Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 25th November 2019 |
It's official: Taskmaster is off to Channel 4. Full details on that, and more news, below.
Latest comedy news
BBC Radio reveals festive comedy highlights 2019
Austentatious, The Shuttleworths, The Museum Of Curiosity, Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!, Neil Gaiman's Chivalry, Puckoon and Jeeves Live are amongst the comedy shows on Radio 4 this festive season.
Election interviews for Scot Squad
Jack Doherty will interview Scotland's political leaders ahead of the General Election, in the guise of his Scot Squad character, police Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson.
Ben Stiller to re-make Channel 4's Home for USA
Home, the Channel 4 comedy by Rufus Jones about a Syrian refugee, is to be re-made for America's NBC by Ben Stiller.
The Young Offenders to return for Series 3
The Young Offenders is to return to BBC Three for a third series.
Matt Lucas and David Walliams consider TV reunion
David Walliams has revealed that he and Matt Lucas are considering working together on another TV series.
Taskmaster moves to Channel 4
Channel 4 is taking over the rights to broadcast Taskmaster. It has signed a six series deal to broadcast the hit comedy format, starting with Series 10 in late 2020.
Vicki Pepperdine and Morgana Robinson star in Radio 2 comedy
Vicki Pepperdine and Morgana Robinson have created a new sitcom for Radio 2 called Always June.
BBC One passes on Scarborough Series 2
Scarborough, the BBC One comedy series by Derren Litten, will not return for a second series.
Shopping With Keith Lemon Series 2 confirmed
ITV2 has confirmed that Shopping With Keith Lemon is to return for a second series in 2020. The channel will also show an hour-long special this Christmas with guests including Holly Willoughby.
Comedies shortlisted for Broadcast Awards 2020
Derry Girls, Fleabag, Inside No. 9, Mum, Stath Lets Flats, This Time With Alan Partridge, Taskmaster, Horrible Histories and There She Goes are nominated in the Broadcast Awards 2020.
Lenny Henry and Stephen Fry to guest star in Doctor Who
The BBC has confirmed that Lenny Henry and Stephen Fry will guest star in the new series of Doctor Who.
Comedies shortlisted for BBC Audio Awards 2020
Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off, Mark Steel's In Town, Phil Ellis Is Trying, Phil Wang: Wangsplaining and Suggs: Love Letters To London are amongst the nominees in the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2020.
Back To Life Series 2 confirmed
Back To Life, the dark BBC Three comedy starring Daisy Haggard as a woman who returns home after a lengthy spell in prison, is to return for six more episodes.
Advert
Professional idiot Spencer Jones heads to London's Soho Theatre with the Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show The Things We Leave Behind. The double BAFTA nominee is back with this absurd mash-up of comedy styles, mixing looped music, props, stand-up, turbo clowning and puppets for your eyes, ears and face. He's at Soho Theatre from 2nd to 14th December. Info & tickets
Features
Drawn of the Dead: Sam Gilbey on Capturing the Cornetto-verse
Illustrator Sam Gilbey made such cool Cornetto and Spaced posters, he wound up doing concept art for Pegg and Frost. We grabbed a chat with him at MCM Comic-Con.
Win Dad's Army - The Lost Episodes on Blu-ray
We have three copies of Dad's Army - The Lost Episodes on Blu-ray to give-away.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Cassie Atkinson
She will soon play a big part in Weirdos Save Christmas - but why did a previous panto lead to post-prosthetic stress?
Andy Smart interview
Comedy Store Player and global comedy traveller Andy Smart is back volunteering for Crisis again this Christmas. We met the former Vicious Boy to talk hitchhiking, homelessness, and his early death.
Leicester Comedy Festival looking for fans to be judges
Leicester Comedy Festival is looking for passionate comedy fans to join their 2020 awards panel. You can apply now.
British Comedy Quiz #77
We think this one might be particularly tough to get 10 out of 10 on. How well can you do?
Michael McIntyre interview
With the fifth series of Michael McIntyre's Big Show now on Saturday nights, here's an interview with the host in which he talks more about what we can expect over the next few weeks.
Random 8: Joanna Neary
Her new podcast features an impressive cast, but where do Matthew Broderick, Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney fit into Jo Neary's Random 8?
