BCG Daily Tuesday 19th January 2016

Frankie Boyle: Who doesn't want Jeremy Corbyn elected?

His brief premiership would be a high point for modern Britain - until he was mercilessly destroyed by financial interests and the Murdoch press.

Review: Crashing, Channel 4

New flatshare comedy drama is a slow burn.

How to... write a sketch

You've thought of something funny but you may not have thought of a sketch. A sketch needs to be more than one joke - it needs to go somewhere. It needs to go into the mouth of a character and be part of a situation.

Crashing review: frank, filthy, sad and weird

This modern sitcom follows young property guardians in a disused hospital, using tonal flips to great effect.

Isy Suttie talks growing pains

Peep Show star Isy Suttie talks growing pains and saying goodbye to the cult comedy.

Radio Times review

If you've ever wondered why there's such percolating ill feeling between Mainwaring and Wilson, it's all here in an eye-opening first act. The captain turns puce and looks set to explode ("Judas!") when he learns that his supercilious subordinate is going up in the world, as both bank manager and second lieutenant in neighbouring Eastgate. All the petty jealousy and class resentment come pouring out, and Mainwaring's knee-jerk response is an office/platoon reshuffle.

It's brilliantly acted, but if that sounds a bit intense and uncomfortable, don't worry. There's some fruity role-playing as members of the platoon get ideas above their station and a sizeable innuendo from the Vicar. But the episode is owned by Wilson, and John Le Mesurier. You'll find it hard to swallow after the very last scene.

Radio Times review

Just like his miserly uncle Arkwright before hi, Granville's dubious money-making schemes inevitably backfire. And no wonder, marketing salami as an erotically charged new product called Yaggis and encouraging "people of low self-cuisine" like Cyril, Wet Eric and Mrs Hussein to buy badly dented cans of chilli beans because "the inverts" change its molecular structure thereby doubling the taste of the contents. "It's getting harder to pull their leg," he muses as he's shutting up for the night.

But he does have success with the shop's antiquated till, which for decades has snapped shut whenever a stray hand is near.

Radio Times review

"Only two types of people ever come to Benidorm. Those who never come again and those who never want to leave," says one character here. It pertains as much to the show as to its setting, but even for die-hard devotees of the sitcom's trademark vulgarity, this episode feels strained.

Daft arcs include an unwelcome renovation to the Blow & Go salon and an altercation with a biker gang for Tiger and Joey, while Joyce (Sherrie Hewson) is usurped at a property auction. Promisingly, though, the Maltbys are back together again. Led by the loutish Geoff (Johnny Vegas), there might just be hope that there's life in the old dog yet.

Radio Times review

After two cracking episodes, it's time to see if Tracey Ullman has any other comic gems in her locker apart from her fabulous turns as Angela Merkel and theatrical Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. The doofus American couple who love all things English is easily her weakest sketch of the series so far.

Fortunately, the show is rescued by a triumphant song-and-dance routine in which she plays former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks. If the red-haired Murdoch executive isn't popular with some of the other members of the Chipping Norton set, here she's dealt a pretty rough time - proving that our Trace isn't afraid of tweaking some powerful noses.

Radio Times review

Ruth Jones, here on writing duty, moves things along big time in an episode of ructions and revelations. Her title character is in London on a work trip and pays a surprise visit to Michael (Patrick Baladi). A big decision beckons, until a bolt from the blue scuppers everything.

Elsewhere, the Pontyberry mayor (Hi-de-Hi!'s Ruth Madoc!) pegs out in a council meeting, with ambitious Aunty Brenda waiting in the wings; Bobby has a drunken fling that has professional repercussions; and Jag makes a surprising discovery about his cleaner. In common with the best instalments, it's a delicious mix of sad and funny.

Radio Times review

We know from past experience that the out-takes Would I Lie to You? puts on the end-of-series leftovers platter aren't disappointing. Far from it.

Would I Lie to You? has such a rich seam of comedy that routines as enjoyable as David Mitchell discussing his alleged jigsaw habit ("I find it incredibly irritating when other people fiddle with my jigsaws...") or Clare Balding speaking in German end up on the cutting-room floor.

There are the usual flashes of Lee Mack's ad-lib brilliance here, but best of all is a weepingly funny tour de force from Bob Mortimer, stoutly maintaining that he had a pet owl he used to carry around on a cushion.

Radio Times review

This one-off looks good on paper. The idea of Catherine Tate and Miles Jupp as a married couple in a saucy farce should work, and the best scenes are when they spark off each other. ("I like sex! Is that so bad?" she cries; he says he does too, and she corrects: "I think you prefer Newsnight...")

