BCG Daily Thursday 21st September 2017

News

Features

Press clippings

Preview - The Russell Howard Hour

This is a show in which comedian Russell Howard takes a light-hearted look at the news this week. Sound familiar?

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 21st September 2017

Famalam: New sketch comedy with funny young actors

It confirmed for me what creative writing students learn at the start of every new term. Write what you know about.

Matt Baylis, The Daily Express, 21st September 2017

E4 pass on more Gap Year

Tom Basden told a podcast. "No, we're not doing more of that, no", adding "I don't hate that decision. I was sad that the channel didn't push it harder."

Jay Richardson, The Custard TV, 21st September 2017

Doc Martin's become as painful as kidney stone jokes

The attraction of this series has always escaped me. The Doc is a poor man's Siegfried Farnon, from All Creatures Great And Small - he's an irritable misanthropist, prone to explosions of temper, but without Siegfried's redeeming qualities of forgiveness and generosity.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 21st September 2017

Bad Move review

At the moment it looks as if the script has sent away its knives for sharpening and not got them back yet. But Dee's miserablism is a gift that keeps on giving.

Jasper Rees, The Arts Desk, 21st September 2017

Welcome return of Doc Martin goes without a hitch

PC Penhale's ill-considered wedding to the equally dunderheaded Janice formed the backdrop to this episode.

Gerard O'Donovan, The Telegraph, 21st September 2017

Russell Howard: 'Britain is seen as a laughing stock'

Critics still occasionally turn their noses up at Howard's perceived lack of edge - and, OK, some jokes early on in his career about his family's idiosyncrasies were pretty gentle - but no one can seriously deny him his place at comedy's top table.

Rupert Hawksley, The Telegraph, 21st September 2017

Simon Amstell book review: excruciatingly honest memoir

There is a lot of pain, particularly concerning his parents, but the writing is never less than a joy.

Alice Jones, i Newspaper, 21st September 2017

Russell Howard interview

Russell Howard returns to TV with a new stand-up show, The Russell Howard Hour. He talks about why he's doing another news-led series, low self-esteem and whether his family vet his jokes.

Georgia Humphreys, The Irish News, 21st September 2017

John Kearns, review: Send in the off-kilter clown

John Kearns deserves to earn a wider following with this funny and intellectually ambitious show, writes Bruce Dessau.

Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 21st September 2017

Rich Hall on his love for Welsh sarnies & our mountains

Award-winning US comedian Rich Hall has described Wales' natural beauty as a "miniature Rocky Mountains" ahead of a run of six shows in the country.

Abby Bolter, Wales Online, 21st September 2017

Doc Brown interview

The last thing that made me laugh out loud was probably The Idiotsitter.

Knock2bag, 21st September 2017

Russell Brand: If I helped Jeremy Corbyn that's great

Comedian and actor Russell Brand tells BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis that he may have helped the rise in popularity of Jeremy Corbyn. Asked about Brexit, he said he understands why people choose to leave the EU: "People saw a bright red button that said 'F-off establishment' and I think they pressed it."

Emily Maitlis, BBC, 21st September 2017

Finding your comedy 'voice'

If there was, I mean obviously and to my lasting regret there isn't, but if there was a 'How To Be A Successful Comedy Writer 101', I am absolutely certain it would advocate getting out there and experiencing life.

Jasmine Tonie, Funny Women, 21st September 2017

Katy Brand review

I Could Have Been an Astronaut is an amusing ramble through Brand's childhood obsessions, fate and the factors that make us who we are.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 21st September 2017

Sussex has been a magnet for the comedy greats

Today's Timeout focuses on a group of comedians who came to Sussex many times throughout their careers, spanning the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Brighton Argus, 21st September 2017

Robin Ince: putting appliance of science to good use

Can you have a scientific sense of humour? Stand-up Robin Ince, who has just shared an arena stage tour with poster boy of serious stuff Professor Brian Cox, feels that it "kind of does work".

Viv Hardwick, The Northern Echo, 21st September 2017

Joz Norris on people who have escaped the maze of life

One of our favourite comedians Joz Norris would love to escape the rat-race of modern living. He picks out three people he thinks have actually succeeded in leaving the maze.

Laugh Out London, 21st September 2017

James Buckley interview

'I should be on TV a lot more but I'm stubborn'.

Sean Marland, TV Times, 21st September 2017

Sofie Hagen interview

Sofie Hagen on feminism, hatred, and why she doesn't want to be famous.

Elsa Maishman, The National Student, 21st September 2017

Videos

TV & radio

5pm
30 min

So Awkward

Series 3, Episode 4 - A Room Of Her Own

Lily decides her bedroom is babyish and needs a makeover to reflect the fact she's now a sophisticated teen.

5pm
15 min

Go Jetters

Series 2, Episode 4 - Rainforests Of Sumatra, Indonesia

When Grandmaster Glitch invents the world's most pungent perfume, he finds he needs one more ingredient: the super stinky aroma of the titan arum, a huge flower that blooms once every few years in the rainforests of Sumatra.

6pm
15 min

Danger Mouse

Series 2, Episode 16 - There's Something About Scarlett

Moments after landing himself a date with Scarlett Johamster, Danger Mouse and the Professor pounce on Penfold with conflicting advice on how to woo his new world-famous love interest.

6:30pm
30 min

Women Talking About Cars

Series 2, Episode 3 - Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen tells the story of her journey from her first memories of her grandmother's sedate Hawker Siddely limousine through to the intensity of the That's Life years.

8pm
60 min

Duck Quacks Don't Echo

Series 6, Episode 4

TV presenter Alex Jones and comedians Harry Enfield and Jason Byrne join Lee Mack to put far-fetched facts to the test. Can a Slinky defy gravity?

9pm
60 min

John Bishop In Conversation With...

Series 3, Episode 2 - Nadiya Hussain

Great British Bake Off winner, TV presenter and author Nadiya Hussain sits downs with John Bishop for an intimate one-to-one conversation about her rise to fame since winning The Great British Bake Off almost two years ago. She discusses her discovery of baking at aged eight, the initial formality of her marriage and her close relationship with her family. Nadiya speaks candidly with John about her life-long struggle with panic disorder, and on being "the most vocal representative of Muslims on British TV".

9pm
60 min

A League Of Their Own

Series 12, Episode 2

Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and UK athletics' Mo Farah team up with Jamie Redknapp in the red corner. On the blue team, Freddie and Jack welcome pop royalty Emma Bunton.

9:50pm
75 min

Monty Python: Before The Flying Circus

Documentary about the Pythons before Python and the group's formation.

10pm
50 min

Celebrity Juice

Series 18, Episode 2

Joining the panel this week are: pop songstress Mollie King; top comic Jimmy Carr; EastEnders actor Richard Blackwood; and Paddy McGuinness.

10pm
60 min

The Russell Howard Hour

Series 1, Episode 1

Russell comments on a week in which there was a largely botched terrorist attack on the Tube; talks to the children of the world about Vladimir Putin; and interviews Labour MP Diane Abbott. Stand-up from Kiri Pritchard-McLean.