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BCG Daily Thursday 20th May 2021

News

Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, Guz Khan, Morgana Robinson, Victoria Coren Mitchell. Copyright: Avalon Television TV

Taskmaster Series 12 line-up

Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, Guz Khan, Morgana Robinson and Victoria Coren Mitchell will take part in Taskmaster Series 12.

Leicester Comedy Festival Live

Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year finalists 2021

The finalists for the Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year 2021 competition have been announced.

Graham Norton. Copyright: David Venni TV

Graham Norton's novel to be turned into an ITV series

Graham Norton's novel Holding is to be adapted by ITV. Conleth Hill will star, with Kathy Burke directing.

Press clippings

We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Bisma (Faith Omole), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts is the punchy punk comedy you need

Channel 4's new 'musical comedy' is worlds away from true crime, combining a sharp script, original songs and a female-fronted cast to create something entirely fresh and funny.

Alicia Lansom, Refinery 29, 20th May 2021
We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Bisma (Faith Omole), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts preview

Review of Channel 4's new comedy about an all-Muslim female punk band.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th May 2021
Da Ali G Show. Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen)

Is it cos I is racist?

Da Ali G Show, an anti-racist satire, has been slapped with with content warnings about its 'racist' content.

Spiked, 20th May 2021
We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Bisma (Faith Omole), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts review

Channel 4's sweet, silly sitcom offers something we've never seen before on mainstream television: Muslim women being themselves, and rocking out to rowdy punk anthems.

Chitra Ramaswamy, The Guardian, 20th May 2021
Armando Iannucci. Copyright: Linda Nylind

Iannucci leads criticism of secrecy over BBC's future

Armando Iannucci, the creator of The Thick Of It, has called on the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, to agree to a meeting with him and others from a new group of influential media figures set up amid concerns about future government plans for the BBC.

Ben Quinn, The Guardian, 20th May 2021
We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Bisma (Faith Omole), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts, review

Channel 4's sparky new comedy about an all-female Muslim punk band challenges expectations, but tries a bit too hard to be cool.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 20th May 2021
Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Greg Davies, Alex Horne. Copyright: Avalon Television

Every Taskmaster contestant ranked

We look back at the bonkers panel show's funniest alumni.

Mark Beaumont, NME, 20th May 2021
Bill Bailey

Bill Bailey overwhelmed by his New Zealand experience

Bill Bailey has revealed how his time filming Patriot Brains and touring his stage show in New Zealand filled him with joy.

James Rampton, Stuff.co.nz, 20th May 2021
We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Bisma (Faith Omole), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts review

Writer-director Nida Manzoor's comedy is plenty of fun, filled with instantly memorable characters.

Katie Rosseinsky, Evening Standard, 20th May 2021
Rare Beasts. Image shows from L to R: Larch (Toby Woolf), Mandy (Billie Piper). Copyright: Western Edge Pictures

Rare Beasts review - Billie Piper as triple threat

Self-described "anti-romcom" is nervy and edgy.

Matt Wolf, The Arts Desk, 20th May 2021
Rare Beasts. Image shows from L to R: Larch (Toby Woolf), Mandy (Billie Piper). Copyright: Western Edge Pictures

Rare Beasts, review

Billie Piper's 'anti-romcom' has a swipe at Laurence Fox.

Robbie Collins, The Telegraph, 20th May 2021
Rare Beasts. Image shows from L to R: Larch (Toby Woolf), Mandy (Billie Piper). Copyright: Western Edge Pictures

Rare Beasts review

Masterful Billie Piper rips up the romcom rulebook.

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 20th May 2021

Miranda Walker wins BBC original commission

Screenwriter and Script Angel coaching alumni Miranda Walker has won a prestigious BBC commission for her comedy drama monologues as part of the Culture in Quarantine initiative.

Script Angel, 20th May 2021

Videos

Lee Brace Online

Silent Lee in The Rendezvous

3 mins, 6 secs

Silent Lee is waiting for someone.

Yesterday, Today & The Day Before. Sophie Duker. Copyright: Rumpus Media TV

Yesterday, Today & The Day Before - The One Where Steph McGovern Has Never Seen Friends

27 secs

As the world went mad for the recently released trailer for the Friends reunion, Steph McGovern revealed to Suzi Ruffell, Sophie Duker and Maisie Adam that she had never seen a single episode of the hit sitcom. Maisie Adam couldn't believe it when the daytime personality admitted that she believed the Rachel haircut was styled after a girl in her class...

Breeders. Image shows from L to R: Luke (Alex Eastwood), Jim (Alun Armstrong), Paul (Martin Freeman), Ally (Daisy Haggard), Jackie (Joanna Bacon), Ava (Eve Prenelle). Copyright: Avalon Television TV

Breeders - Series 2 Trailer

40 secs

Breeders exposes the parental-paradox that it is possible, in the very same moment, to love your child to the horizon of the universe, while being angry enough to want to send them there.