They split up because she had an affair, but reunite by accident at the honeymoon suite booked for their tenth anniversary, because neither could bear to waste the deposit. From there, a heavy-handed script trades on crossed wires and coincidences involving escorts, a stag night and people not finishing their sentences.

Radio Times review

"Bring in a regular wage or find someone else to ponce off!" is Tracey's ultimatum to Sharon shortly before chucking her sister and Dorien out on the street with a bin bag of clothes and no money. It means the pair must doss down for the night in less than salubrious surroundings, while we must face a barrage of jokes about evil-smelling toilets, crack dens and prostitutes.

Linda Robson spends most of the episode looking like a bulldog chewing a wasp although there is one scene between her and Pauline Quirke, who's holed up in a bookies, that gives you hope that this sitcom could return to its former glory.

Radio Times review

The latest (very good) series of the Simon Day/Rhys Thomas spoof rockumentary series comes to an end with a reunion gig for Thotch, organised with typical skill (and dishonesty) by Michael Kitchen's slippery manager John Farrow. The only way he can get Day's Pern and the rest of the guys back together is by pretending that Paul Whitehouse's Pat Quid has dementia.

On the way we meet reclusive former bandmate Bennett St John (a brilliant Simon Callow), sample Quid's fishing show and get an insight into Pern's deepest yearning: his desire for Dad's approval. Will Pern Sr (Peter Bowles) attend the gig? And will Peter Gabriel show up again like he did last in the last finale?

Radio Times review

If there's one man who knows how to put on a show on Graham Norton's red sofa it's Will Smith. The Fresh Prince traditionally offers up a special surprise of a Friday night with Norton: a dance party reunion featuring Smith's former co-star Alfonso Ribeiro and our Graham doing "The Carlton" gained millions of views on YouTube.

He's in to talk about American football drama Concussion this time around, but with Ryan Reynolds discussing devious superhero flick Deadpool and Dad's Army reboot stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Toby Jones completing the line up, there's bound to be seriously explosive fun.

Radio Times review

What links the hairy hand of Dartmoor, a bog cannon, a foetid parachute and an ant with the head of a lion? Why, it could only be this particularly bizarre episode of QI, which is a veritable monster mash of weird and wonderful creatures and people.

In the course of one half hour, learn about the stereoscopic smell of the star-nosed mole (useful for awkward moments in lifts) and the pubic hair party thrown by Mary Queen of Scots after the death of her husband, and muse on incredibly detailed theories about the mating habits of mermaids.

And with this smorgasbord of trivia (as well as a sneaky reference to Stephen Fry's classic role in Blackadder), you'd have to be a monster yourself not to get on board for the fun.

Noel Fielding's Reddit interview is wonderfully wordy

The inimitable Noel Fielding is currently in the US working on his upcoming comedy tour, but he took some time out to answer questions via Reddit's Ask Me Anything.

Stephen Fry steps down from Norwich City board

Actor, writer and television presenter Stephen Fry has stepped down from the board of Norwich City Football Club.

David Walliams receives letter of complaint from kid

As a Britain's Got Talent judge, David Walliams is used to dishing out criticism, but he has now learnt what it's like to be on the receiving end, courtesy of an 11-year-old school child.

Robert Newman: The Brain Show review

Dissing bad science, capitalists and Brian Cox, Newman's low-octane cabinet of neuroscientific curiosities has nonconformist bite.

British TV still sexist: comedy among worst offenders

Sexism was most frequent in comedy, followed by soaps, entertainment and films.

The Red Top preview

It's 75-minutes of pure entertainment and pure escape, and if nothing else, watching Maxine Peake, Russell Tovey, Eleanor Matsuura, Johnny Vegas, Alexei Sayle, Harry Enfield, James Buckley, John Sessions, Stephen Mangan and Peter Richardson share the screen is a real joy.

Cold Feet then and now

Thirteen years since we last saw them, here's a first look at the cast of the ITV drama as they return for a reunion series.

Lenny Henry repeats call for funding to boost diversity

BBC director general Tony Hall also tells Channel 4 conference that there is 'loads' to do to boost representation of minorities on British television.

Stan Laurel and Scotland - where his career began

Stan Laurel's successful career in comedy began in Scotland and the country influenced much of his work.

Interview: meet the Catastrophe couple

I'm sitting with these two pleasant people, Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan. I ask them, "Are you surprised that Catastrophe travels well? Surprised it got rave reviews in the U.S. and Canada?" "Yes," Delaney says. "I suppose I am surprised. We didn't make it with the U.S. or Canada in mind."

Richard Curtis: my ten favourite comedy movies

Richard Curtis names his favourite comedy films.

Interview: rarely asked questions - Nina Conti

Ventriloquism looks like it is having what you might call its rock and roll moment.