Weekly Newsletter

Monday 13th July 2020

Another new week has dawned, and as ever, we've been busy collecting up lots of news we think you'd be interested in...

Latest comedy news

Michael McIntyre to host BBC game show The Wheel

Michael McIntyre to host BBC game show The Wheel

Michael McIntyre is to host a new "feel-good" Saturday night BBC One game show called The Wheel.

Virtual Edinburgh Fringe plans revealed

Virtual Edinburgh Fringe plans revealed

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has unveiled digital plans to replace the cancelled August festival.

Benny Hill's film debut restored

Benny Hill's film debut restored

Benny Hill's first feature film, Who Done It?, has been restored to HD and will be released on Blu-ray in August.

Kurupt FM wins at British Podcast Awards

Kurupt FM wins at British Podcast Awards

The Kurupt FM Podkast has won in the Best Comedy category at the British Podcast Awards. Other winners include Rule Of Three, The Rob Auton Daily Podcast and Shagged. Married. Annoyed..

Liza Tarbuck, Sue Perkins and Guz Khan for Comedy Game Night

Liza Tarbuck, Sue Perkins and Guz Khan for Comedy Game Night

Comedy Central has commissioned Comedy Game Night, a show with Liza Tarbuck as host and Sue Perkins and Guz Khan as team captains.

Nexflix to stream new Jack Whitehall stand-up special

Nexflix to stream new Jack Whitehall stand-up special

Netflix is to publish new stand-up special Jack Whitehall: I'm Only Joking on Tuesday 21st July.

Julia Sawalha axed from Chicken Run 2 as voice 'too old'

Julia Sawalha axed from Chicken Run 2 as voice 'too old'

Julia Sawalha has posted a statement on her Twitter account saying she has been told she will not be cast as Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel as her voice now sounds "too old".

Harry Hill developing caveman show

Harry Hill developing caveman show

Harry Hill has shared his plans for a wordless, internationally touring stage show, while slamming meddling television bosses.

#SaveLiveComedy campaign launched as 78% of venues fear closure

#SaveLiveComedy campaign launched as 78% of venues fear closure

The newly formed Live Comedy Association has launched a #SaveLiveComedy campaign after discovering that almost 78% of live comedy venues fear permanent closure within the next year.

Bill Bailey to publish new Remarkable Guide To Happiness

Bill Bailey to publish new Remarkable Guide To Happiness

Bill Bailey is to publish a second Remarkable Guide book this autumn. His guide to happiness follows on from 2016's guide to British birdlife.

BFI announces commissioned youth shows

BFI announces commissioned youth shows

The BFI has announced a range of commissioned television series from its Young Audiences Content Fund, including an adaptation of hit YouTube comedy Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, and new Aardman sitcom Lloyd Of The Flies.

BBC Two to broadcast Harry Hill's World Of TV

BBC Two to broadcast Harry Hill's World Of TV

BBC Two is to broadcast Harry Hill's World Of TV, a series in which the TV Burp star presents amusing archive TV clips from different genres.

Comedy drama to star autistic lead actor

Comedy drama to star autistic lead actor

The makers of Fleabag are piloting Dinosaur, a comedy drama for the BBC with an autistic lead actor.

Gary Delaney to publish joke book

Gary Delaney to publish joke book

Gary Delaney is to publish Pundamentalist this October, a book featuring many of his gags and one-liners.

Features

Bilal Zafar talks about his Twitch success

Bilal Zafar talks about his Twitch success

His career had lost momentum and his mood was dark. Then lockdown struck, and Bilal Zafar found himself with the unlikeliest change of direction: managing a surreal virtual soccer team on an old video game. Now he's getting loads of viewers and even selling replica shirts. Which is a far cry from the not-fun TV work he was offered before.

Terry-Thomas: The Ibiza years

Comedy Chronicles - Terry-Thomas: The Ibiza years

Thirty years since his death, Terry-Thomas remains the most English of screen stars. From 1968, however, the comedy icon lost his heart to a Spanish island in the middle of the Mediterranean...

First Gig, Worst Gig: Bethany Black

First Gig, Worst Gig: Bethany Black

Angry crowd management, an agoraphobic lockdown and the girlfriend with the rubbish tattoo: Bethany Black on her circuit uppers and downers.

David O'Doherty on recording an album in a storm during a pandemic

David O'Doherty on recording an album in a storm during a pandemic

The musical comic on how he handles not being John Oliver, sexual abuse on the stand-up circuit and his Antarctic sitcom.