BCG Pro
Female Pilot Club is doing a great job of showcasing new sitcoms. Amongst the latest features on our BCG Pro site, we chat to the founders.
Podcasts
The latest story from The Worst Writer in the World continues; My Dad Wrote A Porno nears the end of its fifth series; and Vic Reeves chats to Richard Herring.
Advert
Sam Simmons is back at Soho Theatre for some late-night chaos this Christmas (4th - 21st December) with a 'loosey goosey work in progress'. We all know things are difficult. We are reminded everyday how awful everything is. You can't say this, you can't think that. What about the children? It's time to Funt! Info & tickets
TV listings
Dave Gorman: Terms And Conditions Apply
This week on his panel show, Dave Gorman is joined by Phil Wang, Rose Matafeo and Marcus Brigstocke.
Tourist Trap
With a huge storm due to hit the country, Wow! Wales's marketing team come up with the idea of sponsoring it.
Live At The Apollo
Darren Harriott hosts the stand-up show, introducing performances by Jessica Fostekew and Stephen Bailey.
Your Face Or Mine
Although Angel and Charlotte met on modern dating app Tinder, they made it official in a poem. Will facing past ex-girlfriends be the only form of ghosting?
Vic & Bob's Big Night Out
The return of the comedy series with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, featuring sketches, slapstick, songs and stunts, accompanied by a series of special guests. The Ghost Hunters are on the prowl in this one.
Upright
A new comedy drama from Tim Minchin. It follows a pair of strangers on a road trip across Australia. There're two episodes airing each week.
The Russell Howard Hour
He's adding another 44,000 tickets to his stand-up tour, so there's definitely no dimming Russell Howard's popularity. His TV show continues this Thursday.
Romesh Presents...
Another two comedy shorts. The first is a chat show pilot in which Rachel Parris, Cariad Lloyd and Graham Dickson improvise around the answers the guest (Joel Dommett) gives. London Hughes aims to find a boyfriend in the second.
Trust Morecambe & Wise
In the final episode of the series, Lenny Henry is joined by Gary Morecambe, Michele Dotrice, Ben Miller and Angela Rippon as he looks at how Morecambe & Wise joked about Love and Relationships.
Still Open All Hours
Gastric spends the night at Madge's house, but has he found the path to her best bedroom?
Have I Got News For You
Actress Helen McCrory is set to guest host the show this week, whilst blind comedian Chris McCausland - who made a great impact on Would I Lie To You? a few weeks back - is one of the guests.
Mock The Week
Milton Jones is back on the show after a bit of a break, whilst stand-up Chris Washington makes his debut. Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne and Kerry Godliman are also booked.
The Last Leg
Richard Ayoade is set to join the trio this week. With much of the country experiencing news fatigue, they could have their work cut out to keep the audience laughing.
The Graham Norton Show
David Mitchell is on the show this Friday to plug his latest book. Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea also appear, along with Jamie Oliver and Kesha.
Harry Hill's ClubNite
In the final show of the series that has done a great job of showcasing new comedy talent, guests include Rachel Parris, Lucy Pearman, Joe Jacobs and James Gill.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show
Emma Bunton hands over her phone to play Send To All, whilst two brothers visiting a relaxing spa are in for the shock of their lives.
The Jonathan Ross Show
This Is Going To Hurt author Adam Kay is on the sofa, as is stand-up Desiree Burch. Also Andy Murray, Luke Evans, and Stormzy.
Stanley Baxter's Best Bits... And More
A new biographical documentary profiling legendary comic entertainer Stanley Baxter.
