Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 11th November 2019 |
We've lots of things for you to win this week: check out the features section below.
Latest comedy news
Bec Hill films virtual reality version of her live show
Bec Hill has used cutting edge technology to film a virtual reality version of her latest live show. It is available to stream online now.
Third series for Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
BBC Two has ordered a third series of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, the comedy chat-and-travelogue format with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.
British comedies nominated for 2019 Rose d'Or Awards
Famalam, This Time With Alan Partridge, After Life, Derry Girls, Plebs, Sex Education, The Bisexual, Michael McIntyre's Big Show and The Last Leg are amongst the 2019 Rose d'Or Awards nominees.
Taskmaster to move channels?
Industry reports are suggesting UKTV has not yet managed to secure the rights to broadcast further series of Taskmaster, with Channel 4 and BBC One both keen to take over for Series 10.
Evaldas Karosas wins Beat The Frog 2019
Evaldas Karosas has won the 16th annual Beat The Frog World Series competition at Manchester's Frog And Bucket Comedy Club.
Advert
Join the Boulevard every other Friday for the return of the legendary comedy club, which helped launch the careers of Eddie Izzard, French & Saunders and Rik Mayall to name but a few! The Late Night Scene is a gleefully unruly after-hours comedy night showcasing the boldest and funniest comics. Hosted by the award-winning Kiri Pritchard-McLean (Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Russell Howard's Good News) and featuring first-rate comics such as Rhys James, Ivo Graham and Rachel Fairburn. Tickets from just £12. Alternate Fridays 22 Nov - 20 Dec. Info & Tickets
Features
Joe Wilkinson interview
Joe Wilkinson talks about The Cockfields, the Gold sitcom he has co-written and stars in. Plus his Two Episodes Of Mash days, and his Countdown friendships.
Children In Need 2019 presenter interviews
Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc and Tom Allen talk about preparing to co-host the BBC Children In Need broadcast on Friday.
Win Flying Circus Series 1
Win a fully restored Blu-ray copy of Monty Python's Flying Circus Series 1, now 50 years old.
Win a Worzel Gummidge DVD box set
Win a complete 6-DVD box set of Jon Pertwee's iconic Worzel Gummidge series.
Pictures of comedians as kids
Take a look at this set of brilliant pictures of comedians when they were little.
Win a Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing DVD box set
We've got copies of the Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing Series 1 and 2 DVD box set to give away.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Fatiha El-Ghorri
She's currently on the Super Muslim Comedy Tour, but what are Fatiha El-Ghorri's tips for good gigging?
Arthur Smith on The Joy of Not Going
An extract from Arthur Smith's book, in which he talks about the joy of cancelling social engagements and staying in.
Advert
Fresh from his award-winning run at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and sell-out runs at both Brisbane and Sydney Festival, Blake Freeman brings his debut hour to the UK. See him at London's Soho Theatre from 11th to 16th November. Info & Tickets
Features
How British comedy mocked (non-)Brexit day
Matt Hilborn looks back on 31st October 2019, a momentous day that saw several comedies celebrate - or commiserate? - another postponed Brexit deadline.
Rogue Pun: Peggcellent Adventures at MCM Comic-Con
Simon Pegg caused much cosplay action at the London bash.
British Comedy Quiz #75
What is the name of the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth? There's 10 questions to answer here.
Up Pompeii! audio play recording
A photo gallery of the cast recording the new Up Pompeii! audio play, marking the original sitcom's 50th anniversary.
Random 8: Michael Legge
Jim Davidson, Harrison Ford, Vic Reeves, Morrissey and God: they all get a cameo as Michael Legge takes our test.
Blake Freeman's Fresh Approach
The Aussie newcomer's Soho run should be a breath of fresh air.
BCG Pro
We've got an interview with the writers behind Mischief Theatre's hit shows on our website for writers, performers and producers.
Podcasts
The Worst Writer in the World continues its Doctor Who story. Idiot characters Hayley & Ruth review The Apprentice. Caroline Quentin is on RHLSTP with Richard Herring.
