BCG Daily Tuesday 19th May 2015

Looking back at Green Wing

Back in 2004, Channel 4 found themselves without many of their Friday night audience magnets. Friends and Frasier both finished that year and Graham Norton had recently jumped ship to the States, taking his show format with him. Thankfully two years prior Channel 4 had commissioned a sitcom about the lives of hospital staff, and by 2004 a full series was ready to be unleashed on Friday night prime time.

Comedy shouldn't just be for raving leftists

Let's not allow the liberal media clique and their post-election blues to dominate the next five years. Bring back balance to political comedy!

Review: Spamalot, Sunderland Empire, until May 23

If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten - and that's that Spamalot is sure to put a smile on your face.

Radio Times review

There's something so delightfully mischievous about No Offence, a hybrid of creator Paul Abbott's Shameless and Tony Garnett's gritty The Cops. It knows it's rude and unruly, but it just doesn't care.

As the hunt for the serial killer of women with Down's syndrome chugs along in the background, DI Viv Deering's tumultuous team of detectives, including Will Mellor as the keen DC Spike Tanner, is investigating the murder of a young Asian woman. She's been killed in an arson attack, and suspicion falls squarely on a group of vociferous, shaven-headed racists.

The subject matter is touchy (and becomes increasingly so as the plot bends), but episode writer Paul Tomalin resolutely doesn't bury us in cliché, turning the story on its head while encouraging us to laugh at the stag-night antics of a particularly gormless fascist buffoon.

We're also given a peek into Viv's (Joanna Scanlan) home life, which provides at least one of the episode's surprises.

Radio Times review

Mark Steel is no slacker. He always does his research before taking to the stage to talk to a town about itself.

In the case of Fleetwood in Lancashire, subject of this performance, it has involved reading local history books and pamphlets, going on a tour of the Fisherman's Friend factory (Fleetwood's most famous global export), visiting the museum and trying his best to get on the ferry, which never seems to be in a position to cross the 20-yard river to neighbouring Knott End.

But it is how he presents his research that wins over the locals and his Radio 4 audience. He discovers on the Fisherman's Friend website, for instance, that the high-octane cough sweet is "lozenge of the stars" -- based on the fact that Stevie Wonder once asked for one when he had a cold.

Phil Nichol interview

As a parting shot I asked Phil to describe himself in five words. He replied: "Big, silly, over-sensitive (I'll count that as one), serious, nerd."

Bradley Walsh on swapping Law & Order for SunTrap

"It's something different - and that's the whole basis of what I wanted my career to be."

The Cutty Sark to become a comedy venue

The 19th-century clipper is to host a series of Edinburgh previews in its hold in the week running up to the Fringe.

Reece Shearsmith's favourite TV anthology episodes

To celebrate the release of Season 2 on DVD (out now), Cult Box asked Reece Shearsmith to select some of his favourite ever TV anthology episodes...

Review: Stewart Lee at The Lowry

Lee is now regarded the godfather of modern comedy, and every other act is judged against his exacting standards.

Lenny Henry hints he won't leave fortune to daughter

He may be one of Britain's wealthiest comedians but Lenny Henry has suggested he won't be leaving his multi-million pound fortune to his daughter, fearing a large inheritance would spoil her.

Monty Python's Spamalot review

It's just a short show - around two hours - but packed full of enjoyment and laughter.

Will Mellor's TV CV

Remember Gaz in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps? The Line of Duty and No Offence star has come a long way from small-time sitcoms...

The Celebrity Voicemail Show could be headed for TV

Radio 4's The Celebrity Voicemail Show imagines calls left for stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, JK Rowling, Paul Hollywood and Barack Obama - and creator Kayvan Novak wants to take it to the small screen.

Kayvan Novak on swapping E4 for BBC One

"This was an intense way of making comedy and I thought I was the only man for the job and nobody else could have done what I did"

Review: Spamalot, Sunderland Empire

Always look on the bright side of life, the cast tells us. In that case, at least Mark Forstater is making a bit of cash.

Sunday For Sammy team launch sketch writing competition

The death of a Whitley Bay musician has inspirited a search for the region's best comedy scriptwriters. North East charity The Sunday for Sammy Trust are offering up to ten comedy writers the chance to have their sketches professionally performed, in conjunction with the Laffalang team.

Preview: Leeds Comedy Festival 2015

This week, the first Leeds Comedy Festival will be bringing stand-up and sketch to the city centre.

Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - Mark Watson

Some unusual questions given to Mark Watson.

Reginald D Hunter review

Hunter's mercurial logic takes him into territory other comics don't occupy ... but sometimes leads him astray.

The Goodies - Series 4 from Worst to Best

The Goodies returned to the screen just five months after their last outing, with six episodes and a Christmas special making up season four.