Weekly Newsletter

Monday 15th February 2021

We've some great short films featured at the bottom of this week's newsletter. But, first, the news:

Latest comedy news

Matt Lucas to celebrate 50 years of Mr Men

Matt Lucas to celebrate 50 years of Mr Men

Matt Lucas is to front 50 Years Of The Mr Men, a Channel 4 show which celebrates the characters created by Roger Hargreaves.

Comedy writer Iain Pattinson has died

Comedy writer Iain Pattinson has died

Iain Pattinson, who has written countless jokes for shows including I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, has died.

BBC to broadcast The Festival Of Funny

BBC to broadcast The Festival Of Funny

The BBC has announced The Festival Of Funny. Running across its TV, radio and online channels from late February to mid-March, the festival will premiere fourteen hours of new content.

Patrick Kielty records Radio 4 stand-up show

Patrick Kielty records Radio 4 stand-up show

Patrick Kielty is the latest comic to land a Radio 4 special. In Borderline: A Postcard From The Edge Of The Union he pledges to explain what's really happening in a post-Brexit Northern Ireland.

Truth Seekers cancelled after one series

Truth Seekers cancelled after one series

Nick Frost has revealed that Truth Seekers has ended after a single series.

Toast Of Tinseltown announced for BBC One

Toast Of Tinseltown announced for BBC One

Matt Berry's Steven Toast has been confirmed to move to BBC One in new US-set sitcom sequel Toast Of Tinseltown.

George Fouracres to record Radio 4 stand-up special

George Fouracres to record Radio 4 stand-up special

George Fouracres has landed a Radio 4 stand-up special, based on his 2019 Edinburgh Fringe solo debut, Gentlemon.

Advert

Mischief Movie Night In

Don't miss your last chance to catch Mischief's smash-hit improv show! In their final appearance, ahead of filming a new TV series, the original Mischief team are streaming their last few movies directly to your sofa to keep audiences entertained at home until it's safe to go back into theatres. So book now, then sit back, relax and enjoy a brand-new movie every night, brought to life before your very eyes. Info & Tickets

Features

BCG comedy survey

BCG comedy survey

We are currently running a survey looking at audience preferences for different comedy styles and would love to have your input. It shouldn't take more than two minutes to complete - huge thanks if you have time to help!

Comedy Rewind: A romance reversed in Joking Apart

Comedy Rewind: A romance reversed in Joking Apart

For Valentine's Day, our Comedy Rewind column turned to the ultimate anti-romance, cult hit early-1990s comedy Joking Apart, by Steven Moffat.

The cheesiest chat-up lines

The cheesiest chat-up lines

"If you were a fruit you'd be a fineapple" has been voted as the cheesiest chat-up line.

Richard & Greta answer questions about their relationship

Richard & Greta answer questions about their relationship

Podcast characters Richard and Greta (played by Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen) have recorded great answers to a series of questions we put to them.

Five Years of First Gig, Worst Gig - The Early Days, 2016-2018

Five Years of First Gig, Worst Gig - The Early Days, 2016-2018

Acaster's festive fiddler, Horne's painful pint, Mirza's immoral material, Kay's vampire and Calman's vision: these stories and many more in First Gig, Worst Gig's Five-Year Birthday Special.

Slash fiction - Rachel Fairburn on love, lust and serial killers

Slash fiction - Rachel Fairburn on love, lust and serial killers

Ahead of her Comedians Telling Erotic Stories show at the weekend, Rachel Fairburn talked about her interest in true crime and the macabre, why she was putting on a special show on Valentine's Day, and more.

British Comedy Quiz #140

British Comedy Quiz #140

'Romesh' is not actually Romesh Ranganathan's first name. What is it? James? Jeremy? Jack? Jeremiah? Jonathan?

Random 8: Lou Conran

Random 8: Lou Conran

Christopher Biggins, beefy noodles and a Ouija Board - we pop a cork with Spit or Swallow's Lou Conran.

BCG Pro

BCG Pro

If you're a writer, performer or producer (or a combination of those things - you talented thing!) you'll find an ever-growing collection of news, advice, insight and opportunities for you on our BCG Pro website, including a new and exclusive Q&A session with Bill Dare.

Podcasts

Podcasts

This week the Worst Writer In The World podcast re-reads another tale from the co-host's childhood; Richard Herring has a new puppet in his topical Twitch Of Fun show; plus more.

