Weekly Newsletter

Monday 30th November 2020

Some of our younger readers, and those who are parents, might remember CBBC's Sorry, I've Got No Head. It's now back on iPlayer, and we've an interview with the stars below. Also: Christmas special news, another Comedy Chronicles article, and more...

Latest comedy news

Taskmaster special line-up revealed

Taskmaster special line-up revealed

John Hannah, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Nicola Coughlan, Rylan Clark-Neal and Shirley Ballas will take part in the Taskmaster special titled Taskmaster's New Year Treat.

Angela Barnes stars in Bird sitcom pilot

Angela Barnes stars in Bird sitcom pilot

Angela Barnes stars alongside Julia Deakin and Perry Benson in Bird, a sitcom pilot about a woman who becomes pen pals with a convicted killer on Death Row.

Ellie Taylor to publish a book about motherhood

Ellie Taylor to publish a book about motherhood

Ellie Taylor is writing My Child And Other Mistakes, a book that will share her "honest, hilarious and moving" account of becoming a mother.

French & Saunders to star in Radio 4 comedy

French & Saunders to star in Radio 4 comedy

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will star in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen?, a one-off festive Radio 4 comedy about two sisters. Radio 4's other festive highlights include new episodes of Ed Reardon's Week and Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!.

Jo Brand to present How To Stay Sane In A Mad World

Jo Brand to present How To Stay Sane In A Mad World

Jo Brand is to front a new Channel 4 show offering up light-hearted tips with how to cope with lockdown. Jo Brand's How To Stay Sane In A Mad World will be broadcast on Friday 11th.

Tom Moutchi and Kerry Godliman to star in BBC sitcom pilot

Tom Moutchi and Kerry Godliman to star in BBC sitcom pilot

Tom Moutchi and Kerry Godliman star in PRU, the upcoming BBC sitcom pilot about unruly schoolchildren removed from mainstream education and put into a pupil referral unit.

Matt Lucas releases 'Merry Christmas, Baked Potato' single

Matt Lucas releases 'Merry Christmas, Baked Potato' single

Matt Lucas has released a festive reworking of his hit novelty potato song to raise money for charity. Merry Christmas, Baked Potato is now available to download and stream.

Ncuti Gatwa wins Rose d'Or award

Ncuti Gatwa wins Rose d'Or award

Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa has been given the Performance Of The Year Award by the 2020 Rose d'Or Awards jury.

Big Boys - a sitcom by Jack Rooke - to be filmed for Channel 4

Big Boys - a sitcom by Jack Rooke - to be filmed for Channel 4

Channel 4 has ordered Big Boys, a semi-autobiographical sitcom by comedian Jack Rooke about an unlikely friendship between two young men who meet at university.

Guilt Series 2 in production

Guilt Series 2 in production

Filming is underway on the second series of BBC Scotland's dark comedy drama Guilt. Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives are joined by a new cast.

GameFace ends on Channel 4 after two series

GameFace ends on Channel 4 after two series

Channel 4 has declined to commission a third series of GameFace, written by and starring comedian Roisin Conaty.

ITV to air Des O'Connor tribute

ITV to air Des O'Connor tribute

Des O'Connor will be honoured with a tribute programme, Des O'Connor: The Ultimate Entertainer, on ITV in December.

BBC reveals its Christmas 2020 comedy specials

BBC reveals its Christmas 2020 comedy specials

The BBC's Christmas schedule will feature new episodes of The Vicar Of Dibley, Upstart Crow, Ghosts, Mrs. Brown's Boys, Not Going Out, The Goes Wrong Show, Would I Lie To You?, Motherland and more.

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Features

Comedy Chronicles: Are you talking to me? How Al Read held up a mirror to Britain

Comedy Chronicles: Are you talking to me? How Al Read held up a mirror to Britain

Comedy was 'alternative' decades before 'alternative comedy' was even dreamt of: (re-)introducing Salford sensation, Al Read.

Sorry, I've Got No Head cast interview

Sorry, I've Got No Head cast interview

With hit CBBC sketch show Sorry, I've Got No Head available on BBC iPlayer again, the cast and writers talk to British Comedy Guide about the joy of making the series. Also, could a reunion be on the cards?

Toby Williams does First Film, Worst Film

Toby Williams does First Film, Worst Film

Star of screen, stage and the forthcoming Short Com Festival, Toby Williams talks us through Wormhole Bumhole and his Holby City bunghole.

British Comedy Quiz #129

British Comedy Quiz #129

Dad's Army, Steptoe And Son, Fawlty Towers and It Ain't Half Hot Mum are amongst this week's topics. You might know the shows... but do you know the answers?

