BCG Daily Tuesday 28th June 2016

Benedict Cumberbatch turned down a role in Ab Fab movie

The Sherlock star was too busy to join Patsy and Eddie's big screen caper, reveals Joanna Lumley, but his mum Wanda Ventham cameos instead.

Fringe preview: Dominic Frisby

Dominic Frisby was due to preview his Edinburgh show on June 27 but the gig was cancelled, presumably because the promoter thought everyone would be watching England playing Iceland. In retrospect I think everyone would have rather have been watching Dominic Frisby, despite him being one of the few comedians who advocated leaving Europe.

15 free comedy recommendations for Fringe 2016

With the EU referendum making the pound near worthless, all shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016 may in fact be free this year.

DVD review: Upstart Crow

You could feel the shockwaves reverberating around the British comedy world for days afterwards: Ben Elton had written a good sitcom.

Is it ever acceptable to laugh about mental illness?

Can a joke about mental health ever be positive?

No Such Thing As A Fish, review

This intelligent quartet serve as a welcome reminder that comedy does not have to be dumb.

Taskmaster: series two - episode 2 review

On this week's episode of the comedy challenge show, we watch some disturbing music videos, horrible culinary habits, and learn that Joe Wilkinson looks like a battered toaster.

28 real life situations dealt by Hyacinth Bucket

As Kerry Howard prepares to take on the role of a young Hyacinth, we take a look at how Mrs Bucket's "executive" way of living could teach us all a thing or two, with 28 real life situations she could deal with perfectly.

Fringe: Susan Calman 'It's my 10th year!'

Susan Calman celebrates ten years performing solo shows at the Fringe. She talks to Martin Walker about Brexit, being gay and "...the best show I have ever written".

On the set of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Patsy and Edina are back on the Bolly. But with cameos from Kate Moss, Gaultier and Alexa Chung, have they got too cosy with the world they're satirising?

How stand-up is helping mental health sufferers

Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression have become an increasingly visible issue in society, but scientists and the medical profession are still some way from developing a consensus on how best to treat them. From medication to therapy, countless choices are available to those who are diagnosed, but there's one particular type of treatment that most wouldn't think of: stand-up comedy.

Worksop lecturers' comedy show on BBC3

"I would like to make some more but we also feel like we could make something longer too."

Absolutely Fabulous: who was the real Patsy Stone?

When Lauretta Sullivan Feldman died in 2010, the few obituaries of her that were published described her as "the widow of Marty Feldman". What many missed is that Sullivan, the Bristol-born daughter of a butcher, was largely responsible for Feldman's success in America and ended her life as one of Los Angeles's most beloved and quietly influential cultural figures.

But did this impossibly glamorous woman also play a part in the creation of Absolutely Fabulous character Patsy Stone?

BWW Q&A - Katie Brennan

BWW speaks to Katie Brennan ahead of her Edinburgh Fringe show 'Katie Brennan's Quarter Life Crisis'.