Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 2nd December 2019 |
Read on for our guide to the comedy on TV this Christmas, our new column, and more.
Latest comedy news
Lost Voice Guy named Ents24 Hardest Working Comedian
Lee Ridley, also known as Lost Voice Guy, has been named the Hardest Working Comedian of 2019 by ticket listings company Ents24.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show wins Rose d'Or Award
Michael McIntyre's Big Show has won an international Rose d'Or Award. Meanwhile, Ricky Gervais picked up the award for Performance Of The Year.
Jeremy Hardy tribute book to be published
A new book titled Jeremy Hardy Speaks Volumes is to be released to pay tribute to stand-up comedian Jeremy Hardy, who died in February.
People Just Do Nothing head to Japan for new film
Filming is under way on People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan, a new movie starring the characters from the hit BBC sitcom. It'll be in cinemas in August 2020.
Python release new country version of I'm So Worried
Monty Python have released a new country and western single version of their 1980 album track I'm So Worried.
Jonathan Miller dies aged 85
Writer, doctor, director and Beyond The Fringe star Jonathan Miller has died at the age of 85.
Dave commissions new food show with Big Zuu and stand-ups
Dave has ordered a new food-based comedy entertainment show, in which grime artist Big Zuu will cook for ten different stand-up comedians.
Casting announced for Upstart Crow stage show
Gemma Whelan, Helen Monks, Rob Rouse, Steve Speirs and Mark Heap will join David Mitchell in the new stage version of Upstart Crow, which opens in the West End in February.
BBC Scotland reveals new sitcom pilots
BBC One Scotland has announced three sitcom pilots: The Scotts, Group and The Daly Grind. It's also been confirmed that Scot Squad will return for a sixth series.
Advert
Join Scope for an incredible comedy night with Ben Elton, the godfather of modern stand-up and writer of TV hits Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line and Upstart Crow. Ben Elton will be your host and headlining act for this exciting night of comedy at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on the 21 December. He will be joined by an amazing line-up of comedians, including Jo Coffey, Kae Kurd, Chris McCausland, Shazia Mirza and Tim Renkow! Get your tickets today
Features
Christmas TV comedy highlights 2019
A guide to the comedy specials that will be shown over Christmas this year. Highlights include the return of Gavin & Stacey and a new adaptation of Worzel Gummidge.
Comedy Chronicles
Our latest brand new feature column comes from critically acclaimed author, comedy historian and biographer Graham McCann. In the past he's written authorised biographies for sitcoms such as Fawlty Towers, Open All Hours and Yes Minister.
Looking at lesser-known stories from comedy history and the truth behind some comics' self-aggrandising claims, the first installment of Comedy Chronicles sees Graham delving into the fascinating world of Charlie Drake, a huge star on TV, record and film throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Lost Episodes producer interview
In this interview, we get some very enlightening insights from the originator of Dad's Army - The Lost Episodes, executive producer Tom Webber.
Sam Simmons interview
Back to cheer the bewildered Brits at London's Soho Theatre, Sam Simmons talks toilet-training, election-night gigging and a feline superpower.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Mark Simmons
He loves asking comics about great gags that didn't work, but what were Mark Simmons's own favourite failures?
Robin Ince interview
We were wondering where in the West End to meet Robin Ince for a chat about his books (out and forthcoming), progress hinderers, problematic material, and this year's two-city Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People. What better setting than tea at the British Museum, right next to some totem poles?
Vikki Stone interview
An interview with Vikki Stone, as she prepares to bring her show Song Bird to the Lyric Hammersmith tonight.
British Comedy Quiz #78
The Thick Of It, Danger Mouse, Pink Panther, Gavin & Stacey and The Army Game are topics amongst this week's quiz questions. How many can you get right?
Random 8: Lucy Hopkins
Parisian strolls, punk sculptors and the Pink Panther: Lucy Hopkins takes our eight-enquiry exam.
BCG Pro
Subscribers to BCG Pro, our set of tools and services for writers and performers, can access exclusive articles. For example, The Secret Reviewer column in which a critic talks annonymously about review-related subjects that are normally taboo.
Podcasts
Grayson Perry is on Richard Herring's latest podcast. There's also a new RHLSTP episode with Max & Ivan to download. Other shows in our podcast area include Sitcom Geeks.
