BCG Daily Wednesday 23rd December 2015

Will Franken on changing back from Sarah to Will

Earlier this year comedian Will Franken made the decision to become Sarah Franken. He has now decided to revert back to Will Franken. In this exclusive essay he explains his decision.

We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story: review

A BBC drama about a great BBC success story of the past could have been unbearable. But it's much more than a Dad's Army luv-in.

We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story, BBC Two, review

Touching comedy drama tells of a near miss for a national institution.

We're Doomed: The Dad's Army Story, BBC2 - TV review

We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story was more Batmainwaring Begins, and ended as the first episode started in 1968. But not before considerable off-camera drama, gently warmed with the same style of comedy that would sustain 80 (highly repeatable) episodes.

TV review: We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story

As we saw the underdogs of Dad's Army assemble, this was a rather jolly dramatisation.

We're Doomed! - an exercise in marking time

Somehow, though, unlike the troop hired to play the ragbag of Army volunteers, it never quite came together. Paul Ritter's Perry was too needy and snappy to be likeable. The BBC stuff-shirt types all blended into one, the production hitches weren't interesting enough. The question we must ask of all tributes and 'stories of' is, was that better than watching the real thing? Only, I'd say, if you prefer powdered eggs to real ones.

Radio Times review

In this latest adventure Shaun visits a local fête and ends up mistakenly bidding for a trio of - as it turns out, wildly destructive - llamas. The moment when sheepdog Bitzer realises what is happening and tries to stop him is beautifully done and the llamas' subsequent reign of terror at Mossy Bottom (they can only be placated by pan pipes) is animated havoc at its best.

Radio Times review

It's easy to see why Roy Clarke's revival of his much-loved Ronnie Barker comedy Open All Hours is such a blazing hit. It takes its audience back to comfortable times, when being from Yorkshire was inherently funny, when men were hapless fools, women were either battleaxes or well-upholstered sirens and when everyone loved a bit of mild smut.

There isn't a mean bone in Still Open All Hours's body as grown men have silly fun with an over-sized Christmas tree, a sinister one-eyed Santa mannequin and a trampoline. Parsimonious local shopkeeper Granville (David Jason) remains at the mercy of the supernaturally self-operating till and the terrifying women get all the best lines. "How long since you were in curlers on a Wednesday afternoon?" wonders flinty Mrs Featherstone of comely Gladys Emmanuel.

Radio Times review

If you don't know what the title means, "gert lush" is the highest form of praise a Bristolian can bestow on anything. So clearly expectations are high for Russell Howard's debut comedy drama (co-written with Steve Williams) that also features Neil Morrissey (dressed like "a pervert elf" as his fitness-obsessed dad), Greg Davies (as his party loving uncle), Steve Williams, Sophie Thomson (his inappropriately enthusiastic mum) and Howard's sister Kerry of Him and Her fame.

The premise is simple: Dan (Howard) introduces his girlfriend to his crazy West Country family over Christmas. Kerry has said the script is "just a massive love letter to our mum and dad". Which is a bit worrying.

Radio Times review

Ironically, the season of goodwill might be the only time of year you can get away with comedy as rude and crude as this. There's a panto atmosphere as Tate's misanthropic pensioner returns, in front of a live studio audience, for two new rampages.

Having beaten up a blind veteran in the street, Nan must complete an anger management class or go to prison. This doesn't stop her needling her therapist (Warwick Davis) and bullying the other members of the group. When Tate is on form she can wring a guilty laugh out of anyone; when she isn't and the script falls back on Nan just being nasty, it's the opposite of joyful.

Radio Times review

Stephen Fry has been the face of the Bafta Film Awards for many years now and the British Academy is behind this glowing tribute to the writer, raconteur, actor and wit. There will be contributions from Fry's friends and colleagues Michael Sheen, Hugh Laurie, Alan Davies and John Lloyd. But in the main, Fry himself waxes lyrical on his love of meeting film stars at the awards, his early passion for drama and comedy and the bathroom encounter with Alan Bennett that prompted him to play Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film.

This may be a little luvvieish for some tastes, but the goo will have a dose of savoury in the form of his reflections on his various private struggles over the years, including his battle with depression.

Radio Times review

"Isn't there a difference between fact and truth?" asks Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan, threatening to toplle 12 years of QI trivia quizzery in one fell swoop. "I would remember stuff from my childhood that my father says didn't happen - but there's truth in memory."

In other words, can a fake memory be "real" if we believe it to be true and it says something about our lives? Luckily, QI doesn't go too far down this rabbit hole, but it's one of many philosophical issues raised in this mind-themed episode. Though, be warned - if you believe in love at first sight, you might get a rude awakening...

Radio Times review

Whatever horrors the world has endured over the past 12 months - war, pestilence, terrorism and Piers Morgan's new presenting gig on Good Morning Britain (only kidding, Piers), then we can always be sure of some traditional comforts. One is that Charlie Brooker and friends will extract some comic mileage in his now-traditional end-of-year round-up.

Joined by contributors Doug Stanhope, Morgana Robinson (complete with her extraordinary Russell Brand impersonation) and Diane Morgan as the fabulously vacuous pundit Philomena Cunk, laughter appears guaranteed. Page Three and Cecil the Lion may all have died this year, but smart, sassy satire is alive and well on BBC Two.

