British Comedy Guide
Love British Comedy Guide? Support our work by making a donation. Find out more

BCG Daily Thursday 14th January 2016

News

Press clippings

Sian Gibson interview

A call from her old university friend Peter Kay saw Sian Gibson go from answering phones to starring as Kayleigh in his latest hit comedy. In her first interview, she tells Alice Jones about hanging out with Kay, her new sitcom role with Catherine Tate - and why she still can't take herself seriously.

Alice Jones, The Independent, 14th January 2016

Trygve Wakenshaw review

The resurgence of physical comedy was given another boost last August when Trygve Wakenshaw picked up an Edinburgh Comedy Award for this ambitious 90-minute show. Sensibly pared back to a tighter 75, it now arrives at Soho Theatre for a run as part of the London International Mime Festival.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th January 2016

James Corden on cracking America

"It was ambitious, given that nobody knew who I was. I'd never even been on an American talk show before they gave me the job."

Emma Dibdin, Digital Spy, 14th January 2016

Glasgow Comedy Festival unveils 2016 programme

Comedy will take over Scotland's largest city for the 14th annual Glasgow International Comedy Festival this March, and the full programme has now been announced.

Ben Venables, The Skinny, 14th January 2016

Fawlty Towers guest star Conrad Phillips has died

Among his notable TV roles was as Mr Lloyd in the 1975 Wedding Party episode of Fawlty Towers, playing the father of a family that hotelier Basil (John Cleese) mistakenly believes to be a wife-swapping group involving maid Polly.

Nicola Agius, The Mirror, 14th January 2016

Frog & Bucket launches course for aspiring gagmeisters

The Northern Quarter venue hopes to find the stars of the future with its six week crash course in comedy.

Sarah Walters, Manchester Evening News, 14th January 2016

How comics get audiences to accept contentious gags

Any audience can be 'manipulated' into laughing at jokes about contentious topics, a conference about comedy has been told. Academic Tory Gillespie said that comics can 'negotiate' with crowds to gain permission to talk about material generally deemed unsuitable for humour.

Chortle, 14th January 2016

Ivor Dembina: alternative comedy hates working class

The idea of offence in stand-up only arose because comedy became more middle-class in the wake of the alternative cabaret boom of the 1980s. That's according to comedian and promoter Ivor Dembina, who argues that in sweeping away the sexist and racist comics of the 1970s, the scene became prone to 'middle-class hypocrisy'.

Chortle, 14th January 2016

Tracey Ullman worth watching even if you don't like her

Tracey Ullman proves she hasn't suffered from tall-poppy syndrome now that she's crossed the pond from LA - in fact she's a clever comedienne.

Judith Woods, The Telegraph, 14th January 2016

The women bringing new life to TV comedy

Comedy used to be run by middle-aged men making Goons references. But new series Tracey Ullman's Show and Crashed are a brilliant reminder that women are increasingly claiming territory.

Rachel Cooke, The New Statesman, 14th January 2016

Room 101 - review: isn't it time for Room 102?

It would be churlish to complain about the new series of Room 101 (BBC One). Fortunately, churlish is my middle name. If TV commissioning editors had any sense, and they don't, they would commission Room 102, a meta-TV series in which every celebrity who's ever been on Would I Lie to You?, Mock the Week, Celebrity Mastermind, Celebrity Masterchef and Room 101 would have to plead for their lives before an audience of licence-fee payers.

Stuart Jeffries, The Guardian, 14th January 2016

Best for live comedy coming to Scotland in 2016

From Limmy to Gary and Vic 'n' Bob to Grumpy Old Women, a whole host of funny folk are set to make Scottish audiences giggle.

Brian Donaldson, The List, 14th January 2016

Review - Bill Bailey, Limboland

I thought Bill Bailey had had a blip, personally, his previous few shows being more like BB by numbers, so I wasn't sure what to expect from Limboland. But by all accounts it is vintage Bill Bailey.

Paul Fleckney, London Is Funny, 14th January 2016

Review - Trygve Wakenshaw, Nautilus

A light-hearted, very funny show that's a bit different to most other comedy shows out there. Check it out.

Paul Fleckney, London Is Funny, 14th January 2016

Liverpool student society barred over drug-rape comedy

A university has withdrawn official recognition from a student society after a play script culminated in a character being drugged and raped. The 2014 script, proposed by medical students for a concert at the University of Liverpool, mocked the anti-rape slogan "no means no".

BBC News, 14th January 2016

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

CITV 4pm
15 min
Mr Bean. Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Mr Bean

Series 2, Episode 35 - Halloween

Mr Bean loves Halloween and prepares to give the neighbourhood kids some tricks and treats they will not forget. Then he gets carried away with his spooky pranks and becomes the target of even more fiendish tricks by his neighbours, the Bruisers.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. Image shows from L to R: Carrie Quinlan, Simon Kane, John Finnemore, Lawry Lewin, Margaret Cabourn-Smith. Copyright: BBC

John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

Series 5, Episode 2

The voice in John's head pushes him to tipping point, a new approach to the news, and a tale of espionage.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 8:30pm
30 min
Room 101. Image shows from L to R: David Tennant, Aisling Bea, Frank Skinner, Trevor McDonald. Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Room 101

Series 5, Episode 1 - Aisling Bea, David Tennant, Trevor McDonald

Comedian Aisling Bea, Doctor Who star David Tennant and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald attempt to cast David's South African accent, lateness, and pigeons on the front page into the Orwellian chamber.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV 8:30pm
30 min
Birds Of A Feather. Image shows from L to R: Poxy Cohen (Dave Lynn), Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Retort

Birds Of A Feather

Series 12, Episode 2 - Too Much Of Nothing

Tracey's house has been burgled during Darryl's funeral. The family decide it's up to them to track down their possessions and set out on a trail involving a snooker club, a pawnbroker and the infamous Theydon Boys drag club.

BBC Four 10pm
30 min
Brian Pern. Image shows from L to R: Brian Pern (Simon Day), Astrid Maddox Pern (Suranne Jones). Copyright: BBC

Brian Pern

Brian Pern: 45 Years Of Prog And Roll, Episode 1

After a year out of the public eye following his heart attack, Brian is making a major comeback and has allowed award-winning film maker Rhys Thomas access all areas.

Share this page