TV listings

Would I Lie To You?

Would I Lie To You?

Monday 8:30pm, BBC One

The regular trio welcome Joel Dommett, Sindhu Vee, Alex Horne and AJ Odudu to the comedy panel show in which the teams reveal extraordinary stories about themselves.

The Stand Up Sketch Show

The Stand Up Sketch Show

Monday 10pm, ITV2

This week's show features routines from Huge Davies, Judi Love, Alfie Brown, Bobby Mair, Suzi Ruffell, Iain Stirling and Russell Kane.

Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains

Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains

Tuesday 9pm, Comedy Central

The final episode in the series sees Stephen Mangan, Sara Cox and Phil Wang looking back at their adolescent mess-ups.

Dead Pixels

Dead Pixels

Tuesday 10pm & 10:35pm, E4

Series 2 ends with a double-bill. Meg and Nicky eagerly await the update that promises to finally unlock the full potential of the game...

Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable

Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable

Tuesday 10pm, Dave

As the new chat show continues, Mel Giedroyc and Lou Sanders are joined by Johnny Vegas, Clare Balding and Josh Widdicombe.

Hypothetical

Hypothetical

Wednesday 10pm, Dave

Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster's panel format features Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, Miles Jupp and Jessica Knappett this week.

The Farm

The Farm

Wednesday 10:45pm, BBC One Scotland

A new TV sitcom pilot from comedian and real-life farmer Jim Smith. Farmer Jim tries to win some extra land, only to find himself in trouble with a rambler.

8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown

8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown

Thursday 9pm, Channel 4

This time Jon Richardson and Joe Wilkinson take on Lee Mack and Katherine Ryan. Musical act Brett Domino entertain from Dictionary Corner.

Back

Back

Thursday 10pm, Channel 4

Andrew helps Alison's parents to make a life-changing decision, so Alison and Stephen conspire to solve the Andrew problem once and for all. Meanwhile, Geoff's relationship collapses.

Rob And Romesh Vs

Rob And Romesh Vs

Thursday 10pm, Sky One

This could be rather eye-opening: For the final show of the series, Rob and Romesh will become Drag Queens.

The Last Leg

The Last Leg

Friday 10pm, Channel 4

Sophie Duker and Armando Iannucci are set to appear on the topical comedy show this Friday.

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

Friday 10:45pm, BBC One

Judi Love appears on the show for the first time. Plus: Rosamund Pike, Gordon Ramsay, rugby star Gareth Thomas, and music from Ella Henderson & Tom Grennan.

The Ranganation

The Ranganation

Sunday 9pm, BBC Two

No news yet on who the guests will be yet, but of course the real stars of the show are screen right: Romesh Ranganathan's entertaining panel from around the UK.

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

Shop

Andi Osho - Asking For A Friend

Andi Osho - Asking For A Friend

Out now. Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Andi Osho's new novel about three best friends who come up with a plan to solve their relationship woes once and for all.

Fed up with their love lives, Jemima, Meagan and Simi decide it's time to play the dating game by their own rules, so they're going to ditch the dating apps and ask people out in real life. The catch? They can only ask out potential dates for each other.

The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp

The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp

Out now. DVD

A beautiful blonde angel (Diane Cilento), arrives in The Angel, Islington on a goodwill mission to soften the heart of pawnbroker Joshua Webman (played by Felix Aylmer). Finding that she needs money to fulfil her mission on Earth, her solution is to pawn her harp. During her earthly visit, she finds time to salvage several other lost sheep, bringing out the best in the people she meets and showing them the path on which their happiness lies.

This new DVD release of the 1953 comedy feature includes both a newly remastered copy of the film, and a colourised version. It's available exclusively through the distributor, Renown, which also owns and operates popular TV channel Talking Pictures.

Sailors Three

Sailors Three

Out now. Blu-ray, DVD

A broad naval comedy that kept cinemagoers highly entertained during the early years of World War Two, Sailors Three was Walter Forde's last film for Ealing and Tommy Trinder's first. Co-starring Claude Hulbert and Michael Wilding, this is a memorable mix of music hall and propaganda, and has now been restored and remastered for this new high definition version - its world premiere on Blu-ray.

On shore leave from HMS Ferocious at a neutral South American port, three sailors have one shandy too many before re-boarding their ship. Unfortunately it's not their ship and they wake up to find they've drunkenly boarded the German pocket battleship Ludendorf!

