Weekly Newsletter	Monday 21st January 2013

Here is the news everyone has been waiting for... the results of our big annual poll: The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2012!

Latest Comedy News

Comedy.co.uk Awards - Full Results The results of the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2012 have been announced, with BBC sitcom Miranda voted the best comedy of the year. Read BBC One to pilot panel show based around funny clips BBC One is developing a new panel show format called Trumped!, in which three comedians aim to outdo each other by 'finding the best and funniest videos'. Read Miranda Hart announces second book Miranda Hart is to write a second book. Peggy And Me, published in 2014, will see the star talk about her her day-to-day life and adventures with her dog. Read Kylie Minogue to star in Sky Arts comedy drama Pop star Kylie Minogue is to return to acting, starring in a new one-off comedy drama for Sky Arts called Hey Diddly Dee. Read Graham Norton to host seven hour Comic Relief chat show Graham Norton will reportedly host a seven hour chat show live on BBC Three to help raise funds for Comic Relief. Read

Advert

Spacetacular! is the first stand-up comedy/science/fancy dress/variety/quiz show entirely themed around outer space. Helen Keen from Radio 4's It Is Rocket Science will be presenting an evening of out-of-this-world entertainment. It's at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on Sunday. Details

Also of interest...

Here are some pages you might be interested in... - A big interview with Rowan Atkinson - he talks about starring in the Olympics, and more: The Arts Desk - QI is 10 years old, so here are 50 amazing facts from the show's spin-off book: The Daily Mirror - Ricky Gervais is returning to stand-up comedy with a new show called Humanity: The Radio Times - The Guardian has matched up the government cabinet with the characters from Dad's Army: The Guardian - BBC sitcom Hebburn is 'a waste of money' according to a local councillor, because it doesn't portray the area in a good light: BBC News For a daily list of links connect up with us on social media: @UKComedyNews and/or Facebook.

Features

A guide to The Bristol Slapstick Festival 2013 A guide to the events taking place as part of the Slapstick Festival 2013. It's in Bristol from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th January. Read Comedians to walk Hadrian's Wall for charity A group of comedians are, for charity, going to walk Hadrian's Wall at Easter, playing free gigs along the way. Organiser Nick Banks explains more. Read Zoe Lyons - Smiling Through Gritted Teeth A topical snow-based feature. Brighton-based stand-up Zoe Lyons talks about how comedians battle with the elements and public transport to bring laughs to the nation. Read Sean Hughes podcast interview The British Comedy Guide's podcast which talks in-depth about comedy is back. Sean Hughes has some very interesting things to say about stand-up, acting and more in this 71 minute show. Listen Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington interview Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington talk about Derek, the new Channel 4 series they star in. Read Doc Brown interview From Ronson and Winehouse to Gervais and Ayoade, 1Xtra to Radio 4, Doc Brown's life lurched in an unlikely new direction a few years back. And it just keeps on lurching. Read Do The Right Thing - Panel Show Podcast Angelos Epithemiou and John-Luke Roberts are the guests in the latest episode of the panel show podcast. Topics include heart-break, stalkers and sticky sofas. Listen Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2013 The finalists have been announced for the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award 2013, the highly regarded stand-up competition for up-and-coming acts. Read

