Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 21st September 2020 |
Ghosts, one of the most popular comedies on TV last year, returns for a second series tonight. You can read an interview with the cast below.
Laughter Lounge
One week to go until our 7-day digital comedy festival kicks off. There'll be live comedy from Tom Allen, Geoff Norcott, Sarah Keyworth, Luisa Omielan, Jessica Fostekew, Janine Harouni, Marlon Davis, Lauren Pattison and David O'Doherty. Plus a whole series of panel sessions too, featuring Mark Watson, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Stuart Goldsmith and many more. You can buy tickets to individual shows, or opt for a festival pass which lets you watch everything, plus you get FREE BEER and a year's subscription to NextUp's comedy specials on top too. Find out more
Latest comedy news
Witless gets US remake
BBC sitcom Witless is getting an American remake. CBS Studios have optioned the rights to Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker's comedy.
Still Open All Hours to return
Contrary to tabloid reports, Still Open All Hours has not been cancelled by the BBC and is due to return to screens.
Sara Pascoe to write a book about murder
Sara Pascoe has revealed her next book will be about murder. Speaking on a podcast, she said "it's ruminating in my brain but I haven't started writing it yet".
Bradley Walsh to host Blankety Blank revival
Bradley Walsh is to host the pilot episode for a new version of comic game show Blankety Blank.
John Cleese to play Father Christmas
John Cleese is to play Santa in Father Christmas Is Back a new festive comedy film which also stars Nathalie Cox, Elizabeth Hurley and Kelsey Grammer.
Big Zuu's Big Eats to return to Dave
UKTV has ordered twelve more episodes of cooking format Big Zuu's Big Eats for Dave.
Features
Comedy Chronicles - Can't touch this: Comedy and cancel culture
With growing concerns over censorship, intolerance and cultural revisionism, Graham McCann looks at comedy's historical urge to break free in his latest Comedy Chronicles article.
Ghosts Series 2 cast interview
The ten key cast members of Ghosts talk about returning for Series 2 of the hit sitcom.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Geoff Norcott
He's back on tour and in our big Laughter Lounge line-up, but does Geoff Norcott owe it all to an Essex/Texas mix-up?
The Pin on their Special Relationship, Jurassic Park and making their West End debut
Comedy duo The Pin discuss their Audible sitcom, their West End ambitions and appearing in the new Jurassic Park film.
British Comedy Quiz #119
We think we might have accidentally written a really hard quiz this week. See how you get on?
Comics Solving Problems interview
Erich McElroy and Steve N Allen team up twice a week online to deal with the world's issues. We find out more in this interview.
BCG Pro
If you are interested in writing, performing and/or producing, head to our BCG Pro website. There's lots going on in Opportunities Hub.
Podcasts
Richard Herring's topical show involving ventriloquist puppets continues; Paul Sinha is on The Comedian's Comedian Podcast; and Sophie Duker is the guest on RHLSTP.
TV listings
Ghosts
A much-anticipated return to Button House. Alison and Mike are trying to find a semi-harmonious routine with the ghostly housemates, whilst working towards a new money-making venture to fund their perpetual renovations.
Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father
Series 4 of the travel-based series launches on Netflix tomorrow. This time the duo are checking out Australia.
Comedy Game Night
This week's edition of the silly party games contest features EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa, Radio 1 DJs Melvin Odoom and Rickie Haywood-Williams, comedians Josie Long and Rufus Hound, and Loose Women's Andrea McLean.
Two Weeks To Live
The comedy thriller continues. Unaware they're now being hunted by Brooks and Thompson on the orders of Jimmy's daughter, the mysterious Terri, Kim finally stands up to her mum.
A League Of Their Own
Former WBC Cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, Olympic Taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones, Alan Carr, and Jonathan Ross join the regulars.
The Russell Howard Hour
Kevin Bridges is due to appear on the show this week. If you head to Russell Howard's social media feeds you can find out how to get involved in asking the comedian some questions.
Frankie Boyle's New World Order
Sara Pascoe, Sophie Duker and Jamali Maddix are all set to return this week.
Funny Cow
A terrestrial premiere for this 2018 film in which Maxine Peake plays a comedian performing on the northern working mens' club circuit of the 1970s and 1980s.
Stand Up For Live Comedy
This new series recorded at outdoor venues around the country earlier this month starts on iPlayer on Friday with a gig in Bristol hosted by Jayde Adams. It'll be shown on BBC One from Monday.
Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club
Lloyd Griffith, Joanne McNally and Kemah Bob perform this weekend, while Tom Allen will be trying out some new material.
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
The final episode of this series sees Bob and Paul return to the river Wye, Bob's favourite river, to fish for chub. "...And away."
Harry Hill's World Of TV
Harry Hill looks at DIY programmes in the last episode in the series. 1963's Barry Bucknall's DIY, 60 Minute Make Over and Changing Rooms to Grand Designs all feature.
