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BCG Daily Monday 18th December 2017

News

Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish. Dave Gorman. Copyright: Liberty Bell TV

Dave Gorman quits Modern Life Is Goodish TV series

Dave Gorman has said that, after five series of his TV series Modern Life Is Goodish, he has decided to call time on the format as he is having to work over 100 hours a week to make the show.

Features

French And Saunders. Image shows from L to R: Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders TV

French & Saunders interview

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders introduce their new 30th anniversary Christmas special sketch show.

The Price Is Right. Alan Carr TV

Alan Carr interview

Alan Carr talks about presenting a new edition of iconic game show The Price Is Right. He says he jumped at the opportunity to host the show. He also gives some clues as to what is coming up in his Chatty Man festive specials.

Thirty Christmases. Image shows from L to R: Jonny Donahoe, Paddy Gervers, Rachel Parris. Copyright: Anna Soderblom Live

Thirty Christmases: Yule Laugh, Yule Cry

Jonny Donahoe - from Jonny and the Baptists - and Rachel Parris explain why festive show Thirty Christmases isn't all glitter and tinsel.

Press clippings

Phil Jerrod

Phil Jerrod interview

I don't groom it, I dye it - because it was going white. You can't have a bright white beard at 37.

The Latest, 18th December 2017
Al Murray's Make Christmas Great Again. Al Murray. Copyright: Avalon Television

Aled Jones dropped from Al Murray's ITV Christmas show

Aled Jones has been dropped from Al Murray's ITV Christmas show after sexual harassment claims.

The Mirror, 18th December 2017
The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

Five classic comedies that owe a debt to TLOG

The taboo-busting grotesques of Royston Vasey were a breath of fresh air when they first appeared on stage 20 years ago quickly followed by appearances on BBC Radio and TV. Here are the shows that might not have existed in the same way without them...

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 18th December 2017
Fawlty Towers. Image shows from L to R: Manuel (Andrew Sachs), Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales), Polly (Connie Booth). Copyright: BBC

Fawlty Towers items feature on Antiques Roadshow

Props from Fawlty Towers are to feature in a special episode of the Antiques Roadshow filmed on the set of EastEnders.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th December 2017
The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

The League Of Gentlemen: preview

The devil not only has the best tunes, he has the best comedy characters, too, and this lot must be in League with him.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 18th December 2017
Sean Lock. Copyright: Off The Kerb

Live comedy DVDs to fill those Christmas stockings

Some last-minute Christmas ideas as we round-up a bunch of live comedy DVD releases.

Brian Donaldson, The List, 18th December 2017
Grandpa's Great Escape. Image shows from L to R: Barry (David Walliams), Miss Dandy (Jennifer Saunders), Grandpa (Tom Courtenay). Copyright: King Bert Productions

David Walliams interview

'I wanted to capture the spirit of old war films in Grandpa's Great Escape'.

TV Times, 18th December 2017
The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

The League of Gentlemen review

Still in a league of their own.

Benji Wilson, The Telegraph, 18th December 2017
The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

The League of Gentlemen 2017 review

A pitch-perfect reunion that's wonderfully horrifying.

Catherine Pearson, Digital Spy, 18th December 2017
The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

The League Of Gentlemen Episode 1 review

Visual gags and references litter the frame for diehard fans to unpack.

Adam Starkey, Metro, 18th December 2017

Detectorists: The BBC's hidden treasure

There is no sole element which makes Detectorists so enthralling, it is more like a symphony where the true greatness occurs when every piece of the orchestra works together.

Patrick Hook-Willers, Nouse, 18th December 2017

The League Of Gentlemen series 4 episode 1 review

There's a delightful string of visual gags on the streets of the town, including signs in the boarded up shop fronts and Mrs Levinson's cleaner Iris dropping a bag of dog poo in a charity donations box, but as with the original show these aren't isolated sketches. Everything is linked...

