Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 13th February 2017 |
There's been news both exciting and sad in the past week; notably the death of the great Alan Simpson, whose work with writing partner Ray Galton almost invented - and certainly defined - what we now know as British sitcom. |
Latest Comedy News |
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Miranda Hart makes So Sammy series for Disney app
Miranda Hart is launching So Sammy, a short series about a vlogger, for Disney Channel's app. Read
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Hospital People guest stars revealed
Filming is under way on BBC One comedy series Hospital People, with Russell Brand, Sally Phillips and James Fleet amongst the guest stars. Read |
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New TV series for Alan Partridge
Steve Coogan has revealed that Alan Partridge is to return to television in a new format. Read |
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New company for Bain, Armstrong & Clarke
Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong are teaming up with Channel 4 Head of Comedy Phil Clarke to launch their own production company, as the broadcaster shakes up its comedy department. Read |
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Damned to return to Channel 4
Social work sitcom Damned is coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, starring Jo Brand, Alan Davies and Isy Suttie. Read |
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Film comedies could move to TV
Distributors Lionsgate are looking through their catalogue of British films for potential TV adaptation projects. Read |
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Live stage version of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again to tour
A new stage version of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again will tour Britain, with guest appearances from original stars Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jo Kendall. Read |
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Sky 1 commissions Jack Whitehall's Bounty Hunters
Sky 1 has ordered a brand new action adventure comedy starring Jack Whitehall and Oscar-nominee Rosie Perez. Read |
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Channel 4 publishes new Comedy Blaps
Channel 4 has published a new selection of online comedy shorts under its Comedy Blaps strand. Four new shows are available to watch now. Read / Watch |
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Alan Simpson dies aged 87
Alan Simpson, co-writer of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe And Son, has died at the age of 87. Read |
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Fleabag stage play coming to TV
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's original one-woman play, upon which sitcom Fleabag was based, could be filmed for television, according to reports. Read |
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Features |
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Megan Ford interview
London-based Floridian Megan Ford was so annoyed two years ago, she wrote a fairly self-explanatory show called Feminasty. What on earth is she thinking now? Read |
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National Express versus Megabus - A comedian's view
Zahra Barri, like many up-and-coming comics, has to make use of a lot of trains and buses to get to gigs. As a result, she's ideally placed to help settle a question: Which long-distance bus company is better? Read |
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First Gig, Worst Gig: Danielle Ward
Multi-tasking Danielle Ward's gig memories include copious booing and a one-man standing ovation from Benedict Cumberbatch. Read |
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Podcasts
Our resident reviewers Hayley & Ruth have love on their minds; Lucy Porter chats to Richard Herring; ManBuyCow continue their silly detective story; Rachel Parris chats to Stuart Goldsmith; and more. Listen |
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TV Listings |
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I Live With Models Monday, Comedy Central, 8pm
Comedy Central's sitcom continues. When Molly's forced to lose weight for a job, Jess stands up for her - but in the process accidentally takes her job. Guide |
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What Would Beyonce Do?! Tuesday, BBC Three
The BBC has recorded their own version of Luisa Omielan's hit uplifting stand-up show about love, relationships and body image. It'll be on iPlayer from Tuesday. Guide |
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Katherine Ryan In Trouble Tuesday, Netflix
Netflix subscribers worldwide can find a live recording of Katherine Ryan's Kathbum stand-up tour in the Comedy section from Tuesday. See our Guide for a trailer. Guide |
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This Country Wednesday, BBC Three
The new mockumentary continues. When Kerry's neighbour Mandy Harris starts a tattoo business, Kerry is delighted to be one of her first customers. If you're watching on 'normal' TV, it's on BBC One on Saturday. Guide |
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No Offence Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm
It's the last episode. With Deering, Dinah and Joy's friendship in jeopardy and Donna Calvert missing, the race to prevent the Attahs' escape and to bag them once and for all puts the team's lives at stake. Guide |
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The Chris Ramsey Show Wednesday, Comedy Central, 10pm
Ramsey welcomes guests Nish Kumar and Carl Hutchinson who compete against each other in a game of WWE with a twist; Chris has invited professional wrestlers The London Riots to show Nish and Carl what a real wrestling move looks like. Guide |
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Urban Myths: Muhammad Ali Thursday, Sky Arts, 10pm
A one-off comedy drama about Muhammad Ali talking a suicidal stranger down from a ledge. Noel Clarke plays the famous boxer. Guide |
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Room 101 Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm
Lucy Porter, Romesh Ranganathan and Judge Robert Rinder compete to have their pet hates and peeves consigned to Room 101. Topics include lavish proposals. Guide |
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Not Going Out Friday, BBC One, 9pm
Lee Mack's family orientated sitcom continues. This week he is worried that his son Charlie is getting a reputation at school for being the class clown. Guide |
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8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Friday, Channel 4, 9pm
Jon Richardson and Michelle Wolf take on guest captain Jonathan Ross with Johnny Vegas. Meanwhile comedy group Pappy's join Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Guide |
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Tracey Ullman's Show Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm
More sketches and impressions. This time Nicola Sturgeon is so keen on Angela Merkel's style that she will go to any length to get the look. Guide |
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QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm
It's the end of the latest series, and by all accounts Sandi Toksvig has done a great job. Here's the first of two compilations of some of the best bits. Guide |
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The Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
