Weekly Newsletter

Monday 19th October 2020

There're more than 10 new TV series starting this week. See a run-down of all of them in our TV listings section below.

Latest comedy news

David Threlfall to star in Film Club comedy series

David Threlfall to star in Film Club comedy series

David Threlfall is amongst the cast signed up for Film Club, a new comedy series observing a group of people meeting via Zoom to discuss movies.

Daliso Chaponda's Radio 4 show to return for Series 3

Daliso Chaponda's Radio 4 show to return for Series 3

Daliso Chaponda's Citizen Of Nowhere is to return for a third series on Radio 4, addressing the coronavirus crisis. The Malawian comic is also writing his first children's novel.

Jack Carroll to star in religious pilgrimage play

Jack Carroll to star in religious pilgrimage play

Jack Carroll is to make his theatrical debut in Cured, a play about a religious pilgrimage written by stand-up Laurence Clark.

Posters revealed for Vic & Bob's The Glove

Posters revealed for Vic & Bob's The Glove

The first posters have emerged for The Glove, the film written by and starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.

Man Like Mobeen wins at Broadcast Digital Awards 2020

Man Like Mobeen wins at Broadcast Digital Awards 2020

Man Like Mobeen, online sitcom Transaction and comedy drama Guilt have won at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2020.

The Pin to make West End stage debut

The Pin to make West End stage debut

Sketch duo The Pin are to make their West End debut this Christmas with their first play, The Comeback. They've filmed a great sketch to advertise it - see that in our story.

Ignacio Lopez to record stand-up special in Manchester

Ignacio Lopez to record stand-up special in Manchester

Ignacio Lopez is to record his stand-up special EspaƱYOLO in Manchester in November.

Rosie Jones to return to Radio 4 for more Box Ticker shows

Rosie Jones to return to Radio 4 for more Box Ticker shows

Radio 4 has ordered a second series of the stand-up show Rosie Jones: Box Ticker.

Comedy School founder Keith Palmer gets an MBE

Comedy School founder Keith Palmer gets an MBE

Keith Palmer, founder of The Comedy School, has been awarded with an MBE for services to entertainment and to charity.

Advert

Pamplemousse Lautrec

A pilot episode of The Intrepid Adventures Of Pamplemousse Lautrec, 1970s-style spoof about a bumbling secret agent's comical misadventures, is available to watch online now. Watch

Features

Dara O Briain and Hugh Dennis interview

Dara O Briain and Hugh Dennis interview

Dara O Briain and Hugh Dennis talk about preparing for the new series of Mock The Week, and reflect on 15 years of the hit panel show.

David Walliams - 'Who Do You Think You Are?' interview

David Walliams - 'Who Do You Think You Are?' interview

David Walliams talks about taking part in genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, which is on BBC One tonight at 9pm.

Jimmy Akingbola interview

Jimmy Akingbola interview

We chat to Sorry, I Didn't Know host Jimmy Akingbola about the frustrations involved in getting a series of the panel show commissioned, and how he hopes the format will be recommissioned after Black History Month.

Comedy Chronicles: Happy birthday, Eddie Braben

Comedy Chronicles: Happy birthday, Eddie Braben

In our latest Comedy Chronicles article, Graham McCann pays tribute to Eddie Braben, an exceptionally prolific and talented comedy writer best remembered for The Morecambe & Wise Show.

Win Victoria Wood's biography

Win Victoria Wood's biography

Win a copy of the brand new, fully authorised biography of Victoria Wood. We have 3 to give away.

Laurence Clark on writing his first play and seeking a miracle cure for cerebral palsy

Laurence Clark on writing his first play and seeking a miracle cure for cerebral palsy

Laurence Clark talks about writing his first play, and how Zoom is opening up new comedy performance opportunities for a wheelchair user like himself.

First Gig, Worst Gig: Eleanor Morton

First Gig, Worst Gig: Eleanor Morton

She's written for TV, radio and The Beano, but which UK and US comics inspired Eleanor Morton's career?

Greg Davies and Alex Horne - Taskmaster interview

Taskmaster interviews

Taskmaster got off to a strong start last week. Here's an interview with Greg Davies and Alex Horne, in which they discuss how the show has become a hit. We've also got interviews with the contestants.

