BCG Daily Sunday 1st January 2017
Press clippings
Paul Abbott: 'Shameless became too hysterical.'
As darkly comic police drama No Offence returns to Channel 4, the scriptwriter talks about former hits, problems with pitching, and State of Play 2.
Andrew Anthony, The Observer, 1st January 2017June Whitfield: BBC has ditched gentle comedy
Actress June Whitfield says the BBC has turned its back on gentle comedy as TV becomes increasingly obsessed with sex and violence, writes James Desborough.
James Desborough, The Daily Express, 1st January 2017Rising stars of 2017: comedian Lolly Adefope
The English graduate from south London has gone from open-mic contender to Edinburgh comedy favourite thanks to her one-woman cast of sharply drawn characters.
Kathryn Bromwich, The Guardian, 1st January 2017Why you just don't get Mrs Brown's Boys
Can't fathom how Brendan O'Carroll's comedy became such a big hit at Christmas (and the rest of the year)? Sarah Doran investigates...
Sarah Doran, Radio Times, 1st January 2017New book for comedy football podcast Athletico Mince
Bob Mortimer and Andy Dawson, the duo behind the acclaimed podcast Athletico Mince, are writing a spin-off book. The World of Football According to Athletico Mince will be published by John Blake Publishing on May 25.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st January 2017Review: Uncle, BBC3
The third and final series of Uncle kicks off with a slice of emotional turmoil for Andy (Nick Helm). We all know that he has a nephew, Errol, but could he be a father too? The first episode finds him reflecting on whether his life if about to undergo a seismic shift that will mean that he has to accept some real responsibilities.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st January 2017Peter Pan Goes Wrong review on BBC1
Perhaps best are those moments that need no translation - props failing and actors fluffing - but Peter Pan Goes Wrong is also a model for cross-platform collaboration, milking every possible benefit of a new format.
David Ralf, The Stage, 1st January 2017Art review - 90s 'comedy' becomes an old master
Rufus Sewell is poised and sleek in Yasmina Reza's tale of three friends and a very expensive white canvas.
Susannah Clapp, The Guardian, 1st January 2017Theatre Review: Art, Old Vic, SE1
It is no surprise that Tim Key is the funniest performer. On the night I saw the production he easily got the biggest roar after a long, breathless, increasingly frantic speech about his impending marriage.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st January 2017Jason Manford's Twitter account said he had died
Fans of Salford comedian Jason Manford were in for a shock last night when his Twitter account appeared to announce that he had died. Some followers were unimpressed by the joke, in a year that we have lost a long line of celebs.
Katie Fitzpatrick, Manchester Evening News, 1st January 2017Mrs Brown: Jokes 20 years past their sell-by date
O'Carroll's speech about bullying had me retrospectively wishing I hadn't loathed what had gone before. Yet the irony was that for the previous 30 minutes the viewer had been menaced with endless groaners.
Ed Power, The Telegraph, 1st January 2017TV & radio
Uncle
Series 3, Episode 1 - Father's DayAndy's gathering a measure of success as a music producer. For the first time, he has to think about real decisions.
Still Open All Hours
Series 3, Episode 2Granville has bought some cheap devices that promise to jump-start people's positive emotions, but will they work?
Miranda: Morecambe & Wise And Me
Miranda Hart presents a celebration of the incomparable comedy duo with a countdown of their top 20 greatest TV moments.
Mrs. Brown's Boys
Christmas 2016, New Year Special - Chez MammyCathy has a new, French boyfriend. He doesn't make the best first impression, which might be an issue if he is to survive meeting Mrs Brown.