Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 6th July 2020 |
After the calm of the widely-predicted carnage of 'Super Saturday', life is slowly starting to return to something semi-resembling normality - and not before time! All our latest news and features are below; a perfect read whilst you wait for that long-overdue haircut.
Latest comedy news
Sandylands to return for Series 2
Sandylands, the sitcom set in a seaside resort, is to return to TV channel Gold for a second series.
Jack Dee is writing a new help book
Jack Dee is writing a book in which he answers questions from fans. It will be published in October 2021.
Acclaimed drama Guilt to return for Series 2
BBC Two and BBC Scotland's acclaimed blackly comic thriller Guilt has been recommissioned. Four new episodes are to be produced for broadcast in 2021.
Mel B quits Celebrity Juice
Mel B is standing down from Celebrity Juice. With Holly Willoughby also having departed, the next series of the ITV2 panel show, due on air in the autumn, will feature two new team captains.
Actor & writer Mike Walling dies at 69
Mike Walling has died. The actor and writer, a staple of many comedies, is best known for his co-starring role in BBC sitcom Brush Strokes.
ITV appoints new head of scripted comedy
ITV has announced Nana Hughes as its new head of scripted comedy.
Inside No. 9 scripts to be published
The scripts for the first three series of Inside No. 9 will be published this November, with Series 4 to 6 following in 2021.
People Just Do Nothing team developing crime comedy The Curse
The People Just Do Nothing team are making a 1980s-set crime-based comedy drama for Channel 4, with Tom Davis. The Curse is based on a true story of a gang involved in a robbery who get more than they bargained for once they have the loot.
Tom Allen to publish his autobiography
Tom Allen is to publish his memoir. No Shame, which is about growing up in 90s suburbia, will be published on 12th November.
Advert
The Drive-In Club is up-and-running in Brent Cross (North London). Comedy coming up across July includes performances from Jason Manford, Nish Kumar, Shappi Khorsandi, Reginald D Hunter, Luisa Omielan, Bill Bailey, Milton Jones, Rachel Parris and many more. Info & Tickets
Features
There She Goes interviews
There She Goes writers Shaun Pye and Sarah Crawford talk about returning for a second series of their comedy drama about their daughter, who was born with a chromosomal disorder. Stars David Tennant and Jessica Hynes also chat.
Jack Whitehall interview
Jack Whitehall talks about how his new six-part BBC One comedic celebration of sport has been made with a lot of love and attention.
Nathan Cassidy on performing the UK's first solo stand-up show after lockdown
The honour of performing the first solo show after lockdown looks set to belong to Nathan Cassidy. In this interview he talks about preparing for Roses From Joe.
The Kemps: All True - Interviews
Rhys Thomas talks about how he got Martin and Gary Kemp to star in his spoof documentary, which was on TV last night.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Ignacio Lopez
Power cuts, a Hasselhoff snub and a BBC lockdown pilot: Ignacio Lopez talks us through his standout shows.
Drive-in comedy gigs
Drive-in comedy clubs are springing up around the country, so here's our guide to the stand-up gigs you can see from the comfort of your car.
British Comedy Quiz #108
You'll need to have knowledge way across the comedy spectrum for this week's quiz!
Win a copy of Code 404 on DVD
We have copies of the DVD for Code 404, Sky's hit new comedy, to give away.
Random 8: Ari Eldjárn
Beatle-shaking, Nick Cave-listening and a Sigur Rós sibling: Ari Eldjárn gives our Eight an Icelandic twist.
BCG Pro
If you're interested in writing, performing or producing comedy, you'll find tools, opportunities, insight and more on our industry-based website.
Podcasts
Kiri Pritchard-McLean is on Richard Herring's podcast this week. Meanwhile Sitcom Geeks chats to Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto.
Advert
There's still plenty of time to join in the NextUp Comedy Festival. They're delivering a live show online every day at 8pm. Lots of great comedians are involved. Details & Passes
TV listings
Comedians: Home Alone
Pub landlord Al Murray is locked down and locked in, while Richard Herring challenges himself to a tense game of snooker and Jayde Adams moans about living underneath fitness guru Joe Wicks.
Al Murray is also on TV on Tuesday night at 11pm, as Comedy Central debuts his One Man, One Guvnor show.
QI
Sandi Toksvig quizzes the panel on a few revolutionary ideas, with Alan Davies, Gyles Brandreth, Susan Calman and Jessica Fostekew going round the houses trying to come up with a decent answer.
There She Goes
The start of the second series of the comedy drama about a family living with a severely learning disabled child. In this opening episode: Rosie starts to say the word 'mama'.
Jack Whitehall's Sporting Nation
Jack Whitehall celebrates the UK's greatest sporting moments in this new six-part series. First up: success on our home soil.
The Other One
It's the night before the wedding but Cathy can't enjoy her drink-up as she's obsessed by a scuff on the wall Marcus made, and the sisters run in to Cat's old school bully.
Big Zuu's Big Eats
Big Zuu takes his food van to Manchester where Ed Gamble is performing. Click through to our episode guide for a mini interview with Ed.