British Comedy Quiz #123

British Comedy Quiz #123

This week: dinnerladies, My Family, Taskmaster, Milton Jones, and more.

Random 8: Maria Shehata

Random 8: Maria Shehata

She's not in New York, and not a doctor: Maria Shehata gets the eight-question examination.

BCG Pro

BCG Pro

If you're interested in comedy creation, you'll find an ever-growing library of exclusive features on our BCG Pro website.

Podcasts

Podcasts

Taskmaster is introducing Richard Herring to a new audience - we wonder what they think about his more experimental podcasts! In one he does ventriloquism, in another he picks up stones, and in another he plays himself at snooker. There is, as they say, a fine line between genius and madness...

TV listings

Ghosts

Ghosts

Monday 8:30pm, BBC One

It's a nervous Mike's first night alone in the house, when some uninvited guests set the ghosts on a mission to defend their treasured home.

Guessable

Guessable

Monday 9pm, Comedy Central

The regulars welcome Mark Watson, Phil Wang, Ellie Taylor and Kiri Pritchard-McLean into the loft to play an array of guessing games.

Hey Tracey!

Hey Tracey!

Monday 10pm, ITV2

Joel Dommett hosts as Dane Baptiste, Judi Love, Harvey and Max Mills, Chris Taylor and Dawn Ward try to win some prizes for 'normal people'.

Greatest Celebrity Wind-Ups Ever!

Greatest Celebrity Wind-Ups Ever!

Tuesday 8pm, 5Star

A second series of this show, looking back at classic TV pranks. This week's highlights include Noel Edmonds staging an unforgettable "Gotcha" on a young Gary Lineker, and Joey Essex being made to think he has witnessed time-travel.

Channel Hopping With Jon Richardson

Channel Hopping With Jon Richardson

Tuesday 9pm, Comedy Central

Jon Richardson presents TV clips from around the world. In the opening episode he's joined by Ivo Graham and resident TV fanatic Judi Love, who share their thoughts on some shows.

Don't Hate The Playaz

Don't Hate The Playaz

Tuesday 10pm, ITV2

Series 3 of the energetic panel show begins. In this first episode, Maya Jama, Katherine Ryan and MNEK go up against Lady Leshurr, Judi Love and Ms Banks in rap battles, dance-offs & freestyling challenges. Jordan Stephens hosts.

Out Of Her Mind

Out Of Her Mind

Tuesday 10pm, BBC Two

Sara Pascoe's new comedy, which focuses on themes including family and relationships. The programme breaks the fourth-wall and has other tricks - it may be sitcom but it's not conventional.

Sorry, I Didn't Know

Sorry, I Didn't Know

Tuesday 10:45pm, ITV

Kerry Godliman, Kojo Anim, Jimmy James Jones and Humza Arshad join team leaders Chizzy Akudolu and Judi Love for episode three of the panel show.

There's Something About Movies

There's Something About Movies

Wednesday 9pm, Sky One

Series 3 of the film-themed panel show. Gemma Arterton, Jonathan Ross and Guz Khan join regulars Alan Carr, Michael Sheen, Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen.

Comedy Game Night

Comedy Game Night

Wednesday 9pm, Comedy Central

RuPaul's Drag Race star Courtney Act, Chase super brain Jenny Ryan, comedians Rhys James and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, model Jodie Kidd and Man Like Mobeen star Tolu Ogunmefun play games.

Urban Myths: Hendrix And Handel

Urban Myths: Hendrix And Handel

Wednesday 10pm, Sky Arts

A one-off comedy about Jimi Hendrix and George Frideric Handel, who lived in the same London building 246 years apart.

Taskmaster

Taskmaster

Thursday 9pm, Channel 4

Johnny Vegas yells stuff from a tall chair, Katherine Parkinson forgets how balloons work and Richard Herring flails about in a dinghy. The new series continues, with many laughs to be had.

Comedy Legends

Comedy Legends

Thursday 9pm, Sky Arts

Barry Cryer pays tribute to Sir Norman Wisdom in the latest episode of this enjoyably in-depth documentary series.

Mock The Week

Mock The Week

Thursday 10pm, BBC Two

Series 19 of the panel show. Tom Allen, Angela Barnes, Rhys James, Nigel Ng and Athena Kugblenu are the guests taking part this week.

