Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 10th August 2020 |
As Channel 9 would report: scorchio! The Fast Show is actually one of our news topics today...
Latest comedy news
This Country stars writing new comedy series
Daisy May Cooper has revealed that she and her brother Charlie Cooper are writing a new period comedy.
Gold to broadcast second Fast Show special
Gold has ordered a second Fast Show reunion special before the first has even aired. Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases broadcasts on Saturday 29th August, with More Blooming Catchphrases following on Sunday 30th.
New Live At The Apollo highlights series
With no new series able to record due to covid-19 restrictions, BBC Two is to broadcast six episodes of themed highlights of Live At The Apollo.
Njambi McGrath to record Radio 4 stand-up series
Radio 4 has commissioned Njambi McGrath to perform a stand-up series based on her show Accidental Coconut.
Vic Reeves to publish his first art book in a decade
Vic Reeves is publishing an art book in October. He is also, with his son, making the documentary film A Brush With Comedy, and development continues on The Glove, the comic film he is making with Bob Mortimer.
BBC Three to pilot sitcom set in a pupil referral unit
BBC Three is to pilot PRU, a sitcom set in a unit for struggling school pupils. The episode will be made by a production company that trains young people who have been removed from mainstream education.
Mark Watson to publish 'disaster memoir' Eight Deaths
Mark Watson is to publish Eight Deaths (And Life After Them), an autobiography with a dark twist.
Watson has also written his first film.
Lenny Henry to publish new book Rising To The Surface
Lenny Henry is to publish a memoir about his entertainment career, and will present a revisionist history of classical music for the BBC.
Ashley Blaker lands new Radio 4 series
Comedian Ashley Blaker has been commissioned to make 6.5 Children, a stand-up series recorded at home about bringing up six children.
Advert
There are loads of problems in the world. The news is full of them. Our lives are full of them. Comedians Steve N Allen and Erich McElroy are here to (try to) help. Every Tuesday and Thursday 9pm BST. Watch on YouTube
Features
Comedy Chronicles: Strained Relationships: Hylda Baker & Jimmy Jewel
As the Strained Relationships series continues, Graham McCann recounts the tale of another warring sitcom duo: comedians Hylda Baker and Jimmy Jewel.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Philip Simon
Sometimes the first gig is almost the worst gig: Philip Simon talks us through his character-forming debut.
British Comedy Quiz #113
Do you recognise the man pictured here? If so, you have the first answer in this week's quiz sorted. The questions get harder though...
Random 8: Tony Law
From smoking mice poop to to an altercation near No. 10: Tony Law has all the answers.
Interested in learning comedy?
Interested in spending your summer either learning how to write comedy for the first time, or sharpening your existing skills? We're listing various courses on our BCG Pro site.
Podcasts
Idiot reviewers Hayley and Ruth have their first chat since lockdown started... um, is what is going on actually a theatre piece? Meanwhile Maisie Adam is on RHLSTP.
TV listings
QI
This series of QI has been shorter than others as they had to stop filming. Hopefully they'll be able to resume later in the year. Meanwhile, here's a compilation of some of the best bits from Series R to date.
Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years
This week on the documentary: a look at the challenging logistics involved in making the show, told by cast - and perhaps most importantly - the key crew who made it happen.
Mandy
Following on from the pilot (which you can find on iPlayer, if you missed it), here's a full series of Diane Morgan's comedy. It kicks off with a double-bill, and for our money is much funnier again.
In The Long Run
Valentine gets a DJ gig through Dawn's friend Andy that goes extremely well - until he realises it's a gay nightclub.
Semi-Detached
Financially stretched Stuart is late for a much-needed DJ-ing job, having lost the device with his playlists on. During his search, he stumbles upon an angry daughter, a poorly cat and a dead body.
Squeamish About... Relationships
Squeamish offers his unique take on relationships - exploring dating rituals, love and modern romance.
Tudur's TV Flashback
Tudur Owen started making this show before lockdown (it's in its third series), but it obviously works great in the current climate. This time Tudur's on a quest to discover the truth about politics and protest in Wales.
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Sean Lock and Daisy May Cooper take on special guest team captain Richard Ayoade and Ivo Graham in the classic words and numbers quiz. Adam Buxton is in Dictionary Corner, and Joe Wilkinson 'helps' Rachel Riley.
We Love... - Gavin & Stacey
This new 4-part retrospective series from Channel 5 kicks off on Saturday, looking at a different (BBC) sitcom each week. In the first episode it's modern classic Gavin & Stacey.