Catherine Pearson, Den Of Geek, 18th December 2017

Videos

The Last Leg. Image shows from L to R: Josh Widdicombe, Adam Hills, Alex Brooker TV

The Last Leg - Dick Of the Year nominations 2017

4 mins, 23 secs

Jon Hamm presents the nominees for the Dick Of The Year awards 2017.

Image shows from L to R: Greg Haiste, Marie Lawrence Online

Wills and Kate Christmas Message 2017

1 mins, 45 secs

With their own nativity on the way, William and Catherine vlog from the palace.

Buying People Presents That Are Really For Yourself Online

Buying People Presents That Are Really For Yourself

1 mins, 27 secs

Do you sometimes get the feeling that people are actually buying presents for themselves?

Image shows from L to R: Ankur Sengupta, Kyran Davies Online

Tucking In

4 mins, 35 secs

Life can get a little lonely sometimes. Ever thought about just calling a friend and asking to be tucked in?

Early Man. Copyright: Aardman Animations Film

Early Man - Second trailer

2 mins, 26 secs

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman hero Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.

Michael McIntyre's Big Show. Michael McIntyre. Copyright: Hungry McBear TV

Michael McIntyre's Big Show - Midnight Christmas Carollers

1 mins, 20 secs

Four carollers join Michael McIntyre in the Midnight Gameshow.

Podcasts

Do The Right Thing

Do The Right Thing: 2017 Christmas Special (Jessica Fostekew & Nish Kumar)

56 minutes

Jessica Fostekew and Nish Kumar come down our chimneys for this year's Christmas Special. And they bring with them a sack full of ice rescues, dodgy presents, evil families, wrapping...

The Worst Writer In The World

The Worst Writer in the World: Rapunzel, Part 8

42 minutes

In Howard's re-imagining of Rapunzel, the Grimm Brothers travel to an isolated village to hear the life story of a mysterious old witch

TV & radio

Radio 4 10:45am
15 min
WPC Hat

Holmes And Watford

Episode 1

Today a teenager runs out of a shop - surely he must have done something wrong?

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Cooking In A Bedsitter. Image shows from L to R: Deepak (Nikesh Patel), Trisha (Beattie Edmondson). Copyright: BBC

Cooking In A Bedsitter

Series 2, Episode 3 - Green Pea Sandwiches

Trisha surprises Deepak on an outing to Oxford.

Radio 4 2:15pm
45 min
Sophie's Lights. Copyright: BBC

Sophie's Lights

A father is torn between his Jewish heritage and his love for his daughter, when she becomes convinced that Santa Claus is real.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue logo. Copyright: BBC

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

Series 68, Episode 6

A return visit to the New Theatre in Hull for regular panellists Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor, who are joined by Miles Jupp and John Finnemore.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV 9pm
60 min
Birds Of A Feather. Image shows from L to R: Sharon Theodopolopodous (Pauline Quirke), Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson), Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph)

Birds Of A Feather

Christmas Special - The House For The Rising Sons

It's Christmas in Chigwell and the Birds are back. Tracey has got big plans that could upset the festive harmony in the house, Sharon has found a novel way of doing her Christmas shopping and Dorien has got a mystery to solve. What could possibly go wrong?

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9:30pm
30 min
Would I Lie To You?. Image shows from L to R: Kerry Howard, David Mitchell, Henry Blofeld, Rob Brydon, Richard Coles, Lee Mack, Clive Myrie. Copyright: Zeppotron

Would I Lie To You?

Series 11, Christmas Special - Would I Lie To You At Christmas?

David Mitchell is joined by Henry Blofeld and Kerry Howard, while Lee Mack is joined by Reverend Richard Coles and Clive Myrie.

BBC Two 10pm
30 min
The League Of Gentlemen. Mr Chinnery (Mark Gatiss). Copyright: BBC

The League Of Gentlemen

20th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1 - Return To Royston Vasey

Familiar faces return to Royston Vasey, settling old scores and digging up some old friends - with more bad blood than an abattoir with septicaemia.

Comedy Central 10:30pm
30 min
Say Whaaat?

Say Whaaat?

Improvisational comedy pilot, voicing-over secretly-shot footage of public conversations.

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