Public information films featuring some well known comedy stars.

The Double review

In 2014, Richard Ayoade presented us with his latest directing project: The Double, an artistic representation of the 1846 Dostoyevsky novel.

Massive Dad review

This lovably stupid group breathe fresh air into traditional material - even the throwaway jokes are hilarious.

John Cleese interview: Americans are a miserable bunch

In a candid interview, comedy legend John Cleese talks religion, making mistakes in romance, and the physical effects of fame.

Miranda Hart makes her Hollywood debut in 'Spy'

Hart appears in new espionage comedy Spy as the best friend of Melissa McCarthy's Susan Cooper, a dissatisfied CIA analyst who has to step up to the plate and prevent a nuclear disaster when all other secret agents are compromised.

Joan Collins took Benidorm role as her sister is a fan

Joan Collins got a part in the hit comedy Benidorm because sister Jackie is a fan. Jackie, 77, took a box set to 81-year-old Joan's LA home. After watching it for four hours, a giggling Jackie rang creator Derren Litten.

Cockroaches, ITV2 - TV review

Like The Walking Dead with a sillier sense of humour and a British TV budget.

'Last Tango in Halifax' season 3 episode 3 review

Last Tango in Halifax plunged straight in to the lesbian wedding of the year, with a twist on the old clichéd 'will they/ won't they' conundrum.

5 reasons why you should watch 'Coupling'

OK, so you've just binge-watched all ten seasons of Friends in the last two weeks. Don't panic, friend! I have just the thing to ease you back to reality: Coupling, a popular BBC ensemble comedy that ran in the U.K. from 2000 to 2004.

TV review: Cockroaches, ITV2

It won't be the end of the world if you miss Cockroaches, but future episodes promise appearances from Alexander Armstrong and Nigel Planer and it certainly feels worth sticking with.