BCG Daily Wednesday 11th May 2016
Press clippings
Don't panic! National Towel Day 2016 is coming
Still reeling from having missed the opportunity the last couple of years to alert everyone as to the fact that National Towel Day is just around the corner, I thought I'd get a head start this year so everyone (me included) can plan the days activities for #TowelDay2016 on May 25. As most of you probably know, National Towel Day is the annual celebration of the life and works of the late English writer Douglas Adams. You see, it was Adams' classic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, that alerted Planet Earth to that fact that a towel is one of the most useful items to carry with you around the universe.
Bill Young, Tellyspotting, 11th May 2016Sara Pascoe: let's tame the ape within!
Sara Pascoe says that we don't need to give in to our animal instincts - but it's good to understand them.
Sara Pascoe, The Big Issue, 11th May 2016Ken Dodd interview
Show business legend Ken Dodd on why he admires Big Issue vendors - and he reveals the secret to success.
The Big Issue, 11th May 2016Graeme of Thrones - The Lowry, Salford, review
If the current weekly doses of Westeros are no longer able to quench your thirst for drama and action from the Seven Kingdoms then be sure to make your way to see Graeme of Thrones. This hilarious production is both a homage and a parody of the original HBO series and an absolute must for those with a barmy sense of humour and a fondness for the original series.
Harriet Mallion, The Reviews Hub, 11th May 2016Opinion: mainstream v alternative - is the gap closing?
We live in interesting times for comedy. I never thought I'd see Sara Pascoe on The Graham Norton Show. Maybe the gap is closing between what we describe as alternative and what we describe as mainstream. Maybe one of the legacies of Comedy Vehicle is that it did attract comedy fans to more cerebral notions of the nature of comedy. Sadly not enough for BBC2's beancounters.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th May 2016@elevenish - bonkers, biting, brilliant
Offbeat TV comedy has been in the doldrums since the likes of The Mighty Boosh, but a strange new show called @elevenish may just change all that.
Harriet Gibsone, The Guardian, 11th May 2016Seven Questions With... John Dredge
John Dredge is a comedy writer and podcaster best known for his absurd sketch show, The John Dredge Nothing To Do With Anything Show.
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 11th May 2016Cunk On Shakespeare preview
This may be the first full-length outing for Cunk, but it surely won't be the last.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 11th May 2016Nigel Ng wins Amused Moose Laugh Off final 2016
UK-based Malaysian stand-up Nigel Ng is the winner of this year's Amused Moose Laugh Off Final that took place at the Hippodrome in London.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th May 2016Cunk on Shakespeare, BBC Two, review
Diane Morgan offers a more complete performance than Sacha Baron Cohen. Ali G's interview sketches were often smash n' grab comedy, but with Cunk we get a satirical dissection of the whole genre. At their best, her jokes unfurled with mille-feuille Alice-In-Wonderland absurdity, the writing, direction and acting lining up perfectly together.
Matthew Wright, The Arts Desk, 11th May 2016Gregory's Girl - 35 years on
A salute to 1981's Gregory's Girl, starring John Gordon Sinclair and Claire Grogan...
Andrew Blair, Den Of Geek, 11th May 201614 of the best gags from Cunk on Shakespeare
It was only 30 minutes long but it was jam-packed with jokes and had many clamoruing for her to be given her own series.
Sarah Deen, Metro, 11th May 2016Gareth Gwenlan obituary
Gareth Gwenlan, who has died aged 79, was BBC Television's head of comedy between 1983 and 1990 and the producer of many celebrated situation comedies.
The Telegraph, 11th May 2016Why you have to watch from the beginning
Imagine going back to the very beginning to watch the world's longest-running sitcom. The things you might discover...
UKTV, 11th May 2016Compo and Nora's greatest moments
Never mind Heathcliff and Cathy or Romeo and Juliet. It's clearly Compo and Nora who gave us the greatest love story of all time. Sort of.
UKTV, 11th May 2016Oliver Meech: When Magic & Food Collide review
Perhaps not a true collision of magic and food, but entertaining and full of surprises nonetheless.
Alexandra Cook, Voice Magazine, 11th May 2016Nathan Willcock: State of the Nathan review
After a good start, the show sadly slowed down and, to be honest, it was rather disappointing by the end.
Luke Taylor, Voice Magazine, 11th May 2016Videos
Film
TV & radio
11:30am30 min
Polyoaks
Series 4, Episode 2 - Hello, GoodbyeThe surgery is to be a part of the NHS 'new care models' programme. Best intentions are subverted by an older service user's views on elderly care.
6pm10 min
Zig And Zag
Episode 13 - Bitter Then YouZig and Zag demonstrate how breaking a world record can be a bittersweet experience.
8pm60 min
Tonight At The London Palladium
Series 3, Episode 5Bradley Walsh welcomes singer songwriter Jack Savoretti; popband The Vamps; young American dancing sensations Kevin Tellez and Gabrielly Palacio; the cast of Disney's musical The Lion King; and STOMP, who celebrate their 25th anniversary with a very special performance. Plus comedy from everybody's favourite Pub Landlord Al Murray and British soul singer Beverley Knight performs a song from The Bodyguard.
9pm60 min
The Almost Impossible Gameshow
Series 2, Highlights SpecialThe Rubberbandits look back over an action-packed second series filled with ridiculous challenges and crazy contestants as they hand-pick their highlights from the show's recent run. Which of the curiously-named challenges will feature as they count down their top ten favourite contestants from the series?
10pm30 min
Cunk On...
2016 Specials - Cunk On ShakespearePhilomena knows absolutely nothing about Shakespeare, but that won't stop her attempting to present a ground-breaking documentary about him.
10pm60 min
Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish
Dave Gorman Goodish Hits, Highlights Special - Series 1 highlightsThe stand-out bits from Dave Gorman's sublime comedy series in which he shares wry observations on modern life's little quirks. Stay tuned for some previously unseen clips.
11pm15 min
Nurse
Series 2, Episode 6Billy has been to a funeral, Maurice seems to have a new lady friend, and Jack's family have a group discussion.