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... Fit Monday, CBBC, 6:15pm The sports-based sketch show for kids continues. Discover the new sport of 'Three Man Boxing' and find out how a typo creates the new sport of Waiter Polo. Guide Miranda Monday, BBC One, 9pm The big winner of our annual awards. This is a big episode too - with Take That's Gary Barlow amongst the guest stars. Plus Penny gets in the way as she excitedly stalks her poster boy, Raymond Blanc. Guide Mrs. Brown's Boys Monday, BBC One, 9:30pm This sitcom is still clocking up great ratings. Valentine's Day approaches, love is in the air for all the Brown family - even Grandad. In fact, the only Brown without a date is Agnes. Guide My Mad Fat Diary Monday, E4, 10pm Reviewers have said very nice things about this new comedy drama. Rae is worried her weight will stop her from getting a boyfriend... but then one of the boys in the gang asks her out on a date. Guide The Johnny And Inel Show Tuesday, CBBC, 5:15pm The new CBBC sketch show continues. Johnny and Inel decide to set up their own pop group, Jynel. They showcase their first single Believe in Life, and do an exclusive and very silly video performance. Guide Yes, Prime Minister Tuesday, GOLD, 9pm The first episode of this new reboot got un-surprisingly bashed in the papers. This second episode is much stronger - so do check it out. Jim holds a dinner to welcome Kumranistan's Foreign Secretary. Guide The Sarah Millican Television Programme Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm This week on her show Sarah Millican grills Noel Edmonds on Deal or No Deal and learns a trick or two from magician Pete Firman. Guide Pramface Tuesday, BBC Three, 10pm The sitcom continues. Laura has a work placement and, with Janet out at work and Alan too clumsy to be safely left with a baby, Laura takes up Jamie's offer to babysit. Guide Sadie J Wednesday, CBBC, 5:15pm CBBC sitcom. The 'feel-good comedy about a feisty teenage girl and her friends and family' is back for a new third series. Guide Funny Business Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm Eddie Izzard, David Baddiel, Rhod Gilbert and Jo Brand talk frankly about today's stand-up comedy business and the managers and agents who have helped the top stars earn millions - a very interesting documentary. Guide Bob Servant, Independent Wednesday, BBC Four, 10pm This new TV series about a Scottish by-election, based around the popular BBC Radio Scotland character Bob Servant, starts on Wednesday. See our guide for lots more information. Guide Dani's Castle Thursday, CBBC, 5:15pm CBBC sitcom. Jimmy discovers things in the country are not as simple as he thinks. Dani gets some dance training for the annual Bogmoor Ball. Guide Way To Go Thursday, BBC Three, 10pm The dark comedy continues. When the boys' second client, Elroy, deems their assisted-suicide operation amateurish, Scott decides if they're going to be a legitimate business they've got to start acting like one. Guide Fake Reaction Thursday, ITV2, 10pm Joe Swash and Ellie Taylor welcome guests Amy Childs, Kian Egan, Brian Dowling and Tiffany Stevenson. They must try to spot who is faking their reaction in this comedy game format. Guide 4 O'Clock Club Friday, CBBC, 5:30pm CBBC comedy. Draper initiates a big clamp-down on security and truancy in school, meaning there are no more visits to the ice cream van just outside the front gates. Guide John Bishop's Only Joking Friday, Sky1, 8:30pm Hanging out with John Bishop this week are fellow funny people Rob Rouse, Hal Cruttenden and Tiffany Stevenson, and showbiz stalwarts Michael Ball, Bobby Davro and Mount Pleasant's Angela Griffin. Guide Room 101 Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden, singer Paloma Faith and stand-up Jason Manford nominate people who use the phrase 'all due respect', Fifty Shades of Grey and a well known cosmetics shop. Guide Stella Friday, Sky1, 9pm Ruth Jones comedy drama continues. There's a ruckus as rows, rogue lovers and Russell Grant come to Pontyberry. Guide Great Night Out Friday, ITV, 9pm Viewers are starting to warm to this new Stockport-based comedy drama. A schoolboy row resurfaces between Daz and Hodge, threatening to disrupt Glyn's fancy dress birthday party plans. Guide 8 Out Of 10 Cats Friday, Channel 4, 9pm Jimmy Carr and team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson are joined by celebrity guests as they thrash out the hot topics of the week in the second episode of the new series. Guide The Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 9:30pm This comedy show was the big hit of the Paralympic games, winning loads of praise and earning host Adam Hills a Channel 4 contract. The games are now over, but it's a hit format to carry on with - so it'll now take a joyful, off-beat take on the week in general each Friday. Guide Paddy's TV Guide Friday, Channel 4, 10pm Paddy McGuinness focusses on technology this week, and looks at everything from some fairly unique science experiments to answering the big questions. We've yet to see a good review of this programme. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm Graham Norton presents another episode of this multi-award-winning chat show. For some reason this week's guest list hasn't been released... are they hoping to book a really big A-list star perhaps? Guide Animal Antics Saturday, BBC One, 5:30pm Clip show. This is the news as never been seen before. It's about animals, and is presented by one of the Goodies and a dog. (Well, Matt Crosby in a suit, anyway). Guide Richard Hammond's Secret Service Saturday, BBC One, 6pm A house-proud woman comes home to find a priceless piece of graffiti covering the front of her house and a group of school children make a new friend in the form of a talking labrador in this prank show. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV, 9:45pm Jonathan Ross welcomes king of boogie-woogie Jools Holland, the star of X-Men: First Class Rose Byrne, Last Leg presenter Adam Hills, and Grammy-winning superstar Alicia Keys to his sofa. Guide Blandings Sunday, BBC One, 6:30pm The PG Wodehouse comedy continues. Clarence hopes to avoid dancing with his niece Gertrude by inviting a convenient blockhead to keep her company. Freddie meanwhile must keep his new Portuguese wife a secret from Connie. Guide Marshal's Law Sunday, Loaded TV, 9pm Meet Police Community Support Officer, Lesland Marshal, and step into the mad life of Britain's most diligent hobby bobby. This sitcom is tucked away on Loaded TV, but worth a look. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New DVDs

