BCG Daily Friday 16th February 2018

News

Press clippings

Preview - QI: Overseas

The final episode from Series O (except for two highlights episodes) sees Denmark's Sandi Toksvig take the show across the world.

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 16th February 2018

13 modern TV comedies set in the 80s and 90s

Here are thirteen other modern TV comedies set in the recent past...

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 16th February 2018

Louise Reay is being sued over a show about free speech

She is being sued by her estranged husband because he objected to what he claims was in her Hard Mode show.

John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 16th February 2018

Review: Elsa: More flat than flat white

Whilst the lyrics are amusing and Rogers' voice is soothing, the presentation of stock female types doesn't bring anything new to the conversation about pressures on women. At 50 minutes, this is a bite-size piece of light comedy, but it doesn't fully satisfy the audience's appetite.

Charlotte Pegram, The Peg, 16th February 2018

Preview: Hold The Sunset

It is pretty big news that John Cleese has returned to the BBC to star in a new sitcom for the first time since Fawlty Towers. So it's a relief to say that Hold The Sunset is not a painful attempt to recreate the anarchic brilliance of his seventies heyday.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th February 2018

Red Dwarf: 30 of the funniest quotes and one-liners

Red Dwarf celebrates its 30th anniversary this week. And when it comes to Rob Grant and Doug Naylor's sci-fi sitcom, there's no shortage of memorable moments and outbursts.

Mark Butler, i Newspaper, 16th February 2018

Five Still Game characters we'd love to see return

From Big Innes and his penchant for Midori to Tam's temptress Molly Drummond, Still Game has had its fair share of popular cameos.

Michael Reynolds, Daily Record, 16th February 2018

Rose Matafeo: 'I looked like a tiny, chubby Prince'

Rose Matafeo lifts the lid on the things that make her laugh the most.

Harriet Gibsone, The Guardian, 16th February 2018

"We don't treat kids like they're stupid"

Greg Jenner, historian and 'chief nerd' on the Horrible Histories TV show, tells The Big Issue how the original books inspired a generation.

Vicky Carroll, The Big Issue, 16th February 2018

Rachel Parris talks Piers Morgan & sudden internet fame

It's no exaggeration to say that if you've been on Facebook or Twitter in the past three weeks, you've probably seen Rachel Parris.

Rachel McGrath, The Huffington Post, 16th February 2018

TV review: Hold the Sunset

After 39 years away, John Cleese returns to the sitcom format with a cosy affair.

Brian Donaldson, The List, 16th February 2018

Download: The Death of Stalin review

Armando Iannucci assembles a dream team for a nightmarish orgy of power-grabbing and back-stabbing.

Raphael Abraham, The Financial Times, 16th February 2018

Download: The Party review

Sally Potter's film brings together a bunch of self-regarding, self-obsessed metropolitan liberal elitists.

David Cheal, The Financial Times, 16th February 2018

Top Tips from the Comedy Room

This was my second attempt to get through BBC Writersroom's Script Room and I feel incredibly lucky, privileged and nauseous now that I'm on it.

Jonny Addy, BBC Writersroom, 16th February 2018

Videos

TV & radio

Radio 4
11:30am
30 min
All Those Women. Image shows from L to R: Emily (Lucy Hutchinson), Jen (Sinead Matthews), Maggie (Lesley Manville), Hetty (Sheila Hancock). Copyright: BBC

All Those Women

Series 3, Episode 4

Emily is choosing her options, Jen is taking the plunge and applying for her first teaching job, and Maggie is getting excited about the prospect of an adventure or two of her own.

Go Jetters. Copyright: BBC

Go Jetters

Series 2, Episode 28 - Wolong Panda Reserve, China

Lars and Foz are in the Wolong Nature Reserve in China, taking care of the 2,000 pandas that live in the wild there.

CBBC logo. Credit: BBC
5:30pm
30 min
The Dog Ate My Homework. Iain Stirling. Copyright: BBC

The Dog Ate My Homework

Series 5, Episode 7

Iain Stirling is joined by child team captains Charlotte and Harriette and special guests Sam Nixon, Mark Rhodes, Suzi Ruffell and Ray Bradshaw.

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
The News Quiz. Andy Zaltzman

The News Quiz

Series 95, Episode 7

Jeremy Hardy, Helen Lewis, Andy Zaltzman and Katy Brand take on the news. This week love is in the air with a Valentine's Day Brexit note and a risqué Georgian lifestyle manual.

Room 101. Image shows from L to R: Nish Kumar, Roisin Conaty, Frank Skinner, Chris Kamara. Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Room 101

Series 7, Episode 5 - Roisin Conaty, Chris Kamara, Nish Kumar

Roisin Conaty, Chris Kamara and Nish Kumar compete to have their pet hates and peeves consigned to Room 101, with topics including bread in restaurants, downloading music and ex-partners.

BBC Two
10pm
30 min
QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Colin Lane, Sandi Toksvig, Desiree Burch, Bill Bailey. Copyright: TalkbackThames

QI

Series O, Episode 16 - Overseas

Sandi Toksvig ventures Overseas to find out about Allotment Annies, who keeps their brothers in a cage, and much else besides. With Colin Lane, Desiree Burch and Bill Bailey.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC
10:35pm
45 min
The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines

The Graham Norton Show

Series 22, Episode 20 - Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Daniel Kaluuya, Alicia Vikander, Camila Cabello

Margo Robbie says learning to skate was scary, Allison Janney talks about The West Wing, Alicia Vikander reveals she left her Oscar in LA, Daniel Kaluuya says this last year has been life changing and Camila Cabello performs live in the studio.

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