Weekly Newsletter

Monday 14th October 2019

Let's jump straight in to another batch of news, features, videos and more...

Latest comedy news

Actor Stephen Moore dies aged 81

Stephen Moore dies aged 81

Actor Stephen Moore has died, at the age of 81. Famed for voicing Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, his other credits include Harry Enfield And Chums and Clockwise.

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan host Royal Variety Performance 2019

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan host Royal Variety Performance 2019

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan are to host The Royal Variety Performance 2019.

Casting revealed for Comedy Playhouse pilot Bumps

Casting revealed for Comedy Playhouse pilot Bumps

Amanda Redman and Lisa McGrillis will star in Bumps, the new Comedy Playhouse pilot by Lucy Montgomery and Rhys Thomas.

Advert

Peer Into The Past

Award-winning former BBC comedy producer Adam Bromley has created a new sketch show, with Julius Howe and Kris Dyer, available as a podcast. Peer into the Past is an anarchic comedy series where students from the future learn about our twisted history through the time telescope.

Find out more and subscribe via the website: www.peerintothepast.co.uk

Features

First Gig, Worst Gig: Tania Edwards

First Gig, Worst Gig: Tania Edwards

As she gears up for the Laugh Till it Hurts fundraiser, Tania Edwards recalls one of comedy's most traumatic crisp packets.

Win tickets to see Groan Ups

Win tickets to see Groan Ups

Win tickets to see Groan Ups, the brand-new comedy play for anyone who ever went to school.

Pants On Fire interviews

Pants On Fire interviews

The six contestants in E4's new comedy format Pants On Fire talk about taking part in the challenge show that encourages fibbing.

Mel B talks about joining Celebrity Juice

Mel B talks about joining Celebrity Juice

Mel B talks about being the new team captain on Celebrity Juice.

Casual Violence: The final interview

Casual Violence: The final interview

Sketch group Casual Violence performed their final live show on Saturday, celebrating their tenth anniversary together. We sent our most hostile interviewer to speak with the group.

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton interview

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton interview

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton talk politics, improv and more as the new series of Have I Got News For You gets underway.

British Comedy Quiz #71

British Comedy Quiz #71

Can you get 10 out of 10 in our latest quiz?

BCG Pro

BCG Pro

Got an idea for a topical Christmas cracker joke? The annual competition is now open - find out how to enter in BCG Pro.

Podcasts

Podcasts

The latest episodes from the podcasts we feature can be found on our site at any time. Head back into our archive for thousands more hours of laughs too.

Advert

Kai Samra

Award-winning stand-up comedian Kai Samra is back at Soho Theatre to dissect life as a young, working class, Britain Asian in the 21st century - including the story of how and why he ended up interviewing Tommy Robinson for Vice. Kai Samra: Underclass, 21st to 26th October. Info & Tickets

TV listings

Plebs

Plebs

Monday 10pm, ITV2

There's a heatwave in Rome and Marcus has invested in an exciting new gimmick for the bar - ice. Grumio develops an innovation of his own in the form of a hat-parasol hybrid.

Motherland

Motherland

Monday 10pm, BBC Two

Julia reluctantly agrees to help Amanda launch her new shop. But a careless online post threatens to destroy her good work.

Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy

Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy

Tuesday - Thursday 9pm, Gold

Gold will air this new documentary series across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lenny Henry looks at how British comedy has reflected multiculturalism across the decades. There are episodes focusing on sitcom, stand-up and sketch.

Defending The Guilty

Defending The Guilty

Tuesday 10pm, BBC Two

Episode 5 of the legal comedy. This time the chambers is putting the pupils through their paces in a professionally acted mock trial.

Zomboat!

Zomboat!

Tuesday 10pm, ITV2

Episode 2 of the show that follows four characters trying to escape zombies by canal. This time, Kat and Jo want Amar and Sunny off the boat.

Your Face Or Mine

Your Face Or Mine

Wednesday 8pm, Comedy Central

Lea and Wade, a couple dubbed the Posh and Becks of Brighton, judge a variety faces for the chance to win money. Wade's mum still favours Wade's ex!

Doc Martin

Doc Martin

Wednesday 9pm, ITV

Buddy is missing. Meanwhile, Ken's arrival does not bring good news for Al and Bert, and Penhale is unhappy with the arrival of his predecessor.

Taskmaster

Taskmaster

Wednesday 9pm, Dave

Alex Horne lures all five competitors to a remote wasteland for a challenge involving eggs and medical equipment. Meanwhile, David Baddiel spray-paints his face.