The Losers OUT NOW. Leonard Rossiter stars as wrestling manager Sydney in The Losers, alongside Alfred Molina as his latest discovery, Nigel. First broadcast in 1978, this contains episodes one to five of the single series comedy. Thought wiped for many years, the five were recovered and painstakingly restored from a home recording. Sadly the final sixth episode is still missing, but a PDF copy of its script is included. Details The Arthur Haynes Show - Volume Six PRE-ORDER. With wickedly funny scripts from Alf Garnett creator Johnny Speight, Arthur Haynes and Nicholas Parsons return with a sixth collection of ratings-winning comedy material from the ITV archives. This set includes 13 episodes from Series 12, first broadcast from October 1964 to January 1965. Details The Titfield Thunderbolt - 60th Anniversary Collector's Edition OUT NOW. Newly digitally restored and available on both DVD and superior high-definition Blu-ray, this is one of the crowning glories of the Ealing Studios catalogue. It follows the story of a small railway branch line due to be closed against the wishes of local residents, and their attempts to save it - against the wishes of the local bus company. Details Odd Man Out - The Complete Series PRE-ORDER. After rising to stardom in the unforgettable role of Mr Humphries in the BBC's Are You Being Served?, John Inman starred in this ITV sitcom as Neville Sutcliffe, the owner of a Blackpool chippy who relocates to Sussex, where he has inherited his late father's seaside-rock factory. New to both the town and the confectionery business, it's safe to say he's the odd man out! Details A Liar's Autobiography PRE-ORDER. Graham Chapman (the dead one from Monty Python) writes and stars in the movie of his own life story. Although Chapman selfishly dropped dead in 1989 he had taken the trouble to record himself reading his book and those recordings have now been used to provide Chapman's voice in the film. This animated comedy really must be seen - and we recommend in 3D. Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

Marek Larwood - How to have a Perfect Dinner Party Marek Larwood gives essential tips on how to ensure you have a wonderful dinner party. We love his impression of Homer Simpson. Watch I Give It A Year - Stephen Merchant A clip from new British comedy film I Give It A Year. Stephen Merchant plays the role of a terrible best man. Watch Top 20 Tesco Horse Burger Gags Following the news that Tesco's burgers had horse meat in them, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre perform the top gags from Twitter. Watch A Liar's Autobiography - Bomber Harris BCG Exclusive. A classic Monty Python sketch animated. It's from A Liar's Autobiography, which is in cinemas nationwide from the 8th February 2013. Watch Yellow Card - Episode 1 A new show about football, sort of. This week John Curtains books the only premier league sanctioned Improv Troupe and Roy and Glenn reminisce about that memorable Man Utd Vs Barcelona Champions League final. Watch Miranda - Behind-the-scenes Miranda is joined on the sofa by Tom Ellis, Sally Phillips, Sarah Hadland and Patricia Hodge to talk about last week's episode. Watch

Message Board Posts...

Here are some quotes from our message board... "I quite enjoyed it - although the set does look a bit tacky." groovydude89 on new Yes, Prime Minister "Unfortunately, not a patch on the original cast!" Charlie Boy also on new Yes, Prime Minister "Didn't think this latest episode was as good as previous episodes. But the next one looks promising with Gary Barlow and Raymond Blanc." G180e on Miranda "It's a very good parody of Match Of The Day, and a couple of the clips made me laugh. But it's not unmissable by any stretch." Nil Putters on Harry & Paul's Sporting Moments "Greg Davies was really funny in that one!" Gordon Bennett on Room 101

Guide Spotlight

Whoops Baghdad Somewhat the forgotten link in the Frankie Howerd chain of Up Pompeii!-inspired comedies, Whoops Baghdad ran for a single series early in 1973 - making the sitcom 40 years old this Thursday. With scripts by Sid Colin and Reginald Perrin scribe David Nobbs amongst others, it's a fascinating series that oozes quirkiness. Unfortunately, despite being packed with the raucous innuendo you would expect of such a comedy, it just didn't quite work. Great gags were sprinkled throughout, but they weren't enough on their own to save this curiosity of British sitcom history from sinking into obscurity. We'd still love a DVD release, mind... Guide

Thanks for Reading

We hope you found something of interest in this email. More from us next week. Tell your friends to subscribe too, please! The British Comedy Guide www.comedy.co.uk

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