BCG Daily Monday 23rd March 2015

Simon Amstell interview

Simon Amstell on his journey to be free and why his 13-year-old self was a 'deranged lunatic'.

Open All Hours - a must see, must read, comedy classic

I may be in the minority here, but one of my most favorite British situation comedies of all-time is Open All Hours.

Why do we laugh inappropriately?

We often find ourselves laughing at the strangest of moments. As psychologists are discovering, those helpless giggles might be one of our most important and profound behaviours, says David Robson.

Radio Times review

Germaine needs new pants, Yoko needs a new bra and young Wyatt (the only boy in the house) needs some male bonding with Grampy.

Caitlin and Caroline Moran's rollicking comedy gathers pace with a girls shopping trip that generates more assured quick-fire wit and knowing literary-minded gab in Wolves clothing.

The performances (especially from Rebekah Staton's mum) remain spot on. And while it sometimes feels as if the writing is a little pleased with itself, there's no doubting the Moran sisters' ability to create their own joyously eccentric comedy world.

Eric Cantona's synchronised swimming comedy

Former Manchester United star Eric Cantona will appear in The Mermaid Man, a new comedy film about synchronised swimming, which is set in Manchester.

Phil Wang engineers a laugh with 'high-status' comedy

Not everyone would see an immediate connection between engineering principles and comic delivery, but it's clear as day to Phil Wang.

Interview: Mark Steel

Mark Steel is the latest in the rich line of comics that Shetland has been treated to in recent months.

Review: Jeremy Hardy at Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton

A committed socialist, Jeremy Hardy brought sharp wit and a sense of justice to his left wing comedy.

Review: Liam Williams. Capitalism, Glasgow

Although a political movement might be the name of the cerebral show, the format is much more physical with satirical homage to the film Fight Club. Liam Williams sees himself as a depressive, Kinder Bueno-chomping, left-wing activist, although his "activism" often results in a more passive approach.

Barnard Castle gets its own comedy festival

Barnard Castle is to get its own comedy festival this summer, Giggle Beats can reveal. The historic market town in County Durham will welcome some of the world's top stand-ups for a jam-packed day of funnies at The Witham arts centre on Saturday 18 July 2015.

Douglas Adams 'Doctor Who' script turned into novel

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy author wrote City of Death starring Tom Baker in 1979. Now it will be extended by writer James Goss...

Adam Riches: Quadruple Comedy Threat

Is this a thing now? Comedians doing their old shows, getting the gang (or, in this case, gags) back together for one last hurrah?

Raised by Wolves episode 1 review: 'Hand Jam'

This first episode of Channel 4's Raised by Wolves is a triumphantly confident opening to a series.

My Glasgow: Marc Jennings

Comedian Marc Jennings has an unusual way to thwart muggers and plenty to say on new health trends in Glasgow - perhaps we should have titled his column My Clydebank.

Review: Live at the Lighthouse, Kettering

Performances from Stewart Francis, Sean McLoughlin, George Egg, Andy Doyle and Dan Evans.

Frankie Boyle's company makes staggering £1.8m

The Scots stand-up comic Frankie Boyle has coined in a fortune from television appearances, programmes and sell-out tours.

Ross Noble interview

Ross Noble's brand of quirky spontaneity has seen him collect a live, online and TV following. Where exactly Freewheeling will take him next, however? That we've yet to see.

Raised By Wolves: Smug, self-important, clichéd...

Raised By Wolves doesn't tell us much about Caitlin and Caz's real childhood. Instead, it clamps a pair of rose-tinted specs to our eyes and says, 'Look at that -- that's us as kids. Amazing, weren't we!'

Ted Robbins: I'm 3 stone lighter since dying

In the second instalment of our interview, the Phoenix Nights comedian Ted Robbins tells how he is taking small steps to getting himself back on the right track.