Comedy Legends

Comedy Legends

Wednesday 9pm, Sky Arts

Series 2 of the documentary series in which Barry Cryer looks at some of comedy's biggest names. The opening episode focuses on The Marx Brothers.

Russell Howard & Mum

Russell Howard & Mum

Wednesday 10pm, Comedy Central

Forget Gangnan Style, Russell and Ninette are in South Korea and are doing it Oppan Howard style. They are in Seoul and getting fully involved in the music phenomenon of K-pop.

In The Long Run

In The Long Run

Wednesday 10pm, Sky One

Series 2 of the comedy based on Idris Elba's childhood begins. Walter has been elected union representative at the factory and is thrown into the deep end.

Don't Hate The Playaz

Don't Hate The Playaz

Wednesday 10pm, ITV2

Maya Jama, Romeo, MC Harvey and London Hughes go up against Lady Leshurr, Suzi Ruffell and Aitch on this week's programme.

Comedians Giving Lectures

Comedians Giving Lectures

Wednesday 10pm, Dave

Sara Pascoe is joined by Lee Ridley (Lost Voice Guy), Chris Ramsey and Desiree Burch for another three comic lectures.

Blockbusters

Blockbusters

Thursday 8pm, Comedy Central

An interesting line-up for this week's game show: identical twins Evie and Mia take on 17 year-old Jason, who did his further maths A-levels a year early.

Pants On Fire

Pants On Fire

Thursday 9pm, E4

This time it's the turn of Joel Dommett and Natasia Demetriou are to work out if the challenges the contestants claim to have completed were achieved or not.

There's Something About Movies

There's Something About Movies

Thursday 9pm, Sky One

Alan Carr, Michael Sheen and Jennifer Saunders are joined by Hollywood star Brendan Fraser, plus comedians Guz Khan and Kerry Godliman.

Celebrity Juice

Celebrity Juice

Thursday 10pm, ITV2

Queen singer Adam Lambert, actor and comedian John Thomson, chart star Louise and actor Will Mellor join Keith Lemon, Holly Willoughby and Mel B for the cheeky game show.

Frayed

Frayed

Thursday 10pm, Sky One

Sammy pitches her partnership deal to Chris during a business trip. But then an incident in a casino puts her in an awkward situation.

Still Open All Hours

Still Open All Hours

Friday 8pm, BBC One

Series 6 of the hit, family-friendly sitcom. Arkwright's protege finds an old mangle in the yard, while Beth continues to pressure Leroy to find a date for her best friend.

Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

Friday 9pm, BBC One

Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the satirical quiz, with Ross Noble and Rachel Johnson (the Prime Minister's sister) joining Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.

Would I Lie To You?

Would I Lie To You?

Friday 9:30pm, BBC One

The long-awaited Series 13 begins. Rob Brydon, David Mitchell and Lee Mack are joined by Gabby Logan, Chris McCausland, Angela Scanlon and John Simm in this brand new episode.

QI

QI

Friday 10pm, BBC Two

Susan Calman, Joe Lycett and Holly Walsh join in an episode about Quests. If you're a regular watcher, you'll know this is actually part two of the topic, following on from last week's episode.

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

Friday 10:35pm, BBC One

Terminator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton talk about their new movie. There's also Debbie Harry, Nadiya Hussain and DJ Spoony.

The Jonathan Ross Show

The Jonathan Ross Show

Saturday 10pm, ITV

Jack Whitehall appears on the show this week - he's got a few things to plug. Also Iggy Pop, Aaron Paul, Maya Jama and Sam Fender.

Rob Beckett's Savage Socials

Rob Beckett's Savage Socials

Sunday 10pm, E4

Click through to our site to read a quick interview with Rob Beckett. Find out which of the social media platforms he thinks is a 'sewer'.

Tom Allen Absolutely Live

Tom Allen Absolutely Live

Sunday 10pm, Channel 4

Tom Allen performs for a sell-out crowd at the London Palladium in this hour-long TV premiere of his stand-up show.

For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

Shop

Meet Me Tonight

Meet Me Tonight

Out now. DVD

A wealth of British talent enlivens this Noël Coward omnibus of three slices of life told with his trademark blend of incisive wit and affectionate observation.

From music hall mayhem to suburban suffering and a romp on the Riviera, each playlet features a top-notch cast whose exuberant performances bring the everyday situations to life. In the first of the playlets, Ted Ray and Kay Walsh are a washed up musical hall act who have had one rinse too many! In the second, Stanley Holloway is a hen-pecked husband who has the last laugh on his loathsome family. In part three, based in the South of France, Nigel Patrick and Valerie Hobson star as a couple who are hoping that Jack Warner is the answer to their gambling problems!