TV listings
Dave Gorman: Terms And Conditions Apply
Dave Gorman is joined by Suzi Ruffell, Rufus Hound and Katherine Ryan for this latest episode of his panel show format.
Tourist Trap
In the last episode of the series, the agency decides to hold an awards ceremony and manages to book TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad to host.
Live At The Apollo
Ardal O'Hanlon plays host in this edition of the comedy showcase. The show also features sets by Mawaan Rizwan and Sara Barron.
Your Face Or Mine
Shaun and Marcellina met how many modern day romances start - through Instagram DMs! The couple became inseparable when their first date turned into 6 days, but will the round 'Face Your Demons' put distance between the pair?
Scot Squad
In a special episode of Scotland's spoof police-based show, the character Chief Commissioner Miekelson talks to real Scottish politicians - including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - ahead of the election. This one is not to be missed!
Vic & Bob's Big Night Out
This week we witness a welcome return for Novelty Island, a special rendition of That's Magic, as well as an appearance from Michael Portillo as you have never seen him before.
Blockbusters
The first TV Christmas special of the year. I'm A Celebrity stars Scarlett Moffatt and Jordan Banjo take on James Acaster in this revival of the classic TV quiz show.
Upright
Another two episodes of Tim Minchin's new comedy drama. Meg is distraught when she loses all of her's and Lucky's money.
The Russell Howard Hour
With the election ever closer, topical shows like this have to be quite careful what they say about politics so as not to break strict impartiality laws. Friday's atrocity on London Bridge is likely to feature heavily instead.
Romesh Presents...
Two more shorts introduced by Romesh Ranganathan. First, Ellie Taylor presents her guide to parenting, then Nigel Ng tries to prove to his sister that Britain is great.
Have I Got News For You
Guest host Stephen Mangan is set to be joined by Ian, Paul and panellists Roisin Conaty and the actor Brian Cox.
Mock The Week
This time it's Rosie Jones who is making her debut on the show. Tom Allen, Ed Gamble, Kerry Godliman and Rhys James are set to appear again too.
The Last Leg
In an extended episode airing a week before the election, the regulars are joined by Stacey Dooley, Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix to scrutinise the last-ditch attempts by parties to get voters on board.
The State Of It
This week, the inventive Scottish sketch show looks at the issue of identity. Pity Party dig into their DNA, with unsettling results, while Leyla Josephine takes aim at modern day beauty regimes.
The Graham Norton Show
Michael Palin will appear this week, to discuss his latest travel book North Korea Journal. Also Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jodie Whittaker, and Harry Styles.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show
Michael is joined at the London Palladium by Camila Cabello and Harry Redknapp, and Westlife are surprised for an extra special installment of Midnight Gameshow.
The Jonathan Ross Show
Top band The Who will chatting and performing in the studio ahead of their first new album in 13 years. The guest list also includes Jeremy Clarkson and Samson Kayo.
