BCG Daily Tuesday 23rd June 2015
Press clippings
How Denis Norden stumbled upon concentration camp
TV presenter and comedy writer Denis Norden has spoken for the first time about his "accidental" visit to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Norden, who was serving in the RAF during World War Two, went to the liberated camp in northern Germany to find lighting for a show he was putting on.
He went with fellow performers the late Eric Sykes and Ron Rich and none of them had any idea what the camp had been used for.
BBC News, 23rd June 2015How we made The League of Gentlemen
'When we were looking for locations on our first series, the producer was always stepping away to take calls. We learned later they wanted to cancel us'.
Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson, The Guardian, 23rd June 2015Bridget Christie on body image
In this second extract from A Book For Her, the stand-up comedian explores the facts about cosmetic surgery and asks why so many women 'stick things on and tuck other bits in' until all that is left is their low self-esteem.
Bridget Christie, The Guardian, 23rd June 2015No Offence to return for second series on Channel 4
Filming of Shameless creator Paul Abbott's comic police drama, starring Joanna Scanlan, set to begin in early 2016.
John Plunkett, The Guardian, 23rd June 2015Ricky Gervais does Office film without Stephen Merchant
Ricky Gervais will reportedly make The Office movie without the help of Stephen Merchant.
Hollywood News, 23rd June 2015Writing Actions Lines and Stage Directions
How should we approach actions lines? Exactly the same way as you'd approach dialogue. Allow me to explain.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 23rd June 2015Binge watching: Jam & Jerusalem
Jam & Jerusalem was axed after a pitifully few three series (yet the Beeb cranks The [bloody] Archers ON and ON). Why everyone isn't completely in love with it is utterly beyond me.
Hazel Davis, Standard Issue, 23rd June 2015TV review: Not Safe for Work, Channel 4
Hell is other people in a new office-based comedy drama.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 23rd June 2015Radio Times review
Oh Viv, what have you done? In the last episode the serial murderer of women with Down's syndrome was discovered, but our favourite coarse cop acted with outrageous disregard for the law.
She decides to deal with things her way and has to make Dinah her confidante. But will it catch up with both of them? As Paul Abbott's punchy crime drama ends, things get messy, in all senses; there's a grotesque murder and the script wanders all over the place. It seems to be striving for some kind of Hitchcockian black comedy a la The Trouble with Harry or even Rope, but fails.
Still, Viv (Joanna Scanlan) et al are a great team. Here's hoping we see them again.
Alison Graham, Radio Times, 23rd June 2015Review: Whose Line Is It Anyway?... Live
What's obvious from tonight's buzzing performance and jubilant audience reaction is the show has been absent for too long.
Michael Curle, Time Out, 23rd June 2015Whose Line Is It Anyway? Live review
Clive Anderson, Josie Lawrence and Greg Proops bring their Channel 4 hit to the West End - and the laughs are even bigger and better this time round.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 23rd June 2015Whose Line Is It Anyway? on the West End review
Returning for a new run at London's Adelphi Theatre, and borrowing some games from the popular US version, the stars of the beloved comedy series prove that they still have what it takes to make our sides split with giggles.
Tom Eames, Digital Spy, 23rd June 2015Stephen K Amos interview
In this week's My Peccadillo, comedian Stephen K Amos reveals his passion pipes and pipe tobacco.
The Big Issue, 23rd June 2015Rowan Atkinson turns up at old school for prize night
Hollywood star Rowan Atkinson surprised pupils by turning up to their last ever prize assembly... after hearing his old school was closing after 432 years.
Steve White, The Mirror, 23rd June 2015Stephen Fry texts Michael Gove to correct his grammar
The former education secretary is one politician you'd think would boasts fine spelling and grammar.
But in an interview on Tuesday, Michael Gove, the recently appointed Justice Secretary, admitted to receiving a text from QI's Stephen Fry, reprimanding him for linguistic "errors".
Aubrey Allegretti, The Huffington Post, 23rd June 2015Johnny Vegas to guest host Sunday Brunch
Johnny Vegas has confirmed that he will be joining Sunday Brunch on June 28th as guest host alongside Simon Rimmer, while Tim Lovejoy is on holiday.
Channel 4, 23rd June 201513 things I've learned doing comedy for kids
Comedy for kids used to be making fart noises with your hands. Recently, however, live comedy aimed at children has enjoyed something of a boom, with established grown-up clubs like The Stand and Soho Theatre running regular shows for nippers.
Lee Kyle, Giggle Beats, 23rd June 2015Red Redmond: why I'm feeling blue
This week I recorded and released my own stand-up show. I did it without the assistance of an agent or manager. It is an independently funded project to which I have complete creative control. I'm not here to boast or boost sales. On the contrary, I want to encourage you to do the same...
Red Redmond, Giggle Beats, 23rd June 2015Graham Norton: I'll retire before I'm 60
The chat show king, 52, says he plans to get out of TV within eight years and still hasn't given up hope of finding someone to share the rest of his life.
Emma Pietras, The Mirror, 23rd June 2015Shakespeare's jokes are just not funny acadmic admits
In comments that will be music to ears of many, former head of National Theatre says many of the Bard's jokes are simply no longer amusing.
Hannah Furness, The Telegraph, 23rd June 2015Audio: Shelf interview
Broadway Baby Comedy editor, Martin Walker, talks to Rachel Watkeys Dowie and Ruby Clyde - aka the double act SHELF.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 23rd June 2015Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
Wussywat The Clumsy Cat
Episode 2 - KiteWussywat manages to muddy up Ird's washing. How will he get it clean again? With a kite, Duckadile's bath bubbles and the wind, of course!
Mark Steel's In Town
Series 6, Episode 6 - Saint Anne, AlderneyMark performs from The Island Hall in Saint Anne, capital of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where he has difficulty buying an old pair of trousers, visits an old Nazi bunker which is now an Aussie BBQ hang out, and meets an organic farmer who is also a radiologist.
Undercover
Episode 2 - The RobberyArno and Ara Sarkissian are due at the wedding of the head of the Magarian family's daughter and are keen to impress.
No Offence
Series 1, Episode 8Dinah clashes with Deering, and it sets off an irreversible chain of events which brings them into conflict with their professional duty. Jonah's job is also on the line when an attempt to save the lives of a mother and baby goes disastrously wrong.
Brotherhood
Episode 4 - BirthdayIt's Jamie's birthday, and Dan's determined to throw him a good party like their mum used to. He's got a present sorted, and just needs Toby to get something and to invite the guests.