The Goodies

The Goodies

Out now. Audiobook

The original comedy legends are back, exclusive to Audible. The Goodies, aka Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie, are one of comedy's most influential and treasured groups. After 50 years, they've reunited for this brand new audio adventure. Expect their trademark surreal humour, and some very, very special guests...

The House In Nightmare Park

The House In Nightmare Park

Pre-order. Blu-ray

Comedy legend Frankie Howerd stars as the victim of sinister shenanigans in this spoof of British horror films of the early '70s, from scriptwriting legends Clive Exton (Jeeves & Wooster) and Terry Nation (Doctor Who). Starring Hugh Burden and Oscar winner Ray Milland, The House In Nightmare Park is featured here in a brand-new transfer from original film elements.

Foster Twelvetrees, a struggling tragedian who scrapes a living by giving hammy performances from the classics, can hardly believe his luck when he's invited to give a dramatic reading at the country home of a well-off family. Joy soon turns to outraged horror when he discovers dead bodies, foul intentions, lots of snakes and a madwoman in the attic. Can he uncover the hidden family secret before he comes to a sticky end...?

Everyone Quite Likes Justin - The Complete Series 1-2

Everyone Quite Likes Justin - The Complete Series 1-2

Pre-order. Audio Download

In one version of his life, Justin is a well-known local Manchester radio DJ who is successful, funny, and stopped in the street by adoring fans. He's the man who has everything. In another version he's a DJ in a slightly shabby local radio station who gets hassled by the occasional oddball on the street. And he's the man who hopes for everything. The truth lies somewhere in between. And at home? Well, naturally, his private life is chaotic. His wife has left him, taking custody of his 8-year-old son Justin jnr, and is in the process of taking him to the cleaners. So he's back on the market. As is his house - so he's currently living in his father-in-law's spare room in Bury. The only person who understands him is his Gran, living in luxury in an old folk's home in Warrington. Oh, and his producer Bryn but this might not be a good thing.

Sick Note - Series One

Sick Note - Series One

Pre-order. DVD

First series of the Sky comedy starring Rupert Grint (Harry Potter), Nick Frost (Fighting With My Family) and Don Johnson (Django Unchained).

Just when he thinks his life couldn't get worse, Daniel, a compulsive liar stuck in a failing relationship and a dead-end job, is diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. Things start to look up, however, when everyone starts to treat him better after his diagnosis, and he finds his zeal for life renewed. Unfortunately, he's got the most incompetent oncologist in the world - Dr Iain Glennis (Frost) - and finds out his cancer was misdiagnosed. Now he's faced with the moral dilemma of coming clean and embracing the awkwardness of the situation, or continuing the lie...

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon. You might also like to read our Shop Newsletter, which was sent on Friday.

Comedy videos

Bible Time

Bible Time

This sketch about the Bible, from TomSka, is labelled as 'the greatest story ever retold'.

Life Lessons - How To Truly Say You're Sorry with Sam Campbell

Life Lessons - How To Truly Say You're Sorry with Sam Campbell

Sam Campbell tries to make amends with his estranged British relatives in the latest episode of BBC Three's Life Lessons sketch series.

Greed - Footage from the Greed headline gala

Greed headline gala

Here's some footage from the gala launch for Greed, the new movie starring Steve Coogan as a retail billionaire. It's not in cinemas till February.

Sting Theory

Sting Theory

An animated melancholy-comic tale by Katy Wix about a day in the life of Sting. See how he spends his time in the dwindling years of fame and fortune.

Dawn of a New Gay by Jack Rooke

Dawn of a New Gay by Jack Rooke

Jack Rooke goes back to uni to tell a tale of sexual enlightenment in the pre-Brexit, London-Olympic bliss of 2012. This short story was adapted for Channel 4's Random Acts strand from his acclaimed live show.

Rosie Tries To Help - The Elderly with Ed Gamble

Rosie Tries To Help

The first of the new Comedy Central web series starring Rosie Jones. In this episode she heads to a retirement home with Ed Gamble to try to help the residents feel less lonely.

Spotlight

The Fosters

The Fosters

With Lenny Henry presenting a three-part look at racial diversity in TV comedy on Gold this week (details above), it seems apt to look back to his own first sitcom role. Running for 2 series in 1976 and 77, The Fosters was adapted from original scripts of a US sitcom, and followed a black family living on the breadline in a South London tower block. The brilliant cast also included future Desmond's legends Norman Beaton as Lenny's character's father, and Carmen Munroe as neighbour Vilma. Made by LWT, the complete collection is available on DVD.

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