BCG Daily Thursday 7th May 2015

Review: Murder in Successville, Bugsplat!

Reviews of BBC Three's improvised comedy and Channel 4's latest sitcom pilot.

Bugsplat!, TV review

The cast and crew sound promising but this black comedy lacks chemistry.

Murder in Successville, TV review

BBC Three's spoof cop show mash-up has weird chemistry and lots of laughs.

My comedy hero: Ruby Wax on Jennifer Saunders

Currently on her Sane New World tour, the comedian and writer picks the Ab Fab creator as her comic idol.

Bugsplat!, Channel 4, review: 'current'

This pilot episode has an intriguing premise and shows potential, says Michael Hogan.

Murder in Successville, BBC Three, review: unholy mess

There were too many puerile jokes in this very unfunny detective comedy, says Michael Hogan.

David O'Doherty on the quest for happiness

The ever-wonderful comedian David O'Doherty returns for two special shows at the Róisín Dubh tomorrow and Saturday, and he promises to have checked everything in his new show, David O'Doherty Has Checked Everything.

Radio Times review

PR wonk Siobhan Sharpe is in full, incomprehensible, short-circuiting robot mode as the management team discuss the launch of BBC Better: "You might want to buy into, like, the idea of major s***. We've got to pre-sell the movie rights."

It's a brilliant set piece of double-think, in an organisation where W1A writer John Morton suggests that people shall speak nonsense to other people. No one does it better than Sharpe (Jessica Hynes) and dear, dim intern Will "Yeah, sure, yeah, cool" Humphries (Hugh Skinner, a hoot), who wanders the floors of New Broadcasting House looking like a puzzled horse.

Meanwhile, Anna Rampton, the new Head of Better, doesn't want a picture of Lord Reith in her new office because he's "too frightening".

TV review: Charlie Brooker's Election Wipe, BBC2

What does it say in the Bible about the last coming first? After an election campaign that has been crammed to the brink with satirical programmes, Charlie Brooker bowled along just as last orders were being called to show the rest how it should be done.

Russell Howard conquers America via the internet

Russell Howard has announced more live dates of his Wonderbox show in America and Canada, thanks largely to his online presence.

No Offence: 'hugely entertaining & wildly unconvincing'

Like all of his work, No Offence zips along with infectious energy and some great jokes. At this stage, however, the cops themselves do seem more recognisable as Paul Abbott characters than as policemen, rather as if the kind of people he usually writes about had unaccountably found themselves running a nick -- or a Spectator competition had asked for a parody of a crime show as Abbott might have written it. The result is a programme that somehow manages to be hugely entertaining and wildly unconvincing at the same time.

Jonny & the Baptists review

While there was plenty of political material here -- frequently at Ukip's expense -- the duo are were at their best when getting personal, says Bruce Dessau.

What should win best comedy at the TV Baftas 2015?

Detectorists, Harry and Paul's Story of the Twos, Moone Boy or The Wrong Mans? Which do you think deserves to win a Bafta?

Interview: Paul Merton

'People ask me why I do the Comedy Store Players and Impro Chums... it keeps me match-fit'

Bugsplat!, review

Overall, though, the tone of Bugsplat! was more wry than savage.

The Vote at Donmar Warehouse, WC2

Is it theatre? Is it telly? Does it boast a preposterously talented cast of 44 that includes Judi Dench, Mark Gatiss and Catherine Tate? Is it any good? The answer to all those questions is a resounding yes, but still The Vote takes a bit of explaining.

The Vote, review: art meets life in real-time drama

Judi Dench, Catherine Tate and Mark Gatiss star in a brilliantly apt play about the last 90 minutes of polling day.

The Vote is fabulously acted and depressingly accurate

Polling station play by the man behind Channel 4 political drama Coalition is "tremendous fun" and "hugely satisfying" says Tony Peters.

Richard Herring interview

"I'm prepared to kill myself for comedy." Richard Herring is nothing if not wholeheartedly dedicated to his craft.

Sara Pascoe interview

Sara Pascoe wears her feminist heart on her sleeve. Her combination of feminism, jokes and brilliantly off-kilter perspectives make the comedy world a better place.

Josie Long on Arts Emergency

Josie Long on helping to set up Arts Emergency, a small charity doing big things to enable artistic opportunity for all.

Murder In Successville review

If you are still convulsed by the kind of irreverent juvenile stupidity that made you giggle till your throat hurt when you were seven years old, give Murder In Successville a look. I'm almost ashamed of how much this made me laugh.

Peter Kay's Car Share review

The script is sharp and Peter Kay's performance is completely natural. The first five minutes were lovely, with him driving in mounting frustration through the backstreets and bickering with his satnav: 'Me and you are going to fall out, I can tell you that right now... You're sulking now, are you?'