Advert
Greg Davies and Seann Walsh have joined the already very strong line-up for The National Autistic Society's Matt and Co Comedy Show, Monday 18 November at London's Union Chapel. Other stars include Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Ivo Graham and Zoe Lyons. Info & Tickets
TV listings
Plebs
Jason's brother Darius is getting married and Marcus desperately wants to hire out the Crown and Toga for the occasion, while Grumio offers his services as wedding planner.
Motherland
The final episode of this series (a third has been ordered) sees the gang taking part in school sports day.
Dave Gorman: Terms And Conditions Apply
Dave Gorman is joined by Jimmy Carr, Cariad Lloyd and Phill Jupitus for the latest episode of his panel show.
Tourist Trap
Elaine samples the very latest Welsh fusion cuisine at a pop-up dining experience.
Live At The Apollo
Sindhu Vee hosts this episode, introducing Alex Edelman and Lou Sanders.
The Cockfields
A new sitcom about an oddball family living on the Isle of Wight, reuniting Two Episodes Of Mash performers Joe Wilkinson and Diane Morgan. There's three episodes across this week.
Zomboat!
In the final episode of the series, the gang are taken to the local evacuation centre, but Kat doesn't trust the government.
Your Face Or Mine
There's a big difference between this week's couple: 6'1" Alex slid into 4'10" Amber's DMs four years ago. Amber is described to have had "more exes than hot dinners".
Doc Martin
Wedding bells are ringing in Portwenn with the preparations for Morwenna and Al's wedding. But some last minute hitches threaten to jeopardise their big day.
Russell Howard & Mum
In the series finale, the Howards are in Japan to celebrate Ninette's 60th Birthday.
In The Long Run
Agnes is introduced by a colleague to a Jamaican woman at work, whilst Leon is a welcome addition to the De La Croix family unit.
Pants On Fire
Joel Dommett and Mollie King join Emma Willis to judge whether claims such as one of the teams camping off the side of a cliff hundreds of feet in the air are true.
There's Something About Movies
Alan Carr hosts as Tim Roth, Rose Matafeo and Rob Beckett join regulars Michael Sheen, Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen on the comedy panel show.
Celebrity Juice
McFly, Joey Essex and Megan McKenna join Mel B and guest team captain Amanda Holden for this week's episode.
The Russell Howard Hour
The formula for this show is pretty locked down now, so although it's not been filmed yet we all know we can expect more topical comedy, an interview, and the host taking a trip somewhere with a comedian friend.
Trust Morecambe & Wise
Lenny Henry is joined by guests Michael Grade, John Thomson, Gary Morecambe and Angela Rippon to reveal how Morecambe and Wise's material can tell us all we need to know about work and money.
The Last Leg
Adam, Josh and Alex look back at the week's news with special guests Joe Lycett and Daisy May Cooper.
I'll Get This
It's Children In Need this Friday, so all of the normal BBC comedy shows are having a week off. However, to tie in with the charity, there's is a special of the dinner-based panel/chat/game show though, featuring the stars of Dragons' Den.
Harry Hill's ClubNite
In this episode of the alternative comedy showcase, the host introduces Holly Burn, Huge Davies, Jessica Fostekew, Eddie Kadi and Paul F Taylor.
The Jonathan Ross Show
John Bishop is set to join Jonathan Ross this weekend, to talk about his UK tour. Stormzy is also on the guest list, and will perform in the studio.