Paul Sinha's General Knowledge starts on Radio 4 this week (Wednesday, 6:30pm). For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio shows, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Edinburgh UnlockedAn exclusive comedy festival in audiobook format that showcases some of the most exciting comedians working today, including names such as Ivo Graham, Jessie Cave, Sofie Hagen, and Dane Baptiste through to emerging talent such as Glamrou, Mo Omar, and Shelf, as well as the winner of the 2019 Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Award, Jordan Brookes. |
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Boycie In BelgradeJoin John Challis on his journey to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, where he aims to uncover why Only Fools And Horses is so popular in the small Balkan nation. Apparently it's the most watched show in Serbia, but why? Boycie is received in Serbia as almost a national hero, causing a media frenzy everywhere he goes on his voyage to learn about the people and the country. From a Royal Palace, to a brandy distillery, to a university teaching Cockney rhyming slang; the documentary will keep you entertained as well as discover what it is that unites this tiny Balkan state with British humour. |
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Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder ClubThe first book in a "gripping" new series, The Thursday Murder Club, by TV presenter and producer Richard Osman. In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late? |
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Keep It Up DownstairsA classic Seventies "sex comedy", this bawdy British period romp lampoons classic television series Upstairs, Downstairs and sees a host of stars shedding their Edwardian costumes to save the family silver - including Diana Dors, superstar Mary Millington, Willie Rushton, Francoise Pascal, Aimi MacDonald and erstwhile Artful Dodger, Jack Wild. Keep It Up Downstairs is featured here as a brand-new high definition transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. 1904. Cockshute Towers, one of England's stateliest homes, is threatened with bankruptcy. Both masters and servants are enjoying dalliances of one kind or another amongst themselves - and none have any desire to give up their rewarding way of life! Can they work together to keep the stately pile solvent? |
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Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy - Series 1 & 2Along with animator/director Nigel Coan (Mighty Boosh, Bunny And The Bull), Fielding has created a joyful, charming explosion of a show in the tradition of Spike Milligan and Kenny Everett. A mash-up of sketch comedy and psychedelic sitcom featuring wild characters such as the Ghost of Flea, Dondylion and Fantasy Man (a modern day Tron Quixote trapped inside an electric opera). This new box set re-collects the two series back together again. A good chance to relive one of the most surreal comedies of modern times. |
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Masters Of LoveA "funny, moving look" at the complications of modern love, starring Edinburgh Festival Best Newcomer Ciaran Dowd. A group of friends are at different stages in their relationships and none of them are convinced about what they're doing: Emmy and Samantha are getting married, Josh and Jenifer are breaking up and Niall is sleeping around; but can any of them hold down a relationship? |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
The Drive-In Swimming Pool
This sketch by Jack Kelly is the winner of our BCG Pro Video Contest for August. Unsure about the re-opening of swimming pools? Tony Lifeguard has the solution.
Infatuation - Island Of Love
Missing Love Island? You'll enjoy this spoof web series, which was filmed out in Ibiza last year, but is now available to watch online.
The Flavour
A trippy musical video from Foxdog Studios. They say: "This is why everyone was scared of bins in the 90s."
Come Die With Me
A group of assassins and murderers get together to have dinner and make small talk in a reality show that we all wish existed. A sketch by The Noise Next Door.
Fringe cancelled - comedians will, er, save money?
The Edinburgh Fringe has been cancelled... think of the comedians, who're, er, not going to lose money for once.
Carpenter analyses his favourite wood in films
Veteran carpenter Archibald Boyd Boyd-Mnuchin casts his expert eyes on how wood has been used (and mis-used) in some of Hollywood's biggest films.
Get Duked! - Trailer
The trailer for this film, coming soon to Amazon Prime. Dean, Duncan, DJ Beatroot, and their newest friend Ian compete for the Duke of Edinburgh Award to turn their lives around. They soon realise though that it isn't just a simple trek through the woods...
Kit Loyd teaches how to eat soup
Kit Loyd was just nine years old when he became fascinated by the mysteries of the soup. Today he's known worldwide for inspiring others to consider how to eat soup correctly.
Spaghetti
"A silly little animated sketch" from comedy duo Birds.
Zoom Out
Feel like you're stuck in the never-ending saga of Zoom quizzing?
Spotlight
A Touch Of Cloth
Debuting back in 2012 was this inspired Sky 1 crime drama spoof from Charlie Brooker and regular co-writers including Dan Maier, Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris and Ben Caudell, starring the brilliant acting pairing of John Hannah and Suranne Jones as detectives on the trail of a serial killer. Packed with more gags than almost anything we can think of before or since - both in story, dialogue, and visually - it's an absolutely delicious slice of crafted television comedy. Sadly just three stories were produced, each comprising of two episodes, but the complete collection is available to own on DVD, or rewatch through Sky's on-demand service, or NOW TV.
Thanks for reading
Hollie Wilson has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of agony aunts:
Agony aunts are like every man working from home: they can't get enough of their own column.
Stay cool!
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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