Victoria Coren Mitchell is the guest joining Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe this week. There'll be plenty to talk about come Friday. Guide |
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The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm
Ricky Gervais is back on the show to talk about his new stand-up tour. Also actors Tom Hiddleston, Ruth Wilson, Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire. Tinie Tempah performs. Guide |
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Through The Keyhole Saturday, ITV, 9:20pm
Joining Keith Lemon this time are former boxing world champion David Haye, soap star Samia Ghadie and TV presenter Dave Berry. Which houses will they see this time? Guide |
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy (Mark Steel is back this week), see our full schedule. |
New Shop Products |
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Very Important Person
OUT NOW. A DVD re-release of this classic comedy is out today. James Robertson Justice stars alongside Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter and others in a wartime comedy about a scientist on a secret mission for the War Cabinet. Captured in enemy territory he's ensconsed in a POW camp but it is absolutely vital he makes a successful escape. Details |
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Count Arthur & Anita Harris - Somethin' Stupid
PRE-ORDER. We can't wait to hear this new record. Count Arthur Strong and 70s 'It Girl' Anita Harris unite with this cover of the celebrated Frank and Nancy Sinatra song Something Stupid. The B-Side sees Arthur perform Lovely Day by Bill Withers. Details He's also got a new live DVD. Details |
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Still Open All Hours - Series Three
OUT NOW. Out on DVD comes the complete hit third series of Roy Clarke's Still Open All Hours. Sadly missing Nurse Gladys Emmanuel this year, the delights of this family-friendly comedy still come thick and fast. The cast includes Sir David Jason, James Baxter, Johnny Vegas, Sally Lindsay, Nina Wadia, Geoffrey Whitehead, and the inimitable Stephanie Cole. Fabulous fun. Details |
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Steptoe And Son - Series 3 & 4
PRE-ORDER. Series 3 and 4 of the radio sitcom starring Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell, adapted from the much-loved TV series. Collected together for the first time, this is every episode from the third and fourth radio series, scripted by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Details |
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Trollied - Complete Series 6
PRE-ORDER. Sky 1's hit sitcom continues to please audiences, and the most recent series - starring Jason Watkins, Sarah Parish and Rufus Hound amongst the returning regulars - will be released next month for fans to enjoy again. Details A separate box set of the complete previous five series will be released in April. Details |
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Till Death Us Do Part
OUT NOW. After the successful release of the surviving Series 1 episodes late last year, BBC Store has now published almost every other existing edition of the highly important 1960s-70s sitcom for download. It's not nearly as complete a collection as in the Network box set, but for those unwilling to pay for the full set, these individual series and episodes represent great value. Details |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon. |
Comedy Videos |
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Glasgow Hygge
What is 'Hygge'? A man tries to get his partner to feel it too in this sketch from Elaine Malcolmson and Steven Dick. Watch |
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Comic Relief Fundraising Tips
Get the best fundraising tips from Ellie Taylor as she shows you how to do a challenge for Red Nose Day. Watch |
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Dead Town - Once in a Lifetime
The latest episode of the online web series that has great production values. Set in Runcorn, it follows three men who are trying to dodge zombies. Watch |
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Wolf Jenkins - Animal Fighting
We love this unique animated series by Andy Needle. Now being published by BBC Three, it focuses on an animal vet in Vietnam in 1969. We can't really describe the style - it's best just to watch it. Watch |
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Drunk History - Series 3 trailer
The third series of the UK version of Drunk History is coming soon to Comedy Central. As you can see in this trailer, it features lots of top guest stars. Watch |
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Valentine's Spies
A spy has a message for another spy in this romance themed short sketch from Tom Ska. Watch |
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Support Group
Ian is late for an important meeting and he is about to suffer the consequences. Watch |
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Social Media vs Reality
Things aren't always as they seem on social media, as illustrated by this BBC Scotland sketch... Watch |
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Climbing Brighton Pier
A documentary from the Noise Next Door group about the world's greatest mountain climbers, who are tackling the 524 metre peak of, er, Brighton Pier. Watch |
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The Silent Record
A top UK nightclub promoter discovers something very special and he can't believe his ears. A sketch from new comedy creating duo Special Owl. Watch |
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Phoning Paul Kemp
We all know the feeling - your phone keeps ringing. In this sketch it is Paul who is being plagued by nuisance calls. Watch |
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Mime Utopia
After the White Utopia village was reported there is now the revelation that other 'utopia' villages being set up. Victoria Yorkshire investigates. Watch |
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Finding Fatimah trailer
Finding Fatimah - a new film coming in April - is a tale of one man's struggle to find love against the odds. Watch |
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Gap Year - Trailer
Taking in ancient rainforests, full moon beach-parties, futuristic Asian mega-cities and remote monasteries in the foothills of the Himalayas, Gap Year is a new, eight-part comedy drama from Tom Basden coming soon to E4. Watch |
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Pls Like
A new BBC web series written by and starring Liam Williams. In this mockumentary he must learn how to be a YouTube star and, to do so, meets other social media stars (played by comedy actors). Watch |
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Guide Spotlight |
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Hot Metal
A biting, vicious satire on the newspaper and media industry. We can't think how this 1980s sitcom - marking its anniversary on Thursday - could possibly be relevant to today? After all, our modern media is so squeaky clean. From the pens of dark comedy masters Andrew Marshall and David Renwick (2point4 Children and One Foot In The Grave), the series stars include Robert Hardy, Geoffrey Palmer, Geoffrey Hutchings, John Gordon Sinclair and Richard Wilson. Guide |
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Thanks for Reading |
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British Comedy Guide
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