Chris Head - Creating Comedy Narratives For Stage And Screen

Chris Head - Creating Comedy Narratives For Stage And Screen

Out now. Hardback, Paperback, eBook

This "accessible and engaging" text covering sketch, sitcom and comedy drama, alongside improvisation and stand-up, brings together a panoply of tools and techniques for creating short and long-form comedy narratives for live performance, TV and online, from renowned tutor Chris Head.

Referencing a broad range of comedy from both sides of the Atlantic, spanning several decades and including material on contemporary internet sketches, it offers all kinds of useful advice on creating comic narratives for stage and screen: using life experience as raw material; constructing comedy worlds; creating comic characters, their relationships and interactions; structuring sketches, scenes and routines; and developing and plotting stories. The book's interviewees, from the UK and the USA, feature stand-ups, sketch comics, improvisers and TV comedy producers, and include Steve Kaplan, Hollywood comedy guru and author of The Hidden Tools of Comedy; Will Hines, teacher and improviser from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre; and Lucy Lumsden, TV producer and former Controller of Comedy Commissioning for BBC.

28 Acts In 28 Minutes

28 Acts In 28 Minutes

Out now. Audio Download

28 Acts In 28 Minutes is a traditional variety show with a difference: the performers have just 60 seconds in which to entertain a live audience. Making the most of their minutes are a plethora of top-class talents, including Adam Buxton, Jason Manford, Nicholas Parsons, Sarah Millican, Richard Herring, Miles Jupp, Frankie Boyle, Isy Suttie, Tim Key, John Bishop, Tim Minchin, Jason Byrne, Stephen K Amos, Shappi Khorsandi, Stewart Lee, Marcus Brigstocke, Phil Cornwell and John Finnemore.

Featuring a mix of award-winning comedians and newcomers to the scene, there's something for everyone, from stand-up to sketches, satire, songs and poems - with a few surprises thrown in. And if you don't like any of the acts, well...another will be along in about 55 seconds.

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

Comedy videos

Simon's Cat - Valentine's Special

Simon's Cat - Valentine's Special

Valentine's Day might have been and gone, but this themed special from the animated cat is still worth a look: he tries to serenade Chloe but to his dismay Jazz makes an appearance.

The Feathers

The Feathers

A short film focusing on two friends (played by Marcus Brigstocke and Mike Gunn) who get together for a coffee. The twist at the end is great.

Paybackers - Episode One

Paybackers

A new online sitcom about some characters doing community service. In the opening episode Goober and Ellie ditch their payback duties to help look for a missing dog.

The Astonishing Adventures of Alfred

The Astonishing Adventures of Alfred

A 1950s schoolboy comes into possession of a magical magnifying glass in this super short film.

Selling Out

Selling Out

A short film about an actress's realisation that perhaps her life isn't going to turn out the way she'd imagined.

A Pre Covid Chat Line: Package Holiday

A Pre Covid Chat Line: Package Holiday

A man really misses rubbish package holidays.

Mother F**king Pep Talk - Munya Chawawa: Say it with your motherf**king chest

Mother F**king Pep Talk - Munya Chawawa

Have you ever walked away from an encounter cursing yourself for not speaking up? Munya Chawawa wants you to know that it's ok to put your foot down and not take the BS.

The Treason TV Show - Episode One

The Treason TV Show

The first episode in the third series of the topical comedy format that's broadcast on Latest TV. You can watch it online here.

Spotlight

Miss Tulip Stays The Night

Miss Tulip Stays The Night

Diana Dors leads in this short - running to just over an hour - from the mid 50s, in which crime novelist Andrew and his wife, Kate, become the prime suspects in a real murder case. Patrick Holt co-stars as her husband, with popular comedian Jack Hulbert as a quiet-spoken constable, and Cicely Courtneidge in the titular role. Available on DVD and via some streaming platforms, it's a light 70-minute comic whodunnit that also features screen icon Terry-Thomas's then-wife, as well as the couple's dog.

Thanks for reading

Chris Collyer is this week's BCG Pro Gag-a-Week winner. The theme was cold weather:

Why can Chris Hemsworth never play in the snow? Because everywhere he goes there is a Thor.

We're currently giving away various DVD bundles on our @BritComedyShop Twitter account. If you're in the UK and like the look of any (or all!) of the bundles, just retweet for a chance to win.

British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk

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