Weekly Newsletter |
Tuesday 26th May 2020 |
Wasn't the weekend hot? We hope you managed to enjoy a bit of the sunshine - at a safe distance, of course. Here's the last week's hot comedy news.
Latest comedy news
Alan Partridge named Britain's best comedy character
The TV show Britain's Greatest Comedy Character put Alan Partridge at the top of its results list. You can see a list of the full run-down in our story.
Birds Of A Feather lockdown special mooted
A special lockdown episode of sitcom Birds Of A Feather has been mooted, amidst high ratings for a repeat run of the most recent series on ITV.
BBC One announces 2 new Jack Whitehall shows
BBC One has commissioned two new comedies from Jack Whitehall. One is a series celebrating the UK's sporting history and triumphs, whilst a lockdown Father's Day special will see him visit his dad.
David Tennant and Michael Sheen star in lockdown comedy Staged
BBC One is making Staged, a lockdown comedy series starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
Sky confirms In The Long Run Series 3
A third series of In The Long Run, the sitcom created by Idris Elba, has been filmed. It'll be shown on Sky One from 22nd July.
BBC Three to broadcast Phoebe Walsh's Behind The Filter pilot
BBC Three is to publish Behind The Filter, a sitcom pilot about an online influencer's bleak off-screen life. Phoebe Walsh stars as the central character Ruby.
Pls Like to return for Series 3
Pls Like, the mockumentary series spoofing YouTube influencers, is to return for a third series.
John Cleese writes a book about creativity
John Cleese is to release a book he's written about how to be creative.
Best Comedy Podcast 2020 nominees revealed
Brian & Roger, Dear Joan And Jericha, Josh Berry's Fake News, Kurupt FM, Mind Canyon and Off Menu are nominated in the British Podcast Awards.
Simon Farnaby developing golf film The Phantom Of The Open
The Phantom Of The Open, a film about the world's worst golfer from Ghosts star Simon Farnaby, is edging closer to production, with Craig Roberts now attached as director.
Features
Random 8: Yuriko Kotani
Dragon Ball, bedbugs and a bullet train: Yuriko Kotani takes the could-be-anything question test.
The First Team interviews
The writers and stars of BBC Two's new football-based comedy The First Team discuss making the show.
Win a deluxe Monty Python HD bundle
Win all four series of Monty Python's Flying Circus in a bundle prize of deluxe Blu-ray box sets.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Chris Chopping
Straight outta Newport but now knocking out videos indoors, Chris Chopping takes us back for some nervy Drones-and-wine action.
British Comedy Quiz #102
Rob Brydon, Victoria Wood, Arthur Dent, Mr Khan and Rhod Gilbert are amongst this week's quiz subjects.
BCG Pro
The BBC's Galton & Simpson Bursary closes in less than a fortnight - it's a chance to send the BBC your script. We've got an article on that, and much more besides, in BCG Pro.
Podcasts
Aisling Bea is an entertaining guest on Richard Herring's podcast. She confirms that she's working on a second series of This Way Up. Also new: Sitcom Geeks, Worst Writer and more.
TV listings
Rob And Romesh Vs
A second episode in which cricket newbies Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan follow England's Test series as the match comes to a dramatic finale.
Code 404
To Carver's bewilderment, Major reveals that he is going to move back in with Kelly. Parfit discovers disturbing information in the AI Ethics files.
QI
The panel show is back, and has now reached the letter R. The series begins with a rather 'Rude' episode. John Barrowman, Phill Jupitus and Aisling Bea are the guests.
The First Team
A new comedy following three young players at a fictional Premier League football team, written by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, the creators of The Inbetweeners.
Brassic
Suffering from insomnia, Vinnie decides to have a chilled night in at the local pub, but things take a sinister turn when a stranger breaks in.
Billy And Us
Episode 3 of this documentary series featuring some very frank chat from Billy Connolly as he looks back at his youthful sex education, or lack of it.
Joe Lycett's Got Your Back
Alison Hammond joins Joe Lycett to discover that online review site Trustpilot might not be as trustworthy as it may seem, and to take on a paintballing company's dubious practices.
Have I Got News For You
Martin Clunes is scheduled to guest host the satirical current affairs quiz this week, whilst the panellists will include comedian Fin Taylor, making his first appearance on the show.
The Last Leg
Stephen Merchant is set to join the boys this Friday, along with more silliness from Alex Horne and The Horne Section.
Big Zuu's Big Eats
Guz Khan joins Big Zuu in Royal Leamington Spa to eat some food. Head to our episode guide to read a short interview with Guz.
The Graham Norton Show
It's going to be a busy one this Friday for Graham: Lady Gaga,Captain America star Chris Evans, Downton's Michelle Dockery, Josh Gad, Michaela Coel and Niall Horan are all set to chat.
Reasons To Be Cheerful With Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas and Harry Hill's entertainment-clip-series concludes with this sixth episode.
The Ranganation
Aisling Bea and Jason Manford are set to join Romesh Ranganathan to discuss the hot topics of the week.
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule. On Radio 4, Ankle Tag is back for a third series (Thursday, 6:30pm).