Podcasts

Rosie Jones. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation

The Comedian's Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith: Episode 372 - Rosie Jones

64 minutes

"Not a cute ragdoll, but a disgusting sex robot", Rosie Jones is a triple-threat in ways of which you couldn't dream if you hadn't seen her act. Leveraging hugely punchy...

Richard Herring

Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring: Winter Tourney - Finals

55 minutes

Pointless. It's been a long journey and some balls have popped out of the pocket along the way, but we're pulled out all the stops (ie changed the colour of...

Sitcom Geeks

Sitcom Geeks: Episode 166 - Revenge of the Two Minute Movie

65 minutes

Sketches are BACK! Charlie Dinkin and Ben Sutton talk about comedy quickies and Daddy's Super Yacht TV, a production company focused on making online and TV sketches. They're joined by...

TV & radio

London Live 8:15am
10 min
The Theo The Mouse Show. Wendy (Wendy Abrahams)

The Theo The Mouse Show

Episode 4 - Force And Movement

Wendy uses Theo's toy truck to teach about Force And Movement, forcing Theo to go all disco!

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. Image shows from L to R: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Lawry Lewin, John Finnemore, Carrie Quinlan, Simon Kane. Copyright: BBC

John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

Series 9, Episode 3

This episode looks back at the life of Jerry (Simon Kane), from a 2021 postcard to a surprise poem he received in 1943.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 9pm
60 min
Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Lee Mack, Greg Davies, Alex Horne. Copyright: Avalon Television

Taskmaster

Series 11, Episode 10 - Activate Jamali

Charlotte Ritchie stumbles into some sand, Lee Mack dunks Alex Horne, Sarah Kendall stacks some fish fingers, Jamali Maddix staggers around a bit and Mike Wozniak staggers absolutely everyone. Again.

Sky One logo. Copyright: Sky 9pm
60 min
There's Something About Movies. Rob Brydon

There's Something About Movies

Series 4, Episode 2

Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen are joined by Richard E Grant. Guest captain Rob Brydon has Desiree Burch and Alan Davies on his team. Alan Carr hosts.

Comedy Central 9pm
60 min
Yesterday, Today & The Day Before. Sophie Duker. Copyright: Rumpus Media

Yesterday, Today & The Day Before

Episode 1

Topical comedy show offering a female take on world events, with the first edition featuring panellists Suzi Ruffell, Sophie Duker, Maisie Adam and Steph McGovern.

U&Dave channel logo 10pm
40 min
Meet The Richardsons. Image shows from L to R: Lucy (Lucy Beaumont), Jon (Jon Richardson)

Meet The Richardsons

Series 2, Episode 7

Jon and Lucy are thinking of moving to London but are struggling to tell the neighbours. So, to break the bad news they take them away for a camping trip in Bridlington. Red Dwarf legend Craig Charles comes around because he fancies buying a house with a pub. And is there a chance Lucy can play herself in her sitcom?

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
30 min
We Are Lady Parts. Image shows from L to R: Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Bisma (Faith Omole), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Copyright: Working Title Films

We Are Lady Parts

Series 1, Episode 1 - Play Something

Amina is torn between two different worlds and on the lookout for love, romance - and a husband.

ITV2 logo. Credit: ITV 10pm
50 min
Celebrity Juice. Lawrence Chaney

Celebrity Juice

Series 25, Episode 7

Keith Lemon hosts as team captains Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore are joined by Katherine Ryan, Lawrence Chaney, Catherine Tyldesley and Maya Jama for more games, fun and anarchy.

BBC Two 10pm
30 min
Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Felicity Ward, Hugh Dennis, Rhys James, Dara O Briain, Darren Harriott, Catherine Bohart, Ed Byrne. Copyright: Angst Productions

Mock The Week

Series 20, Episode 2

Host Dara O Briain and team captain Hugh Dennis are joined by guests Ed Byrne, Catherine Bohart, Rhys James, Felicity Ward and Darren Harriott for an evening of topical panel discussion and laughs.

BBC Scotland channel. Copyright: BBC 10pm
30 min
Scotland Made Me.... Chris Forbes

Growing Up Scottish

Series 1, Episode 3 - A Family & Watch

The comedians remember Scottish family life, and trips to the movies.

Sky One logo. Copyright: Sky 10pm
60 min
Redknapp's Big Night Out. Image shows from L to R: Jamie Redknapp, John Bishop

Redknapp's Big Night Out

Episode 5

Jamie Redknapp is with dad Harry and mate Tom Davis, as they chat with guests including John Bishop, David James, Tyson Fury, Judi Love and Declan Rice. Plus, Tom Grennan performs. James Corden is on video link.

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