British Comedy Quiz #109

British Comedy Quiz #109

Miranda, Benidorm, Ross Noble, Citizen Khan and The Young Ones are amongst this week's question topics.

BCG Pro

BCG Pro

For everything to do with writing, performing and producing comedy, head to our BCG Pro website. You've got to the end of the month to enter our sketch writing competition.

Podcasts

Podcasts

Richard Herring has launched another brand new podcast. His latest reviews the week's news, with the help of a 128 year-old ventriloquist's dummy. Yes, ventriloquism in podcast form. (A video version is also available.)

TV listings

Comedians: Home Alone

Comedians: Home Alone

Monday 10pm, BBC Two

In the final episode, Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne reveals how life in isolation is familiar territory for an actor, Tim Key provides food for thought from his kitchen and Rachel Parris and Marcus Brigstocke perform another lip sync battle.

QI

QI

Thursday 9pm, BBC Two

Sandi Toksvig asks questions on the theme of reflections this week, with Joe Lycett, Zoe Lyons, Liza Tarbuck and Alan Davies trying to come up with interesting answers - while avoiding the most obvious ones.

There She Goes

There She Goes

Thursday 9:30pm, BBC Two

Rosie is obsessed with Christmas despite the fact that it is only mid-February, forever wanting to watch festive films on repeat and even dragging Simon to buy a tree. In flashbacks to 2008, Emily and Simon are no longer talking, except to argue.

The Other One

The Other One

Friday 9pm, BBC One

Cat decides to take Cathy on their own 'sister honeymoon' to cheer her up. Fingers crosssed for another series: stay tuned to our website for any news.

Big Zuu's Big Eats

Big Zuu's Big Eats

Friday 10pm, Dave

In the last in the series, Big Zuu heads to Bath to cook for vegan Lou Sanders. There's a short Q&A with Lou in our guide to the show.

The Young Offenders

The Young Offenders

Sunday 10am, BBC Three

The entire third series of this sitcom will be available on iPlayer from Sunday. It starts off with Conor and Jock joining forces with Billy Murphy, who has masterminded an amateur heist of luxury televisions.

The comedy on the radio this week includes the start of a new series of the sitcom Relativity (Friday, 11:30am). For a complete list of TV and broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.

Shop

Liam Williams - Homes And Experiences

Liam Williams - Homes And Experiences

Pre-order. eBook, Hardback, Paperback

The first novel from comedian Liam Williams - already available as a full-cast audiobook.

Mark is going on the trip of a lifetime: a summer touring Europe in the pay of the travel company he works for. For his plus one, he turns to his idolised cousin, Paris. Everything Mark's not, Paris is a man of the world with a thirst for adventure - even his name is better than Mark's. But after a catastrophic argument, Mark finds himself setting off alone on his voyage, instead emailing an unresponsive Paris from the road.

Not In Front Of The Children - The Complete BBC Radio Series

Not In Front Of The Children - The Complete BBC Radio Series

Pre-order. Audio Download

Wendy Craig stars in the complete Series 1 and 2 of the popular 1960s sitcom, as heard on BBC radio, adapted from the hit television comedy of the same name.

With three young kids and a headstrong husband, frazzled housewife Jennifer Corner has her hands full. Everyday life can be chaotic and full of challenges - but no matter what crises the Corners encounter, Jen keeps the family together. In these 26 episodes, a shaky treehouse gets hubby Henry in trouble with the law, the couple's plans for a week free of the children go awry and Jen's money-making plans run into red tape - and worse...

For this release, the 26 episodes have been newly restored from the original reel-to-reel tapes.

The Constant Husband

The Constant Husband

Pre-order. DVD, Blu-ray

Rex Harrison gives a memorably smooth performance as an amnesiac boffin with a singularly dedicated attitude towards matrimony in this classic comedy by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. Co-starring Margaret Leighton, Kay Kendall and Cecil Parker, The Constant Husband is presented as a brand-new high definition transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited aspect ratio.

An Englishman wakes up in an unfamiliar hotel bedroom with amnesia. A specialist at the local hospital tells him it was brought on by some kind of upset and they both set out to unearth the patient's past. What they find is shocking - not just to themselves but also to the man's seven wives!

Click through to our Guide for a trailer.

Chris & Rosie Ramsey - Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed.