Radio Times review

Hard times on Nan's estate: developers are circling, trying to evict tenants or buy off the luckier residents who, like Nan, own their flat. When the corporate vultures' oily representative Charles Willmott (Adam James) says she can make a bit of cash, she immediately moves to the dark side: "We're bringing in a new breed of residents. The fashionistas. Russian oligarchs. Frank Lampard."

But Nan and "Wilmott-Brown" are, of course, destined to fall out. It's so much more satisfying to see Catherine Tate's creation turn her ire on someone who deserves it: that, and a riotous scene where Nan farts luxuriously on live television, compensate for some gratuitously offensive jokes.

Toast Of London Series 3, Episode 6 preview

Matt Berry's Steven Toast manages to annoy Jude Law, Martin Freeman and other top actors in the final episode of Series 3.

Sol Bernstein Q&A

Billed as "the oldest living Jewish comedian", Sol Bernstein claims to have been instrumental in launching the careers of Elvis, The Beatles and even mime artist Marcel Marceau - and lists Burt Bacharach, James Brown and Harry Hill as among his showbiz pals.

Detectorists Christmas Special preview

The delightful BBC Four comedy remains on good form, but prepare yourself for a different feel tonight as the metal detectorists tread barren, bare and cold fields.

Radio Times review

Our Graham's known for putting together quite the celebrity sofa to ring in the New Year and with 2016 imminent, he doesn't disappoint. Local lad done good Eddie Redmayne (who joined Norton on the sofa this time last year too) is back for another night of New Year magic alongside Hollywood's Queen of 2015, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence.

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are making up the numbers as they drop by to talk about their latest film comedy, Daddy's Home, and music makers Years & Years join the merry bunch in the studio to sing out 2015 with their hit song, Shine.

Radio Times review

Kathy bemoans being "one more bad relationship away from owning 50 cats", but when a stranger makes eyes at her and the ladies in the pub, to everyone's shock, he's ogling Agnes. Mammy still has her "needs" and says, "Even a ripe banana likes to be squeezed." But is her admirer William (Robert Bathurst, who played Edith's drippy suitor in Downton) just a shade too ardent?

A lot more fun than the Christmas edition, this has laugh-out-loud lines, a smutty spin on the words "yoyo" and "scuttle" and great physical comedy from Brendan O'Carroll, as Agnes seeks advice on amorous matters from her GP and the vicar.

Radio Times review

No comic actor ever wrinkled their nose or pushed up their spectacles with better timing. Ronnie Corbett's gifts are lauded by a biography strand that's previously given warm tributes to Robbie Coltrane, Les Dawson, Judi Dench and indeed Ronnie Barker. Interviews and clips aim to bring out the secrets behind the success of The Two Ronnies, and Corbett's rather bleak solo sitcom, Sorry!

There's plenty to explore from the years before his TV career: when Corbett appeared on The Frost Report as a fresh-faced, talented newcomer, he was actually 36 and a veteran of the clubs. Before that were his days as a teenage organist - no, that's not the set-up for a Two Ronnies newsreader joke - and his 1952 film debut in You're Only Young Twice.

Radio Times review

David Walliams always manages to make his stories entertaining for kids and adults alike. They're not subtle - there are loads of bottom jokes, the message is pretty obvious and the characters are drawn with the delicacy of a sledgehammer. But they do make you smile and leave you with a warm glow around your heart.

In this one, poor, downtrodden, factory worker Len Spud's (John Thomson) life changes when he invents a new toilet roll and becomes a multimillionaire. He gets a new gold-digging girlfriend (Catherine Tate - terrific in a blonde wig with a Geordie accent) and a kind-hearted celebrity butler (Warwick Davis). But wealth can't buy the one thing his lonely son Joe wants - a friend. Walliams couldn't resist making a cameo appearance - as an unhygienic school dinnerlady.

How to have interesting dinner party chat

QI elf Anna Ptaszynski on how to have an interesting Christmas.

Matt Lucas: 'Broadway theatre better than West End'

Performer Matt Lucas has criticised West End musicals and plays as "overly simplistic" and "pretentious".

Walliams & Friend preview

For me Walliams & Friend mixes the best of David Walliams' comic abilities, the impressions from Rock Profile shine through in the Bake Off sketch, his clever writing shines through in so many of the sketches.

Peep Show was a very funny show about very sharp pain

Peep Show does execute its particular misery more effectively than its competitors.

Rufus Hound's outspoken austerity & NHS rant released

An audio recording of an impassioned "meltdown" by Rufus Hound that was cut from a programme has been released. Hound's vociferous attack on government financial policy was recorded in June as part of a forthcoming edition of the next series of R4's Museum of Curiosity. It has been made available with Hound's consent by the programme's producer Richard Turner.

Damian Kingsley's 550-mile quest - without spending

Stand-up Damian Kingsley is to travel from Land's End to Edinburgh, without spending a penny. He will perform 120 shows on the 550-mile route, raising money for homeless charity Shelter. Every day he will have to find a place that will let him spend the night for free, eat donated food, then either walk or cadge a life to the next town.

Boomers, TV review

This "special" sitcom was farcical for farce's sake and unbearable to watch, says Amy Burns.

Boomers Christmas Special, BBC One, review

Sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to bond with family. But sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to escape them. So surely the last thing anyone spending their festive break with middle-aged relatives wanted to watch was the Boomers Christmas Special (BBC One)?

Russell Howard interview

Spending Christmas with the family can be a testing experience, but it's perfect sitcom material for Russell Howard, writer and star of brand new BBC2 comedy A Gert Lush Christmas.