New on the radio this week: Hip-Hop's Laughing Stock (Monday, 4pm), Newsjack (Thursday, 10:30pm) and Believe It! (Friday, 11:30am). For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Radio Parade Of 1935Comedy legend Will Hay leads an all-star cast in this whimsical critique of the highbrow state of then-contemporary BBC radio programming. Co-starring Hollywood's Helen Chandler, light comedian Clifford Mollison and noted farceur Alfred Drayton, Radio Parade Of 1935 also features celebrated music hall acts Western Brothers and Clapham & Dwyer. It is presented here as a brand new high definition transfer from the original film elements and features two scenes in their original Dufaycolor. William Garland, Director General of the NBG, is in a quandary. Complaints about his radio station's programming are on the increase and he needs to stem the tide. |
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Ankle Tag - Series 1-3Career fraudster Bob has been away at Her Majesty's pleasure for the last 5 years, but he's just been released on licence with an ankle tag registered to his estranged son's address. Gruff isn't happy about it, but Bob is a charming man who manages to persuade other people in Gruff's life that his heart is in the right place. Elis James and Katy Wix play new parents Gruff and Alice, whose lives are disrupted when Bob moves in, and Steve Speirs plays Bob. |
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Jason Hazeley & Nico Tatarowicz - What Not To Say To Your HusbandThe perfect gift for anyone who is, miraculously, still in a relationship. Be prepared and know exactly what not to say when... ... he's about to spend £200 on a chef's knife What Not To Say To Your Husband is the joint-first book in a brand-new series by comedy-writing duo Jason Hazeley (co-author of the Ladybird Books For Grown-Ups series) and Nico Tatarowicz. What Not To Say To Your Wife is also available to order. |
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Ben Schott - Jeeves And The Leap Of FaithThe Drones clubs in peril. Gussie's in love. Spode's on the war-path. Oh, and His Majesty's Government needs a favour. I say - it's a good thing Bertie's back! One man - and his Gentleman's Personal Gentleman - valiantly set out to save the Drones, thwart Spode and nobly assist His Majesty's Government. From the mean streets of Mayfair to the scheming spires of Cambridge we encounter a joyous cast of characters: chiselling painters and criminal bookies, eccentric philosophers and dodgy clairvoyants, appalling poets and pocket dictators, vexatious aunts and their vicious hounds. |
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Alan Davies - Just Ignore HimThe story of a life built on sand. In the rain. In this memoir, comedian and actor Alan Davies recalls his boyhood with "vivid insight and devastating humour". Shifting between his 1970s upbringing and his life today, Davies moves poignantly from innocence to experience to the clarity of hindsight, always with a keen sense of the absurd. From sibling dynamics, to his voiceless, misunderstood progression through school, sexuality and humiliating 'accidents', Davies "inhabits his younger mind with spectacular accuracy", sharply evoking an era when Green Shield Stamps, Bob-a-Job week and Whizzer & Chips loomed large. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
What's In The Box?
Since lockdown started, comedian Friz Frizzle has been hosting this online panel show format. He's decided to stop as he's hit the 50 episode mark, but you can find and watch all previous episodes on our site.
Myra Dubois on Britain's Got Talent semi-final
Myra Dubois gets Amanda Holden on stage to sing. A duet for the ages, watch as the pair perform Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson's I Know Him So Well.
Pixie - Trailer
The trailer for the forthcoming film involving deadly gangster priests. Pixie wants to avenge her mother's death by masterminding a heist, but her plans go awry. Look out for Dylan Moran.
100 Reasons To Hate - Space
Ian Smith thinks it's time to put Space in its place! Ian's really angry with the infinite universe, NASA, Elon Musk, SpaceX - especially their launch and landing, Virgin Galactic, rockets in general and plenty more!
How people ask questions on Zoom
Ever done a webinar on Zoom? There'a always one who dominates the Q&A.
Environmentals
A short film following two wayward environmentalists who give up meat in an attempt to save the planet. It doesn't go well.
Schemers - Davie in hospital
An exclusive clip from Schemers, the forthcoming film about a young man who becomes a music promoter.
Spotlight
After The Fox
Recently remastered in HD by MGM and released on Blu-ray by the BFI, with a host of extra features including a fascinating booklet of information and insights, is this Peter Sellers comedy from 1966, co-starring his then-wife, Britt Ekland. The comic legend plays Italian master criminal Aldo 'The Fox' Vanucci, who is contracted to smooth the smuggling of a huge consignment of stolen gold bullion. He quickly realises that the guise of a feature film set will afford him exactly the leway, cooperation and cover that he needs to pull off the job. Part crime caper, part comic farce and part satire of the film industry, this new high definition sparkles and is available to own from today. The film attracted only a lukewarm reception upon its original release, but for our money was in many regards ahead of its time and stands up incredibly well today. A must-own for any self-respecting Sellers fan.
Thanks for reading
Vincent Lynch has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition, which was based around the keyword 'weather'.
When it's hot, suncream just isn't enough to stop me burning - as shown by my criminal record for arson.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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