British Comedy Guide Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter Monday 9th July 2018
As Monday rolls around once more we're back to lift your post-weekend blues with a rundown of comedy news and features. Enjoy!
Latest Comedy News
ITV ends Benidorm after 10 years ITV ends Benidorm after 10 years

Benidorm has been cancelled by ITV after 10 series. The channel says "We'd like to say a huge thank you to Benidorm's creator Derren Litten and the wonderful cast and crew". Read
Jonathan Ross joins Roast Battle judging panel Jonathan Ross joins Roast Battle judging panel

Jonathan Ross is joining the second series of Comedy Central's Roast Battle as a judge. He takes over from Russell Brand, and will sit alongside Jimmy Carr and Katherine Ryan. Read
Simon Lomas wins £10,001 in Petfringe 2018 competition Simon Lomas wins £10,001 in Petfringe 2018 competition

Simon Lomas has won the Petfringe Comedian Of The Year 2018 competition, which has the biggest cash prize in UK comedy. Nick Page was second and Alistair Williams was third. Read
Adam Kay's junior doctor book to become BBC comedy drama Adam Kay's junior doctor book to become BBC comedy drama

BBC Two has ordered This Is Going To Hurt, an eight-part comedy drama based on the award-winning memoirs of former junior doctor Adam Kay. Read
Tim Vine to host ITV comedy quiz series Football Genius Tim Vine to host ITV comedy quiz series Football Genius

Tim Vine is to host Football Genius, a comedy quiz series for ITV in which two teams of football loving fans compete against each other across a virtual pitch. Sam Quek and Paul Sinha are the team captains. Read
Mark Watson announces 2019 tour Mark Watson announces 2019 tour

Mark Watson is to tour the UK in 2019 with new offering The Infinite Show. Read
Ellie Taylor to co-host new Heart radio show Ellie Taylor to co-host new Heart radio show

Ellie Taylor and blogger Anna Whitehouse are to host a new Sunday night radio show on Heart. Read
Cast revealed for Ricky Gervais sitcom After Life Cast revealed for Ricky Gervais sitcom After Life

The cast for After Life, the new Netflix sitcom from Ricky Gervais, has been revealed. It'll see the star working again with Extras star Ashley Jensen and Derek's David Earl and Kerry Godliman. Other stars signed up include Penelope Wilton and David Bradley. Read
In The Long Run and Pls Like win at Broadcast Digital Awards In The Long Run and Pls Like win at Broadcast Digital Awards

In The Long Run and Pls Like were amongst the winners at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2018. Read
Taskmaster Series 7 line-up revealed Taskmaster Series 7 line-up revealed

The contestants have been revealed for the next series of Taskmaster. The players in the seventh series of Dave's hit comedy will be James Acaster, Jessica Knappett, Phil Wang, Kerry Godliman and Rhod Gilbert. Read
Bridget Christie to film Channel 4 pilot Bridget Christie to film Channel 4 pilot

New pilot The Bridget Christie Television Programme will see comedian Bridget Christie present stand-up, monologues, sketches and "reinvented archive". Read
BBC orders new children's comedies School Bus and GiggleQuiz BBC orders new children's comedies School Bus and GiggleQuiz

CBBC has ordered new sitcom School Bus, and CBeebies will bring Gigglebiz spin-off GiggleQuiz to the screen. Read
People Just Do Nothing stars working on new sitcom Gary1987 People Just Do Nothing stars working on new sitcom Gary1987

Steve Stamp and Allan Mustafa, who play Steves and Grindah in People Just Do Nothing, are working on a virtual reality-themed sitcom called Gary1987. Read
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Features
First Gig, Worst Gig: James Meehan First Gig, Worst Gig: James Meehan

He played the Leave 'Em Laughing festival at the weekend, next up is the Edinburgh Fringe - but why did James Meehan almost give it all up for hair? Read
Jamie Demetriou and Robert Popper chat Jamie Demetriou and Robert Popper chat

Jamie Demetriou and Robert Popper talk to each other about how they developed Stath Lets Flats. Their chat includes some funny stories along the way. Read
British Comedy Quiz #7 British Comedy Quiz #7

What year was Carry On, Constable released in cinemas? There's five dates to pick from... and nine other questions to answer. Try
Podcasts Podcasts

Anna Mann and Lou Sanders are the guests in the latest anarchic episode of Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown, meanwhile comedy writer Lucien Young talks to Sitcom Geeks. Listen
TV Listings
Live From The BBC Live From The BBC
Wednesday, BBC Three

The BBC series that showcases longer sets from up-and-coming comedians continues. Suzi Ruffell takes to the stage for 30-minutes of stand-up on the topic of class. Guide
Stath Lets Flats Stath Lets Flats
Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm

After Stath accidentally burns down a property, he falls out with his exasperated dad. So he heads to work for rivals Smethwicks. Guide
CelebAbility CelebAbility
Wednesday, ITV2, 10pm

Matthew Wolfenden, Nathan Henry, Perri Shakes-Drayton, Amber Davies and Ashley Roberts are the guests taking on comic challenges this week. Guide
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm

Episode 4 of the charming slow-paced series. Paul and Bob fish the beautiful river Wensum this time, in search of the equally beautifully roach. Guide
Lookalikes Lookalikes
Wednesday, Channel 4, 10:30pm

Tim has come up with another money-making idea to secure his fame and fortune. Having stumbled upon fan fiction, he is confident the stage show he's planning will be a rip-roaring success. Guide
Mock The Week Mock The Week
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm

Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne, Rhys James, Nish Kumar and Suzi Ruffell are the guests. In a tricky situation for the show, the programme is being recorded on Tuesday night so they won't be able to reference Wednesday night's big football game. Guide
John Bishop In Conversation With... John Bishop In Conversation With...
Thursday, W, 10pm