Win Frankie Boyle's Tour Of Scotland on DVD

Win Frankie Boyle's Tour Of Scotland on DVD

Win a copy of Frankie Boyle's Tour Of Scotland on DVD, in which he finds out more about his native nation whilst travelling for a stand-up tour.

Random 8: Liberty Hodes

Random 8: Liberty Hodes

All set for Weirdos In Space, Liberty Hodes revealed her mighty debt to The Magic Roundabout.

Podcasts

Podcasts

Richard Herring resurrected his driving instructor character Peter Dibdin in his latest topical Twitch show. Also: James Acaster is on the Comedian's Comedian podcast, and Arthur Mathews is the RHLSTP guest.

TV listings

Don't Hate The Playaz

Don't Hate The Playaz

Tuesday 10pm, ITV2

Maya Jama, Professor Green and Kemah Bob go up against Lady Leshurr, Jessica Knappett and S1mba in rap battles, dance-offs and freestyling challenges.

The Emily Atack Show

The Emily Atack Show

Wednesday 10pm, ITV2

This week's show theme is friends, and thus Atack has her best mates in the audience. We learn why their group dub Emily 'the naughty one', and she shocks them in return by sharing some of their stories.

Taskmaster

Taskmaster

Thursday 9pm, Channel 4

Alex Horne tries to ignore Richard Herring hiding menacingly in a bush, Katherine Parkinson pays a visit to the fridge, Mawaan Rizwan steals a cup of tea and Johnny Vegas takes a tumble.

Comedy Legends

Comedy Legends

Thursday 9pm, Sky Arts

Barry Cryer examines Alastair Sim's work as a comic actor and why he should be remembered as a comedy legend.

Mock The Week

Mock The Week

Thursday 10pm, BBC Two

Tom Allen, Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne and Rhys James will be amongst the comedians on this Thursday's line-up.

Celebrity Juice

Celebrity Juice

Thursday 10pm, ITV2

This week's players are radio DJ Roman Kemp, actor Richard Blackwood, Top Gear's Chris Harris, and Claire and H from Steps.

The Russell Howard Hour

The Russell Howard Hour

Thursday 10pm, Sky One

The host has been asking for questions for Jamie Redknapp on his social media feeds, suggesting the A League Of Their Own team captain will be on the show soon.

Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

Friday 9pm, BBC One

Alexander Armstrong hosts, with comedian Phil Wang and mathematician and author Dr Hannah Fry as the guests.

The Last Leg

The Last Leg

Friday 10pm, Channel 4

The boys return for the first show of Advent, but will they have done anything this week to tell you about? They'll be joined by guests including Jon Richardson.

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

Friday 10:45pm, BBC One

Stephen Fry is on the show this Friday to promote Troy, his latest retelling of classical Greek mythology. Also Amanda Seyfried, Michael J Fox and Jamie Oliver. Dolly Parton returns too, to perform I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

The Jonathan Ross Show

The Jonathan Ross Show

Saturday 9:30pm, ITV

The host is joined by guests Michael Palin and Kylie Minogue, as well as his co-stars on the next series of The Masked Singer, Rita Ora, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan.

8 Out Of 10 Cats

8 Out Of 10 Cats

Sunday 9pm, E4

Jimmy Carr hosts a festive edition of the comedy panel show, with team captains Rob Beckett and Katherine Ryan joined by Tom Allen, Bake Off star Liam Charles, Scarlett Moffatt and Maisie Adam.

We Love...

We Love... Dad's Army

Sunday 9pm, Channel 5

A documentary charting the story of the sitcom's route from humble beginnings to smash hit. This show celebrates all the iconic catchphrases and goes behind the scenes to discover what happened when the cameras stopped rolling.

Shopping With Keith Lemon

Shopping With Keith Lemon

Sunday 10pm, ITV2

Italian chef and presenter Gino D'Acampo teaches Keith how to make pizza and pasta at one of his restaurants, and Keith takes rapper Lady Leshurr to an adventure farm park.

New on the radio this week: Saddled (Earlier today on BBC Radio Scotland - interview with the writers); a new series of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, featuring the final performances of Tim Brooke-Taylor (Today, Radio 4, 6:30pm), The Musical Life Of... (Monday, 6:30pm, Radio Wales), BAMESHOW (Tuesday, 11pm, Radio 4) and Sandi Toksvig's Hygge (Wednesday, 6:30pm, Radio 4). For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.

Shop

The Vintage Classics Comedy Collection

The Vintage Classics Comedy Collection

Pre-order. DVD

Vintage Classics is a collection of classic British films across the history of cinema, now owned by mega-distributor STUDIOCANAL. This 5-disc collection showcases some of the finest British comedies from the 1950s and 1960s, starring an array of comedy acting greats including Tom Courtenay, Alastair Sim, Peter Sellers and Margaret Rutherford. From farce to satire, these 5 classic comedies are fine examples of why British comedy is admired across the world.