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
Shop
 |
Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten RomansThe debut feature film spinning off from the hugely successful CBBC sketch show, from the TV series' original producers, is now available to own on Blu-ray and DVD. Packed with brilliant British comedy stars and featuring a witty script, it's a great watch and suitable for all the family. A perfect Christmas buy. Atti is a Roman teenager with brains but very little brawn. When one of his schemes falls foul of Emperor Nero, Atti is forced to join the army and is sent to miserable, cold, wet Britannia where the natives are revolting - quite literally, under Iceni Queen Boudicca. Things go from bad to worse when Atti is captured by Orla, a feisty teenage Celt, but he uses his Roman smarts to save her grandmother when she is taken captive by another tribe. Meanwhile a furious Nero has ordered more troops to crush Boudicca's rebellion, and Atti manages to rejoin his fellow Romans just as they come face-to-face with the Celts - and Orla - at the Battle of Watling Street. |
|
Miranda Hart's Joke Shop - The Complete BBC Radio Comedy SeriesThe complete BBC Radio 2 sitcom starring Miranda Hart, predating her more famous TV sitcom. Miranda is an unconventional woman. She's six feet tall, self-conscious and posh. And is frequently mistaken for a man. She's also invested her inheritance in a joke shop that she runs with her friend Stevie (Sarah Hadland), while trying to deal with her outrageously embarrassing mother. Though surrounded by chocolate willies, Miranda is determined to suss out what it takes to be a girly girl and to not look a complete idiot every time she meets the gorgeous Gary. |
|
The League Of GentlemenA rogues' gallery of the cream of British acting star in Basil Dearden's much-loved 1960 crime caper The League Of Gentlemen. Jack Hawkins gives a memorable performance as an embittered former army officer, alongside Roger Livesey, Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough and Bryan Forbes - who also wrote the BAFTA-nominated screenplay. The film is presented here as a brand-new high definition transfer from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio. After being 'retired' from the army, an ex-Colonel nurtures a bitter resentment at his country's ingratitude. Luckily for him he's not the only one and he assembles a small group of bankrupt or embittered ex-army officers in a bid to stage an ingenious bank robbery. |
 |
All Round To Mrs. Brown's - Series ThreeMrs Brown opens the doors to her house for a Saturday night entertainment show in which she and the family are joined by celebrity guests. In this hit third series of the comedy - aired in March and April this year - the Browns meet stars as varied as Johnny Vegas, Teri Hatcher, Jane McDonald, Rob Beckett and Jake Wood. There're also games aplenty, cooking, and another set of Mammy of the Week awards. |
|
The Love BanA rumbustious sex comedy from Ralph Thomas and Betty Box, The Love Ban (aka It's A 2'6" Above The Ground World) stars Hywel Bennett and Nanette Newman as an enthusiastically procreative couple with a family planning problem. Based on the hit stage play - and also featuring Nicky Henson and John Cleese - it is presented here as a brand-new high definition transfer from the original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio. Never previously available to own, it'll be released at the end of January. Pre-order your copy now. |
|
Doc Martin - Complete Series One To NineDescribed as "one of the funniest and most entertaining shows on television", this box set brings together every series to date of the much loved stories of Doc Martin. Starting with the arrival of Doctor Martin Ellingham, a respected surgeon from London, in the small fishing village of Portwenn in Cornwall, this fish out of water soon discovers that small village life can present some very big problems. The ninth series, which aired on ITV earlier in the Autumn, is also available separately - and we have three copies to give away. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
North East Comedy Hot House sketches
Three sketches by The North East Comedy Hot House: We're Gannin' Oot Oot, Too Proud to Split the Bill and If Boobs Were Like Balls.
Jack Whitehall: Christmas With My Father - Trailer
Jack Whitehall gives us a glimpse into what Christmas with his Father is really like in this trailer for their new Christmas special for Netflix.
Bad Cramps
Danni Jackson and Georgie Fuller have been making sketches for Comedy Central for a while now. However, this new series sees them in sitcom mode - watch as they fail in various jobs.
The Solution
The Solution is an action-comedy short film that follows the adventures of Rick Ivers, a down on his luck private detective from London who is investigating the Chinese Mafia... while also trying to deal with an annoyingly persistent 12-year-old girl genius who wants to become a detective.
Maybe - a song by Dominic Frisby
There are 2 sides to everything... Dominic Frisby posits some perhaps controversial views - including that Donald Trump is not that bad after all!
Spotlight
Marty Feldman
Long acclaimed as a brilliant writer - and at the end of the 1960s, discovered as a fantastic comedy performer - today marks 37 years since the sudden death of comedy star Marty Feldman. Having developed Graves' ophthalmopathy, causing his eyes to bulge and protrude, Feldman's unique appearance was initially a cause of consternation amongst TV executives, but audiences were wowed by his comic skill alone, and he soon became a star in Hollywood as well as on British television.
A prolific writer for both radio and TV, his latter success across in front of the camera was brought to an abrupt halt in 1982 when he suffered a fatal heart attack in his Mexico hotel room, whilst filming Graham Chapman and Peter Cook's barmy, all-star pirate comedy Yellowbeard.
Thanks for reading
Brrrr. Bit chilly here. As December ploughs ever onward, see the new and recent comedy products for stocking-filler ideas; and don't miss out on our new Comedy Chronicles column, funded by donations.
Until next time, keep warm and keep safe!
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
BCG on social media:
Join our mailing list