John Bishop is joined by comic actor Ruth Jones. She opens up about overcoming her own insecurities as she became one of Britain's most successful actresses. Guide
Keith Lemon: Coming In America Keith Lemon: Coming In America
Thursday, ITV2, 10pm

Keith is advised that Hollywood is a yes town and that to get ahead he needs to say yes to every opportunity that comes his way. Keith commits to this philosophy and also decides he needs some guy friends. Guide
The Week That Wasn't The Week That Wasn't
Thursday, Sky One, 10pm

Another episode of the comedy show that gives news footage new voices. This has gone far under the radar of most, but seems to get better every week - a great modern satire. Guide
News Crack News Crack
Thursday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

An anarchic, clip based comedy pilot from video editors Mother's Best Child. This duo have previously made topical videos for BBC Three - expect some cutting satirical jokes. Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

Katherine Ryan guest hosts the first episode in a brand new series, with an all-female line-up celebrating 100 years of women's suffrage. Roisin Conaty and Jessica Hynes take on Sara Pascoe and Lolly Adefope. Morgana Robinson is in Dictionary Corner pretending to be Natalie Cassidy. Guide
The Last Leg The Last Leg
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

Will the boys be celebrating or conducting a post-mortem on England's game, come Friday night? We suspect they might have some far more important political issues to talk about, if the day's news so far is anything to go by. Guide
The Big Narstie Show The Big Narstie Show
Friday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Big Narstie and Mo Gilligan continue to host their own entertainment show. No news on this week's guests yet. Guide

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
New Shop Products
Wallace & Gromit - The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit Wallace & Gromit - The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit DVD

PRE-ORDER. Re-release of the much-loved Wallace & Gromit feature film. Daffy scientist Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his heroic dog Gromit are doing well with their business, Anti-Pesto, a pest control company keeping their town safe from rabbits chomping on prized vegetables. Details
The Windsors - Complete Box Set The Windsors - Complete Box Set DVD

PRE-ORDER. This is a complete collection of Channel 4's satirical soap-opera sitcom The Windsors, spoofing the lives of the Royal Family, including the recent, glorious Royal Wedding special. We hope a third series of this wonderful series will follow, but until such a time that that is confirmed, this 3-disc set comprises the show's complete collection. Details
Anyone For Denis? Anyone For Denis? DVD

PRE-ORDER. Satirical farce by - and starring - John wells as Margaret Thatcher's husband, Denis. While Maggie's away he invites two friends for a weekend at Chequers. Things start to go badly wrong when Maggie returns home unexpectedly and mistakes Denis's friends for EEC Commissioners; his weekend is ruined by the ensuing confusion. Angela Thorne plays the Iron Lady. Details
The Quanderhorn Xperimentations The Quanderhorn Xperimentations Hardback, eBook & audiobook

OUT NOW. Novel based on the new sci-fi sitcom heard on Radio 4, from the creators of Red Dwarf and 2.4 Children. Great Britain is stuck in 1952. It is under attack from Martians, Mole men and beatniks. Only one man can save the world - Professor Quanderhorn! Shame he's a bit rubbish, really. Details
Keep It In The Family - The Complete Collection Keep It In The Family - The Complete Collection DVD

OUT NOW. This new box set includes all 5-series of the popular early 1980s Thames sitcom about a procrastinating cartoonist, his wife, and two young-adult daughters, all living between an upstairs and ground floor flat in the same house. Robert Gillespie, Pauline Yates and Stacy Dorning are amongst the stars. Details

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy Videos
Trailer The Favourite - Trailer

The trailer for the new film that comes from the team behind The Lobster. Set in the early 18th century, it focuses on a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Her close friend, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. Watch
Wedding Photos From Hell Talking Paintings - Wedding Photos From Hell

A groom comes to realise that asking his friend to do his official wedding portrait may have been a bad idea. Watch
Rob Beckett - 'coming out' as a comedian Romesh: Talking To Comedians - Rob Beckett

Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett have a chinwag about starting out together, gigging at Romesh's dad's pub and in an attempt to compliment each other Romesh hands out some low blows. Watch
Tim Renkow - How Not To Talk To A Disabled Person What I Wish I'd Said - Tim Renkow

Tim Renkow reveals what he wishes he said to a patronising woman who awkwardly told him he was in a wheelchair. Watch
Straight man obsessed with Queer Eye Straight man obsessed with Queer Eye

Gabriel meets a man who loves watching the TV show Queer Eye. Watch
Trailer Sick Of It - Trailer

Sick Of It, the first scripted series to be written by Karl Pilkington, is coming soon to Sky. He plays a man who has broken up with his girlfriend... and also plays that man's visible inner monologue. Watch
Love Is Blind Love Is Blind

A short film with a great punchline. When Alice's husband arrives home to try and make amends it leaves her navigating a tricky situation. Watch
Crossfit Rap Crossfit Rap

Do you even crossfit, bro? It's a comic rap from stand-up comedian Simon Feilder. Watch
Guide Spotlight
Guide Spotlight Top Of The Form

Ronald Shiner leads a fantastic cast - including a very young Ronnie Corbett, Alfie Bass, Richard Wattis, Anthony Newley and Gerald Campion - in this comical 1953 feature. He plays a wheeler-dealer who finds himself appointed headmaster of a troubled private boys' school, before taking his young charges to Paris where they are unwittingly involved in a museum robbery. It's out on DVD today. Guide
Thanks for reading
Check out British Comedy Guide tomorrow to see our new weekly interview column, Random 8. Our first chat is with stand-up comedian and goalkeeper Lloyd Griffith, who is currently in Russia watching the World Cup.

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