Chris & Rosie Ramsey - Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed.

Pre-order. Hardback, Audiobook, eBook

Fresh from their audience choice win at the British Podcast Awards, Chris and Rosie Ramsey's new book based on the hit format is available to pre-order, ahead of publication in September.

One minute you're spending four hours getting glammed up for a Saturday night out on the tiles, dating like it is a competitive sport and doing the walk of shame and then you meet someone, possibly even The One. Life becomes filled with candlelit dinners, flowers, lazy Sundays spent in bed, matching underwear, meeting each other's parents, a fuzzy feeling in your tummy and making plans for a long and happy future. Before you know it though, the honeymoon period has worn off and your conversations no longer revolve around care-free, spur of the moment weekends away and cosying up to watch a Netflix box set in bed. Instead you talk about the right way to load the dishwasher, mortgage rates, paint charts and whose turn it is to take the bins out. The beefs about your other half come thick and fast and you wonder if your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest of your life, is it all downhill from there?

Whether you're sh**ged, married, annoyed, or, all of the above, the Ramseys "write hilariously and with honesty" about the universal highs and lows of life, dating, relationships, arguments, parenting and everything in between.

Revolting People - The Complete Series 1-4

Revolting People - The Complete Series 1-4

Pre-order. Audio Download

All four series of the historical sitcom set just before and during the American Revolution.

Baltimore, 1770, and shopkeeper Samuel Oliphant has much to worry about. Storm clouds are gathering, business is bad and to make matters worse, he's been forced to play host to two British soldiers. Hapless officer Captain Brimshaw is decent enough, but his fellow redcoat - the one-eyed, one-eared, one-armed and one-legged Sergeant McGurk - is a shameless rascal obsessed with money and sex. Adding to Samuel's troubles are his family - his wife, Elizabeth, has become a lesbian, his son, Joshua, is a dimwitted giant, his eldest daughter, Cora, is in love with the pro-British Ezekiel Spriggs and her sister, Mary, is an ardent revolutionary...

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy videos

Zoom love

When you can't stop checking yourself out on Zoom

Here's the winner of our BCG Pro Video Contest for July. Written by and starring Charlie Dinkin and directed by Benjamin Sutton, this sketch taps into a very modern phenomenon!

Peter Peter's Positivity Programme - Episode One

Peter Peter's Positivity Programme

This 10-part series stars Tim Treloar as a bitter geography teacher on sick leave. You can watch all the episodes on our website now.

How To Deal With Your Post-Lockdown Body

How To Deal With Your Post-Lockdown Body

Have you gained a bit of a weight during lockdown? Here's a rap explaining what to do.

Seeds of Love

Seeds of Love

Love grows in unexpected places, as this sketch shows.

Housebound - Episode Fourteen

Housebound

After 14 episodes, this star-packed online sitcom comes to an end. Jason Watkins is amongst the actors popping up in the finale. He plays a budding author who is pitching his first novel to a publisher.

Every single annoying lockdown advert...

Every single annoying lockdown advert...

Kate Smurthwaite recreates those kinds of lockdown adverts you have definitely already seen on TV.

Dragony Aunts - Jack Rooke

Dragony Aunts - Jack Rooke

Comedy Central's comic chat show continues. Candy & Crystal are joined by comedian Jack Rooke, who's struggling with coming out to his grandma.

Pigeon Boy

Pigeon Boy

Two idiots raised a pigeon during lockdown. They've made a comedy music video in the style of disgraced rap-rave group Die Antwoord.

Vibe It Out

Vibe It Out

Jazz Emu says: "I can teach you how to ejector-seat from any uncomfortable situation."

Alan Partridge Podcast trailer

Alan Partridge Podcast trailer

A video trailer for the new podcast featuring Alan Partridge, coming out this September.

Spotlight

Sharon Horgan

Sharon Horgan

Happy birthday to writer, actor and producer Sharon Horgan, who turns 50 today. Born in London to an Irish mother and Kiwi father, the comedy star came to prominence in the mid-2000s with acclaimed BBC Three sitcom Pulling. However, that wasn't the start of her British comedy career, and it certainly wasn't the end. How well do you know the rest of her impressive body of work?

Thanks for reading

Chris Douch has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of "Italian food/restaurants":

I recently started collecting stickers of Italian food. I keep them in my panini album.

If you haven't already, please make sure you sign the #SaveLiveComedy open letter - it takes less than a minute.

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