Series 2 of ReincarNathan starts on Radio 4 this week (Thursday, 6:30pm). For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Landscapes Of DetectoristsLandscapes Of Detectorists considers the acclaimed comedy's engagement with landscape, its ecological resonances, and its attention to place and identity. This brand new book offers four distinct geographical readings of Detectorists - Innes M. Keighren attends to the sensory, technological, and emotional interpretation of landscape; Isla Forsyth examines the relationship between objects, memory, and place; the significance of verticality, the aerial, and groundedness is discussed by Andrew Harris; and Joanne Norcup considers the contested interconnections of gender, expertise, and knowledge making. The collection is bookended by reflections on the creative processes and decisions that supported the journey of Detectorists from script to screen, and includes contributions from both Mackenzie Crook and producer Adam Tandy. |
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Britannia HospitalThe concluding instalment in Lindsay Anderson's Mick Travis trilogy, following If.... and O Lucky Man!, Britannia Hospital finds the filmmaker casting a viciously satirical eye over Thatcher's Britain. He trains his sights on royalty, trade unions, the media, the NHS and scientific research in typically uncompromising fashion. This is the film's Blu-ray world premiere release. Newly remastered in high definition and overflowing with new and archive extra features, the film charts the opening of a new private hospital wing, a Royal visit, various strikes, and a pioneering new machine ominously named Genesis... Stars include Malcolm McDowell, Graham Crowden, Leonard Rossiter, Robin Askwith and Fulton Mackay. |
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Agatha Raisin - Series ThreeAshley Jensen returns as the titular amateur detective based on the best-selling novels by M.C. Beaton. In these four new feature-length mysteries, glamorous PR-executive-turned-sleuth Agatha Raisin opens her own private detective agency in the picturesque Cotswolds. Armed with her trademark tenacity and fashion flair, along with help from her friend Roy (Mathew Horne) and paramour James (Jamie Glover), Agatha uncovers the killers lurking in her sleepy village. This latest series of the comedy drama sees Agatha drumming up business for her new detective agency by investigating a legendary haunted house; enrolling in dance lessons after disaster strikes an engagement party; and attempting to clear James's own name after a woman is beaten to death inside their home... |
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Bottoms Up!Based on the enormously popular television and radio sitcom Whack-O!, this uproarious comedy stars Jimmy Edwards in his signature role of a devious, cane-brandishing headmaster. Co-scripted by Michael Pertwee and Whack-O! writers Frank Muir and Denis Norden, Bottoms Up! is featured here as a brand-new high definition transfer. Chiselbury School, allegedly, is an academy 'for the sons of gentlefolk'. Far from being gentlemen, however, the boys are an undisciplined rabble... it is, in fact, a school like no other! But Chiselbury's head, Professor Jim Edwards, is about to put into action a novel scheme to raise the school's profile... |
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Mark Steel's In Town - Series 9 & 10In these two series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 show, comedian Mark Steel is on the road again, visiting places that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. Along the way, he delves into the history, heritage and culture of each town, before going on to write and perform a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. His first stop is Hastings, where he finds that a lot's happened since 1066 - including an annual Pirates' Day. |
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The First TeamThe new BBC comedy from the makers of The Inbetweeners. The First Team follows the off-the-pitch escapades of three young football players - Mattie, Benji and Jack - as they find themselves struggling with their mercurial Italian manager Cesare, the team's eccentric American Chairman, resident hard-man Petey Brooks and ineffectual coach Chris Booth. All whilst living in fear of Olivia, the club's press manager, who can make or break them - perhaps literally! |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
When you REALLY don't want to go back to the office
John really really doesn't want to go back to the office...
The pubs are open! 10 idiots to watch out for...
Going back to the pub? Watch out for these idiots!
Rock Paper Scissors
How to solve a dispute with your flatmate...
A tour around the house of Kevin Bridges
This clip from TV show Celebrity Snoop Dogs gives us a chance to look around the lovely home of Kevin Bridges.
Flit
This short film by University Of Edinburgh students won a prize in the RTS Student Television Awards. It focuses on a fly killer.
Dragony Aunts
The first episode from Series 2 of the Comedy Central format in which drag queens Crystal Rasmussen and Candy Warhol attempt to help solve people's problems.
Webidate - Natasha
The web series about a man going on a series of virtual dates returns. Luke tries to bond with his date, Natasha, but can't get a word in edgeways.
Covid HR: Covidginity
Mike is presented with a rather interesting job opportunity by the Head of HR at his company. Jason Manford guest stars in this.
Housebound - Episode Thirteen
Yet more sitcom stars have joined the cast list of this online show, including Outnumbered actors Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner, who are a couple of real-life nowadays.
Exorcise Those Demons
Inept Sunday School teachers Christie and Anthony (Christianity) show you how to get in shape for the summer by "Exorcising Those Demons!".
QI outtakes
Here's some unseen clips from the panel show, recorded before the episodes started to be filmed proper.
Spotlight
Going Straight
Now often overlooked in favour of its hugely acclaimed elder sibling, Porridge sequel Going Straight is still well worth being aware of. True, it lacks some of the spark of Porridge's prison environment, but it's wonderful to see beloved characters like Fletch and Godber in a different environment, delving more into their personalities. The original cast, including Barker and Beckinsale, reunited with writers Clement & La Frenais, and producer/director Sydney Lotterby, for these 6 episodes in 1978, as the former cellmates are both on the outside and attempting to live an honest life. The series is available to own on DVD.
Thanks for reading
Sean Fee has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of "television dramas":
I'm currently in a relationship with a make-up artist. It's built on a strong foundation.
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