Celebrity Juice

Celebrity Juice

Thursday 10pm, ITV2

Series 24 of Keith Lemon's panel show. He's joined by new team captains Laura Whitmore and Emily Atack. The guests on this first edition are actor Will Mellor, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, musician Tom Grennan and Jimmy Carr.

The Russell Howard Hour

The Russell Howard Hour

Thursday 10pm, Sky One

More comedy with Russell Howard. If you want a clue to people coming up on the show in the next few weeks, head to the comedian's social media channels, where he often solicits potential questions to ask the guests.

Stand Up For Live Comedy

Stand Up For Live Comedy

Friday, BBC Three

Filmed in Margate's Dreamland's iconic Roller Room in front of a socially distanced audience. Kiri Pritchard-McLean introduces Vlad Ilich, Priya Hall and Jonny Pelham.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Friday, Amazon Prime Video

Not really TV, but the Borat film sequel starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the faux Kazakhstani journalist lands on Amazon on Friday. There's a trailer on our website.

Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

Friday 9pm, BBC One

Jennifer Saunders hosts the satirical quiz, inviting comedian and writer Matt Forde and journalist and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika to join the regular duo.

The Last Leg

The Last Leg

Friday 10pm, Channel 4

The new series kicks off with a 90 minute Stand Up To Cancer special. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are back as the presenters. And we think they'll all be in the same room this time...

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

Friday 10:45pm, BBC One

Mawaan Rizwan's profile continues to grow, as he's invited to talk on Norton's chat show this week to represent Taskmaster. Also on this packed episode: Stephen Mangan, Bruce Springsteen, Kristin Scott Thomas, Matthew McConaughey and Sam Smith.

Spitting Image

Spitting Image

Saturday, BritBox

The satirical puppet show continues. There've been some really fiery takes sprinkled amongst the three episodes so far - how will week four fare?

The Jonathan Ross Show

The Jonathan Ross Show

Saturday 10pm, ITV

With both Wossy and Norton's chat shows on air each week again, it's back to them battling over who gets which guests. Jonathan has Russell Howard, Katherine Jenkins, Daniel Mays and Dizzee Rascal.

Shopping With Keith Lemon

Shopping With Keith Lemon

Sunday 10pm, ITV2

A second series of the format in which the character Keith Lemon interviews people as they browse shops. This week Keith takes Gemma Collins for afternoon tea on the Thames and Jonathan Ross shows Keith his toy collection.

For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.

Shop

The Folio Book Of Humour

The Folio Book Of Humour

Out now. Hardback

In a new and exclusive collection from The Folio Society, The Folio Book Of Humour features a comedic cast of classic and contemporary literary excerpts that will tickle the most discerning funny bone.

Dorothy Parker's scathing wit shares a stage with the satirical quips of writers such as Chaucer, Oscar Wilde, Terry Pratchett, Paul Beatty and Caitlin Moran for a delightful, comical read. The collection offers a real mix of comedic gems, from the humorous antics of Just William and Bridget Jones, to the wicked wit of Shakespeare, Evelyn Waugh and David Sedaris, amongst many others.

Gavin & Stacey - The Definitive Collection

Gavin & Stacey - The Definitive Collection

Pre-order. DVD

Gavin is an ordinary boy from Billericay, Stacey is an ordinary girl from Barry. After speaking on the phone to each other every day at work - they finally meet and fall in love... I won't lie to you, life is never quite that simple. For a start there are Gavin's parents, Stacey's mum and Uncle Bryn and best mates Nessa and Smithy to consider, as well as the small matter of living in different countries separated by a long bridge and a toll gate.

The multi-award-winning comedy series is collected here, complete, including the Barry-rocking 2019 Christmas special, for the very first time.

Ghosts - Series 2

Ghosts - Series 2

Pre-order. DVD

The return of the hugely successful supernatural sitcom written and created by the stars of Horrible Histories, Yonderland and feature film Bill.

As the doors of crumbling country mansion Button House creak open once more, the haphazard house share between its living inhabitants and its restless dead is settling into a strange kind of daily routine. But cash-strapped Alison and Mike's plan to transform their unexpected inheritance into a bustling luxury hotel is still a distant dream. Could the exploitation of their troupe of ghostly housemates bring in the funds they need - or are they setting themselves up for even more chaos?

