BCG Daily Friday 22nd November 2024

Bill Nighy: "After Love Actually, my pay quintupled"

The actor on his new film Joy, his ambition to play an action hero, and why he never tires of being recognised in the street.

Nick Mohammed's Christmas Carol(ish) haunted by technical failure

Nick Mohammed's festive tale A Christmas Carol(ish) has had a bumpy launch in the West End - with the official first night performance abandoned after being plagued by technical issues.

Vix Leyton: the loneliness of the long distance comedian

Stand-up comedy is incredibly lonely, so I'm focusing on hosting in 2025. Last week I spent 11 hours on trains (and platforms) to spend a grand total of 30 minutes performing to the sum total of about 60 people. And I'm tired.

A Nigel Farage fan trolled Ian Hislop over his earnings and this A++ comeback surely said it best

One of our many favourite bits of Private Eye is its 'number crunching' segment and this one from the current issue has just gone viral, shining a light on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's earnings since the July election. We mention it because it caught the eye of a Nigel Farage fan - well, we presume they are a Nigel Farage fan - who appeared to suggest there was some sort of double standard at work.

MP throws his weight behind Caroline Aherne statue plan

Lucy Beaumont this week floated the idea of erecting a memorial to The Royle Family and Mrs Merton star in the Manchester district where she lived from the age of two. Now the suburb's Labour MP Mike Kane - who was born and raised in the area - has thrown his weight behind the plan.

Rhian Jade and Nicola Mantalios on safe space in comedy

Rhian Jade is the artistic director of theatre company SoreSlap, whose LGBTQ+ and global majority sketch night, Sketch Slap, showcases drama, drag, comedy and poetry. Comedian and mentor Nicola Mantalios hosts Queers & Beers, Newcastle's only regular queer comedy night.

"Stunning, but so wrong": inside raucous new drag sitcom Smoggie Queens

It's loud, proud and very, very daft: the new BBC comedy plunges viewers into Middlesbrough's hilariously catty drag scene. The creator and star Phil Dunning talks prosecco, parmos - and picking the worst wigs possible.

Have I got news for you

Political journalist Matt Chorley describes being a guest panellist on Have I Got News For You.

A Christmas Carol (ish) at @sohoplace review: a festive hit in waiting

Despite opening night being derailed by technical problems this play balances silliness with sophistication in a way that should make it a Christmas favourite.

I was orphaned and adopted at three reveals Gregor Fisher

Gregor Fisher has opened up about being orphaned and adopted at three after his mother died - and that he didn't find his siblings for decades.

Only Child star Gregor was born in a village near Stirling in 1953 and his mother Kit McKenzie had two other children, but she had a heart problem and died when the actor was three.

Ivo Graham: Grand Design review

Who knew that Venn diagrams could, or would be used in comedy? Genius.

Only Child review

This bittersweet comedy is absolutely packed with laughs.

James Acaster interview

Disruptive audiences nearly drove James Acaster from stand-up. Instead, he decided to embrace the hecklers.

I want to get married - but my girlfriend has rejected me 4 times... maybe she doesn't like me, says Frank Skinner

Frank shares how his son Buzz's favourite comedian isn't him.