Some of the most acclaimed British comedies of the era are included in this DVD selection, a perfect gift set ahead of Christmas (although do note all are already separately available, and on Blu-ray): The Happiest Days Of Your Life (1950), Hobson's Choice (1954), I'm All Right Jack (1959), School For Scoundrels (1960), Billy Liar (1963).

Paul Merton - The Series 1 & 2

Paul Merton - The Series 1 & 2

Out now. DVD

Fresh from his appearances on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Paul Merton starred in his own comedy series on Channel 4 in the early 90s.

First shown in 1991 and running for two series, the show featured an intriguing mix of surreal sketches and stand-up routines. This brand new DVD collection includes all 12 programmes, plus Merton's short film Suicide Dog, and a brand new commentary track for each episode.

If you missed it, we recently published a feature looking back at the cult comedy hit in our new Comedy Rewind column.

Friz Frizzle - Do Not Sneeze Onto Your Nan

Friz Frizzle - Do Not Sneeze Onto Your Nan

Out now. Download

A music album by Friz Frizzle. He says: "The majority of this album is material I've written during lockdown for my weekly Songs From the Spare Room shows."

Tracks include WHAMdemic, The ABCs of Take That and Crowded Vegans.

Smelling Of Roses - The Complete Series 1-4

Smelling Of Roses - The Complete Series 1-4

Pre-order. Audio Download

Prunella Scales stars in this BBC radio comedy following the trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her Brighton-based events management company.

Rosie is used to coping with the unexpected, at work and at home. When her daughter Kate accidentally became a teenage mum, Rosie stepped in, raising her granddaughter Jo so that Kate could pursue her career in international banking. Now Jo works in the family firm alongside accountant Bob (who's nursing an unrequited love for Rosie) and Tess (whose love life never ceases to amaze). Things are ticking along nicely, until Rosie gets a phone call out of the blue - after 15 years working abroad, Kate's lost her job and is coming home...

Here's David Nixon - The Complete Series

Here's David Nixon - The Complete Series

Out now. DVD

Here's David Nixon... with nothing up his sleeve - but magic in his fingers!

Over a thirty year career in television, David Nixon's subtle brand of magic and comedy was loved by millions. In the autumn of 1963 he created a series of shorts that showcased his skills as an illusionist that were recorded by ABC in front of a studio audience.

Unseen for over fifty years, this release contain all thirteen wonderfully entertaining editions of Here's David Nixon.

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

Comedy videos

A Very Covid Christmas

A Very Covid Christmas

The Noise Next Door demonstrate how Christmas 2020 will be a little different in this festive song.

5 Things Wizards Are Sick Of Hearing

5 Things Wizards Are Sick Of Hearing

A sketch by Alasdair Beckett-King featuring an important message from the Archmage of Woke.

The Horne Section - Fiddly Christmas

The Horne Section - Fiddly Christmas

Fiddly Christmas by The Horne Section is available now on all music streaming services. They're raising money for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity.

Brett Domino - Hello Mistletoe

Brett Domino - Hello Mistletoe

A new Christmas song from Brett Domino.

Rosie Tries To Help - Tourists With Desiree Burch

Rosie Tries To Help - Tourists With Desiree Burch

Rosie Jones doesn't think tourists are seeing the real, authentic London. She joins forces with Desiree Burch to take a bunch of tourists on a very bespoke tour of the city - but can they bag any true London treasure along the way?

Taskmaster - Host your own Taskmaster at home for charity

Host your own Taskmaster at home for charity

Host your very own digital Taskmaster evening with the help of hairy assistant Little Alex Horne (kindly on loan from the Taskmaster Greg Davies)! All the money raised will go to homeless charities across the UK via Homeless Link.

When you lose one of the boys to a girlfriend

When you lose one of the boys to a girlfriend

It's always a hard thing when you lose one of the boys to a girl...

Spotlight

...And Mother Makes Three

...And Mother Makes Three

After delighting BBC audiences as the lead in four series of Not In Front Of The Children, Wendy Craig took up with Thames Television in 1971 for the first of eight series as the slightly dotty and very easily flustered single mother of two, Sally Harrison. Widowed in her 30s, four initial series saw Sally assisted by a live-in aunt raising Peter and Simon, before she found love again with neighbour and fellow single parent David; the series was then reborn as ...And Mother Makes Five, with Craig herself writing a number of episodes under the pen name Jonathan Marr.

Thanks for reading

Sarah Watson has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition, which challenged people to come up with a car-based gag:

I didn't think electric cars could handle all weathers until I test drove one in the rain. I was shocked.

We'll be back in your inbox next Monday with a more detailed look at some of the Christmas comedy highlights on the way. Until then, have a lovely week!

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