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
Advert
Silly songs on silly formats: Rich Keeble & his band have just released "Bellend Tattoo" on floppy disk, plus another song "Let's Turn Down The Heat (on the thermostat)" on clear 7 inch, as well as re-releasing their last album on cassette. "Bellend Tattoo" has a new silly music video. Check it all out at richkeeble.com
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Fleabag - The ScripturesGo deeper into the groundbreaking, Emmy-nominated series with this must-have collection of the complete Fleabag scripts, plus original commentary from award-winning creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. |
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The Duke Wore JeansBritish pop icon Tommy Steele stars in a wonderfully exuberant musical comedy as a Cockney who wins the heart of a princess when he poses as an aristocrat. Featuring songs written by Lionel Bart, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) star Mike Pratt and Steele himself, The Duke Wore Jeans's soundtrack album scored a number one hit in 1958. The film is presented here as a high definition transfer from the original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio. When the son of an impoverished aristocrat is manoeuvred into a potential arranged marriage under guise of selling access to their famous prize bull, he finds salvation in a chance meeting with a chirpy Cockney lad who happens to be his exact likeness... |
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Beauty Of Britain - The Complete Series 1-3The complete Series 1-3 of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom featuring Beauty Oolonga's adventures as a care worker, starring Jocelyn Jee Esien. Beauty Of Britain breaks the embarrassed silence about what happens to us when we get old and start to lose our faculties. It shows the process in all its chaotic tragi-comedy but it does so from the point of view of a migrant worker, Beauty, whose Zimbabwean Shona background has taught her to respect age. Beauty sees Britain at its best, its worst and also sometimes without its clothes on running the wrong way down the M6... |
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Blinded By The LightFrom writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) comes the inspirational comedy drama Blinded By The Light, set to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's timeless songs. It tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British teen of Pakistani descent, growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of 'the Boss, ' Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in Springsteen's powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice. |
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GuiltGuilt is a dark comedy drama that follows disparate brothers Max (Mark Bonnar) and Jake (Jamie Sives) who, while driving home one night, accidentally run over and kill an old man on a darkened street. After making the panicked decision to cover their tracks, the brothers seem to get away with their crime. However, as neighbours and relatives of the dead man begin to suspect his death wasn't as innocent as it initially seemed, the brothers find their lives rapidly falling apart, as their actions begin to catch up with them. Their increasingly desperate attempts to conceal their guilt lead them further into a world where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and they discover they can trust no-one, ultimately including each other. |
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Not The 9 O'Clock News... - Not All The Albums AgainCelebrating 40 years since the ground-breaking comedy series arrived on BBC TV, this box set presents all three original spin-off albums. Not The 9 O'Clock News... appears on CD for the first time in the CD version of the box set, plus Hedgehog Sandwich. And there's the double-sided The Memory Kinda Lingers, lovingly remastered from the original tapes. The first two albums made the UK Top 10 chart on their original release. Let the famous signature tune take you back to the heady days of 1979... |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Girl Talks Out of Sync
A girl tries to ask a guy out but the guy has a hard time following what she's saying.
Meet the world's first 'phallic earthers'
Meet Tim Montgomery, leader of the Phallic Earthers movement...
Cringey moments could hospitalise you
A sketch communicating an important message: Don't catch cringe... check before you post.
First Impressions
A sketch from The Noise Next Door. Sometimes, in order to impress a girl, all you really need is a friend to fake a celebrity party...
How to Self Tape for Auditions
A comprehensive step by step guide from 'level seven' actor Marek Larwood on how to almost guarantee you get an audition from a self tape or an outright offer of part. This is a great sketch.
Whippersnap
Richard Gadd starts in this short. It shows the footage that survives from the sole screening of Whippersnap. It was meant to be the world's first full interactive feature film, but things didn't go to plan.
Ed & Joz's Heist Movie
The latest short film starring Joz Norris and Ed Aczel. In this very silly and enjoyable story, they play two idiots planning the crime of the century.
ALL restaurant menus these days
Are you allergic or actually just fussy?
KonMari for Millennials
Some fun tips to help you KonMari all of your stuff when you inevitably have to move again in a few months' time.
Don't Tape Over
A comedy-mystery-horror sketch show pilot from Seldom Differ. There's some really great scenes in this - it's worth your time.
Plebs Series 5 bloopers
Have a watch of some of the bits that were cut out of Series 5 of the Roman sitcom.
Spotlight
At Last The 1948 Show
One of a flurry of groundbreaking sketch shows of the late 1960s and leading directly to both The Goodies and Monty Python's Flying Circus, this late-night Rediffusion comedy has recently been released on DVD by the BFI, with a meticulous reconstruction treatment, such as is befitting for its importance. Still wonderfully funny, all 13 episodes are included: most complete, having once been thought long-lost but recovered from various archive sources, and some with segments of video missing, but included as full audio recordings with photographic stills and scripts to assist in the visualisation. Starring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Marty Feldman (with The Lovely Aimi MacDonald), it's the origin of the celebrated Four Yorkshiremen sketch, and the new DVD release also includes a fascinating booklet of information, plus an array of extra features. See our Guide for more information, plus a 15-minute interview with Cleese about the show.
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