This'll be a great family treat to relive over Christmas, and a third series has already been ordered, expected to film and air in 2021, so order your copy today.

Jumping For Joy

Jumping For Joy

Pre-order. DVD

It's a dog's life in this British comedy from 1956.

When Willie Joy (Frankie Howerd) is fired from his job at the greyhound stadium, he takes pity on a fellow victim and adopts an injured greyhound called Lindy Lou, who would otherwise be destroyed. Teaming up with amiable conman 'Captain' Montague (Stanley Holloway), Willie decides to train Lindy to compete for the prestigious Golden Bowl trophy. But it's not just the other dogs she has to beat - there are crooked bookies and race-track spivs to deal with too!

Previously released on DVD, this new release promises, we're told, a cleaner, improved picture quality.

Sally In Our Alley

Sally In Our Alley

Pre-order. DVD, Blu-ray

Beloved by the British public for her string of hit pre-war films, Gracie Fields's Lancastrian earthiness, impish humour and memorable songs have endeared her to many generations of fans. Her screen debit, Sally In Our Alley sees Gracie as a good-natured coffee shop worker in this bittersweet wartime romance. It is presented here as a brand new high definition transfer from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio.

It's been over ten years since Sally believed her boyfriend George had been killed in the trenches during the Great War. But George had only been badly wounded and, now recovered, goes in search of his true love.

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

Comedy videos

Rich Keeble Zoom Chats - Ben Rufus Green

Rich Keeble Zoom Chats

A really fun new chat show - it's not what it first seems though, so give it a moment. Actor Rich Keeble plays a fictionalised version of himself - does he have what it takes to be a good host, as he interviews The Cockfields star Ben Rufus Green?

3 Non-Blondes - 3 Non-Blondes 2020 Reunion

3 Non-Blondes 2020 Reunion

The cast of 3 Non-Blondes reunite via Zoom to remember the hit BBC Three hidden camera comedy show, which is now available on Netflix.

Taskmaster - Outtake - Katherine Parkinson's accidentally crude task idea

Taskmaster - Outtake

In this slightly rude bit, not seen on TV, everyone is left in fits of laughter after Greg Davies points out something crude about Katherine Parkinson's egg task attempt.

Crimes Against Humanity

Crimes Against Humanity

Warning: Contains traumatic images. Some things even the toughest officers can't stomach.

Young Conservative

Young Conservative

Meet the Young Conservative abused for his political opinions. Warning: contains strong language.

100 Reasons - US Election 2020

100 Reasons To Hate: The US Election 2020

Who will be the next President of the United States? Joe Biden or Donald Trump? Ian Smith gets really wound up about everything to do with the US election.

Mission: Accessible - Having A Gay Old Time In Brighton

Mission: Accessible

A web series in which Rosie Jones helps those with access needs go on holiday. In the first episode, she and Maisie Adam are tasked with planning a weekend in Brighton for an amputee.

Camp Cyber

Camp Cyber

Having unnatural career thoughts, need your life to be straightened out? Watch this Government sponsored advert guiding you towards Camp Cyber.

Top Of The Pops chart rundown

Top Of The Pops chart rundown

Here's a VHS capture of an old rundown of a 1982 Top Of The Pops chart countdown. We're not sure we remember all of these bands?

Spotlight

Please Sir!

Please Sir!

Approaching its 52nd anniversary in a couple of weeks is Please Sir!, a celebrated, long-running school sitcom from LWT. Starring John Alderton as a new teacher at the rowdy Fenn Street Secondary Modern school, it was created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, who'd go on to acclaim in the following decades with BBC sitcom staples such as The Good Life, Ever Decreasing Circles and As Time Goes By. Coming relatively early in their careers, the series charted class 5C's troublesome misadventures in growing up working class and underserved by the various systems. Four series and a feature film were made, and to illustrate its popularity, sequel The Fenn Street Gang ran for a further three series on top, following the much-loved gang into adulthood.

Thanks for reading

Sean Fee has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of "autumn":

Every November I choose a special day to buy cutlery for my close male friends. It's my guy forks night.

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