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Harry Worth - The Comedy CollectionHighlights from much-loved comic Harry Worth's best-loved radio series, plus two profiles exploring the life and career of the influential comedian. A master of comic confusion, Harry Worth's genial, bumbling characterisations charmed the nation on radio and TV from the late 1950s until well into the 1980s. This collection includes all 13 episodes of his eponymous show, Harry Worth In Things Could Be Worse; the 1988 sitcom Thirty Minutes Worth; and eight of the surviving episodes from We're In Business, co-starring the wonderful Peter Jones. Running to a whopping 763 minutes and released on 19th December, this'll make a great Christmas gift for many - but unfortunately is only available in digital form. |
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Motherland - Series 2The second series of the hit show about navigating the trials and traumas of middle-class motherhood, looking at the competitive side and unromantic take on parenting - not the cute and acceptable public face of motherhood. A box set including Series 1 is also available to order. Series 3 has already been confirmed, and is expected to broadcast in Autumn 2020. |
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Double Income, No Kids Yet - The Complete Series 1-3David Tennant and Liz Carling star in this Radio 4 sitcom about a young couple, Daniel and Lucy, and their circle of friends. As the pressures of adulthood increase, as do the number of other-people's-babies in their own lives, it shines a spotlight on the lovers and how their own relationship is developing. |
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Dad's Army - The Lost EpisodesFrom the original scripts - including David Croft's camera directions - come three lost Dad's Army episodes, remade with a new cast. Despite becoming a huge hit very quickly, multiple episodes of Dad's Army were wiped by the BBC in the 1960s and 70s: literally taped over, at a time when the master video tape was very expensive. Almost all have now been recovered from one source or another, but of the 80 episodes originally produced, 3 remain lost, existing only as off-air recorded soundtracks, and scripts in BBC archives. All from Series 2, the episodes turned 50 this year, and - celebrating that landmark anniversary - Gold ordered these remakes of the three programmes, with astounding attention to detail, and a brilliant new ensemble cast. Released today, this is an absolute must-own for any Dad's Army fan. |
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Alice's WunderlandGood eventide, earbandits. You are invited on a journey of shelf discovery, as you take a trip to Wunderland - the Poundland of magical realms. It's a kingdom much like our own, yet also nothing like it in the slightest. There, you'll meet waifs and strays, wigshops and witches, murderous pensioners and the squirrels of this delightful land as they go about their bizarre business. Experience the delights of Wunderwoods Widderday, take a trip through time with Lady Bowie to Ye Olde Wunderlande, and tremble as the land is threatened by an Unclear War. Broadcast between 2011 and 2015, this sketch show was written by and stars acclaimed comic Alice Lowe, plus a cast including Simon Greenall and Marcia Warren. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Ladhood
The six episodes of this new sitcom series by Liam Williams is now on BBC iPlayer. Here's a preview clip.
Getting ID'd
This sketch by Ashley Storrie focuses on how getting age checked in shops has gone too far.
Emma - Trailer
The promo video for the new comedy film based on Jane Austen's character. It's in cinemas in February.
How Well Do You Know Your Partner?
A hen-do game of Mr and Mrs Game takes a dark turn...
TMI
A touching short film focused on a mother who reads her teenage son's text messages.
Coppers
Clueless English policemen, PCs Cooper & Tin give a camera team an insight into their daily schedule and demonstrate their first rule of policing - never fight crime on an empty stomach.
Nudinits
A 9 minute comedy that has been animated frame-by-frame. What makes it particularly notable is that everything you see has been knitted. Warning: the characters do very much get nude.
Count Binface Election Broadcast
Election candidate Count Binface answers questions about Brexit, the economy and Marmite.
The Room Next Door - Prince Andrew
A video showing how Prince Andrew didn't listen to the advice from his assistant when he give that interview to Newsnight about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Rosie Tries To Help - The Environment With Harriet Kemsley
Harriet Kemsley joins Rosie Jones on a mission to save the environment by joining a river clean up. Unfortunately, it's a little more complicated than she imagined.
Tim Vine - Boxcoper
Tim Vine is releasing a video every week for a year. In this one he and John Archer fly a model helicopter.
Jenny Bede: Balls
A music video that "appreciates men"... it objectifies their, er, balls.
Content
James Acaster guest stars in the second episode of this online sitcom about a marketing team.
Spotlight
Just Good Friends
Famously created after writer John Sullivan (Citizen Smith, Only Fools And Horses) was hurt by an accusation that he couldn't write well for women, Just Good Friends marked its 36th anniversary earlier this year. One of the biggest TV programmes of the 1980s, millions tuned in for the weekly instalments in the on/off relationship of lovebirds Vince and Penny - played to much popular acclaim by Paul Nicholas and Jan Francis. 21 million viewers tuned in for the final ever episode, and the sitcom remains a much-loved favourite to this day. Find out more about the programme and order the complete DVD box set through our website.
Thanks for reading
If you're interested in Christmas TV, keep an eye on our website as all channels will be announcing their festive highlights soon.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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