Press Clippings
I wanted to love Quacks, Rory Kinnear and Rupert Everett hamming it up with much snot, grist and ether, prat-slipping all over the ichor-soaked boards of Victorian London. But, if I didn't actually laugh once, does it deserve to be billed as a comedy? Still. It's written by James "Rev" Wood, has a winningly short title, and even Blackadder started pretty poorly.
Euan Ferguson, The Guardian, 20th August 2017
Preview: People Just Do Nothing
The west London spoof programme returns for a new series following the unconventional group behind Radio Kurupt FM.
Eloise Craven-Todd, On The Box, 19th August 2017
TV review: People Just Do Nothing
There are lots of ways in which People Just Do Nothing succeeds as near-peerless comedy (only This Country, another BBC Three creation, and Channel 4's The Windsors rivals it). Now just into its fourth series, the team has shifted gear a little, run plot lines a little longer, and introduce some tension and poignancy into proceedings without losing anything of the wit and pace that make it so superbly balanced.
Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 19th August 2017
Hard to resist this sweet-natured romcom from Richard Ayoade, AKA Maurice Moss of The IT Crowd. It's the story of 15-year-old Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), who is determined to lose his virginity before he hits 16 (preferably with Yasmin Paige's Jordana) and to protect his mother (Sally Hawkins) from the seductive powers of old mullet-headed flame Graham (Paddy Considine). There's real warmth and comedy in these characters.
Paul Howlett, The Guardian, 19th August 2017
Preview - Submarine
Richard Ayoade's directorial debut is an idiosyncratic coming-of-age drama about a teenage pupil who is trying to cope with the trials of school and domestic life while also discovering love.
Gareth Hargreaves, On The Box, 18th August 2017
Bruce Forsyth, the last of the BBC's great entertainers
Good game, good game. Didn't he do well? Sir Bruce Forsyth had a glittering 75-year showbiz career but with news of his passing aged 89, we have lost the last of the BBC's great entertainers - and a reassuringly familiar figure who you, me and the entire nation has huddled around the TV to watch for the past half-century.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 18th August 2017
Birds Of A Feather to return for new special
Sitcom Birds Of A Feather will return to ITV for a new Christmas special.
British Comedy Guide, 18th August 2017
Sir Bruce Forsyth dies aged 89
Sir Bruce Forsyth has died at the age of 89.
British Comedy Guide, 18th August 2017
Michael Barrymore: How British TV king lost his crown
Michael Barrymore has been awarded damages following a lengthy court battle over his arrest on suspicion of rape and murder. Although the sum will be decided at a later date, the High Court ruling is the latest twist in a case that has hung over the former TV presenter since 2001, when a man was found dead at his home.
Jodie Halford, BBC, 18th August 2017
Michael Barrymore to get damages over arrest
The entertainer Michael Barrymore is to get "more than nominal damages" after claiming his wrongful arrest by police destroyed his career.
BBC, 18th August 2017
When it comes to today's comedy, the situation is dire
Since everything else in the deplorable modern world is perpetually in crisis, humour might as well be too. It isn't funny.
Robert McNeil, The Herald, 18th August 2017
Preview - 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
It's two Carrs for the price of one tonight as Alan Carr appears as a guest team captain on a new series of the panel/game show mash-up.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 18th August 2017
Jimmy Carr is your host for this enduring takeover of the afternoon quiz show format by the near-the-knuckle satire show. Alan Carr is the big-name guest, but there should be some good stuff from Cariad Lloyd and Kevin Bridges as well. Joining staunch good sport Susie Dent in the dictionary corner, meanwhile, are Radio X's weekend double act Elis James and John Robins, who seem likely to find just the right tone.
John Robinson, The Guardian, 18th August 2017
BBC Radio 4 confirms 35 comedy commissions
Radio 4 has revealed details of 35 separate comedy commissions, ranging from returning shows to new series, previous pilots and brand new stand-up.
British Comedy Guide, 17th August 2017
Peter Serafinowicz interview
Voice of Darth Maul, creator of Sassy Trump, inventor of the eat-all-day diet ... Peter Serafinowicz is a creative powerhouse. But now he's finally hit leading man status - playing ironic superhero The Tick in a big blue rubber suit.
Ryan Gilbey, The Guardian, 17th August 2017
TV show with a comedic take on life Up North is back
A sitcom filmed in Sheffield that aims to raise laughs with an offbeat take on local life has reached its second series. Up North has been penned by first-time writer Dean Sills, who also fills one of the lead roles in a tale of two neighbours and their outlandish exploits across the region.
Richard Blackledge, The Sheffield Star, 16th August 2017
People Just Do Nothing review
People Just Do Nothing is the BBC doing 'yoof TV' right.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 16th August 2017
Review: People Just Do Nothing, BBC Three/BBC One
Pirate radio station Kurupt FM is back - hurrah - but it has a rival - hiss.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th August 2017
Kelsey Grammer to guest star in Porters
New Dave sitcom Porters will begin in September, with a guest appearance from Frasier star Kelsey Grammer.
British Comedy Guide, 16th August 2017
Quacks: in need of serious surgery - review
I'm not quite sure what's gone wrong with Quacks, but it's in need of some serious surgery.
Ben Lawrence, The Telegraph, 16th August 2017
Liz Carr attacked with scissors
Comedian Liz Carr has been stabbed in the head by an attacker armed with a pair of scissors in each hand. The comic - who has used a wheelchair since the age of seven - was with her carer when she was assaulted near Euston station in London.
Chortle, 16th August 2017
The relentlessly hopeful comedy of The Last Leg
There is one show that consistently acknowledges the shock and anger but also challenges me to replace the despair with something else: hope. That show is Channel 4's The Last Leg, starring Adam Hills, Alex Brooker, and Josh Widdicombe.
Christine Brandel, Pop Matters, 16th August 2017
Preview - The Windsors: series 2 finale
The finale of the second series of the royal spoof sees power go to the heads of certain future monarchs.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 16th August 2017
Season two of the reliably rude royal spoof has been building to a constitutional climax only slightly dafter than the rake-stepping self-sabotage of our real-world Brexit. With the PM in a vegetative state, Charles (Harry Enfield) is poised to become absolute monarch after the rather convenient discovery of a new Magna Carta. Can he secure the endorsement of a divisive world leader who looks like a Wotsit and is keen to press the flesh with Camilla?
Graeme Virtue, The Guardian, 16th August 2017
Still Game character to be killed off, but which one?
Ladbrokes are taking bets on who's most likely to go, and things aren't looking good for the auld ones.
John Ferguson, Daily Record, 15th August 2017
David Tennant & Michael Sheen will star in Good Omens
The BBC has announced casting and crew details for its adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel Good Omens.
British Comedy Guide, 15th August 2017
Susan Calman joins Strictly Come Dancing
British Comedy Guide, 15th August 2017
Quacks: a historical comedy to rival Blackadder
The new absurd historical sitcom from Rev writer James Wood packs enough laughs to compete with the Richard Curtis and Ben Elton classic.
Thomas Liang, Radio Times, 15th August 2017
Quacks preview
The team behind Quacks, BBC Two's new period medical comedy, are very proud of the research they've put in to ensure their scripts are historically accurate.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 15th August 2017
Quacks, BBC2, preview
The middle of August is probably not the normal time to launch a new sitcom, but then Quacks is not a normal sitcom.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th August 2017