Shop
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Married - Series 1-3Cantankerous bachelor Robin Lightfoot (Hugh Bonneville) is happily single - until one morning he awakes to discover he's married with two children. And he has two half-brothers... both called Ian. Is it a nightmare, a practical joke or something more sinister? Robin gradually realises that he's in an alternate universe: the Lib Dems are in power, the Dimbleby brothers are sports commentators and alcohol is a class-A drug. He discovers that Arthur Smith is a children's entertainer, Stephen Fry is a royal biographer, and Kirsty Wark is a homeless waif who sets fire to telephone boxes. But just as he's adjusting to the situation and warming to his new family, his life is up-ended once more when he learns of the existence of his evil doppelganger, who is wreaking havoc in both universes... |
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Adam Kay - Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank YouCurated and edited by Adam Kay, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller This Is Going To Hurt, Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank You features 100 pieces by a stellar list of household names, sharing their personal stories of the NHS, from the heartfelt to the hilarious. All profits from the book will go to NHS Charities Together to fund vital research and projects, and The Lullaby Trust, which supports parents bereaved of babies and young children. Click through to see a full - and mind-boggling - list of all the contributors to this new book. |
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The CardA gentle, Oscar-nominated comedy featuring a charming performance from Alec Guinness, The Card co-stars Valerie Hobson, Glynis Johns and Petula Clark. Directed by Ronald Neame, it is featured here as a brand-new high definition transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. A precocious child who has grown into a cheeky charmer, ambitious Denry Machin relishes the challenge of surmounting social and other barriers with his amiably affectionate personality. He soon becomes the youngest ever mayor of his home town, but he soon meets his match when it comes to women! Alongside the brand new HD transfer/restoration, you'll find an image gallery and the original theatrical trailer in this release. |
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Katy Wix - DelicacyFrom award-winning comedian and writer Katy Wix comes Delicacy - a different kind of memoir from an astonishing new voice. Eleven snapshots of a life - some staccato, raw and shocking, some expansive, meditative, and profound, underpinned with moments of startling humour that shatter the darkness - all beginning with a single memory. A memory of cake. The sickly royal icing marked the moment Katy found her voice. The madeira cake was the sun her group therapy sessions orbited. The 'missing cake' from a lost holiday has never let go. The Bara brith eaten in hospital after a life-altering car crash was as tough as the metal that hit her. The supermarket rock cake was where she 'practised wanting'. "Shocking, raw, darkly funny and deeply humane", Katy Wix's exploration of trauma, grief, addiction, love, loss, memory and hope is promised to be "truly unforgettable". |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Does this happen on your Zoom calls to?
The Lampoons ask: "Does this happen to you guys on Zoom too?"
The Urge
A song from Jazz Emu (Archie Henderson) about the urge to suck a cup on to your face until it gets stuck.
Housebound
This web series keeps getting even more starry. Sheila Hancock, Steve Edge and Rosie Cavaliero join the cast for this eighth episode. A Zoom quiz turns nasty, a woman join the army of housebound helpers making PPE, and more.
Jeremy Lion's Education Song
Justin Edwards has revived his drunken kids entertainer character Jeremy Lion to create this song to help you cram facts into your child's head.
NeighbourHOOD
A new web series in which The Cockfields star Ben Rufus Green plays a man who takes being a neighbour very seriously.
At Home With Botty
Web series in which a 'computer' aims to teach viewers new skills. All is not quite as it seems though.
Kurupt FM watch an episode live
Grindah, Beats, Chabuddy G and Steves watched an episode of People Just Do Nothing back, with commentary. You can see the video here.
Comedians Solve World Problems
With women all over the world earning less than men, Ivo Graham and Suzi Ruffell have some extreme ideas to close that gender pay gap in this Comedy Central video.
How To Make The Perfect Mac & Cheese
A celebrity chef teaches you how to cook at home using nothing more than his fully equipped mega-kitchen and professionally honed skills.
W1A - Initial Lockdown Meeting
W1A has returned, as a lockdown special. Observe as the BBC management team try to decide what to put on television...
Day We Changed The World
A new online sitcom documenting the lives of two rising stars of the Bristol bass music scene.
Michael Barrymore sings with Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas invited Michael Barrymore to sing Thank You Baked Potato with him.
Introducing: S Cargo
Meet S Cargo, two up-and-coming DJs...
Last Of The Summer Wine theme tune with lyrics
Tom Little's own version of the theme tune to Last Of The Summer Wine.
Spotlight
Keep Fit
Today marks 116 years since the birth of beloved entertainer and cinema superstar George Formby, so it seems apt to look at Keep Fit, the first of his 20 films to be restored to HD and released on Blu-ray, a little earlier this year. It's a good old weedy-boy-loves-girl-but-she-loves-sporty-type story, but gets a fun twist with a newspaper-backed fitness drive; an outing on the Thames; some criminal duplicity; and a heated boxing match that captures national press coverage. And not forgetting a few of George's comic songs, and some wonderful physical comedy performances. All together now: "Oooh, motherrr!"
Thanks for reading
Sammy Hannah has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of "DIY":
My dad enjoyed two things - making people laugh and DIY. He always brought the house down.
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