Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 12th April 2021 |
If you've been watching TV recently you could think only one thing has happened in the last week: but we've got plenty from the world of comedy to share! Read on...
Latest comedy news
Harry Hill has written his autobiography
Harry Hill has written his memoirs. Harry Hill's Fight!: Thirty Years Not Quite At The Top will be published in November.
Paul Merton and Suki Webster to film Channel 5 motorhome series
Married comedians Paul Merton and Suki Webster are to film a Channel 5 series titled Motorhoming With Merton & Webster.
Josh Widdicombe has written his autobiography
Josh Widdicombe has written his first book. Wtching the Nineties is described as "part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of Nineties television and culture".
Cold Feet could return soon with specials
Cold Feet could return sooner than the mooted grandparent-era tenth series, with a number of intermittent specials in discussion, star John Thomson has revealed.
Alleyway Chefs pilot published online
The pilot for Alleyway Chefs, a sitcom written and directed by Craig Ainsley, starring Alistair Green and Arnab Chanda as two restaurant chefs, has been published online.
Ricky Gervais to launch new podcast
Ricky Gervais is launching a new podcast about "being human". Absolutely Mental will feature the comic in conversation with American neuroscientist Sam Harris.
Ciarán Dowd films Don Rodolfo for BBC Two
Ciarán Dowd has filmed a version of his critically acclaimed live show Don Rodolfo for BBC Two. It'll air on Thursday 22nd April at 10pm.
Meet The Richardsons set to return for Series 3
Work has begun on a third series of Meet The Richardsons, Lucy Beaumont has revealed.
Features
Brian & Domhnall Gleeson talk about Frank Of Ireland
Brian Gleeson and Domhnall Gleeson talk about playing Frank and Doofus in Channel 4's latest sitcom, Frank Of Ireland.
Novelty Jukebox: Norman Wisdom - Follow A Star (1959)
1959 and it is the turn of Norman Wisdom to take a spin on the Novelty Jukebox, whilst Tony Hancock is waiting in the wings to kick off the 1960s.
Comedy Rewind: And it's goodnight from him - saying hello again to The Two Ronnies
It's now been 50 years since The Two Ronnies was first broadcast, and the celebrated sketch show - starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett - still has plenty of laughs and entertainment to deliver.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Lawrence Leung
He's read minds live from Melbourne in new show Connected, but why does Lawrence Leung owe a lot to one memory-challenged MC?
Rosie Jones talks about Trip Hazard
Rosie Jones talks about her new show, Trip Hazard: My Great British Adventure. She says she loved having adventures right here in the UK.
British Comedy Quiz #148
Green Wing, a Two Ronnies sketch, and Father Ted are amongst the topics in this quiz.
Random 8: Stuart Laws
With his Grave New World now upon us, Stuart Laws recalls conference confusion, cetaceous cruising and an excruciating kiss.
TV listings
Guessable
The second series of the parlour game show begins. Sara Pascoe, alongside team captains Alan Davies and Darren Harriott, welcomes Craig Revel Horwood, Nish Kumar, Roisin Conaty, and Huge Davies into the loft.
A League Of Their Own
As their latest travel adventure continues, the panel show regulars try their hand at some off-road driving at Ardvkerikie, before getting their kilts on for a Highland Games challenge.
Taskmaster
Lee Mack raises serious questions around the use of cling film, Charlotte Ritchie anoints an insect, and Jamali Maddix nearly chokes on a many-sided dessert.
Celebrity Juice
Maya Jama, John Barrowman, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jordan North are the guests set to join in the panel show fun this week.
Meet The Richardsons
Jon starts work on his dream project, a documentary about his idol, Yorkshire singer songwriter Jake Thackray - with co-host Sally Phillips. Meanwhile, Lucy attempts to reignite the passion in her marriage.
Frank Of Ireland
A new sitcom from Domhnall and Brian Gleeson about an Irish fantasist, Frank, and his wingman, Doofus. All six episodes will be on All4 following this premiere.
Dating No Filter
It's a question that has dogged mankind for centuries: can romance blossom while dangling two feet off the ground? Daisy and Shivane meet for the first time and strap themselves in for an aerial fitness class.
Trip Hazard: My Great British Adventure
As her new series continues, Rosie Jones is joined by comedian Joe Wilkinson for a traditional seaside adventure in Whitby.
Have I Got News For You
This should be fun: Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar is set to guest present this Friday's episode. Katherine Ryan and Tim Shipman are the guests.
Last Friday's show (with David Tennant) was postponed due to news coverage. You can finally see it on BBC Two at 10pm tonight, premiering with the 45-minute version.
The Graham Norton Show
The first of two compilations of highlights from the recent series. At the time of writing we haven't seen last Friday's new episode though - maybe they should be showing that instead? It gets its premiere in its usual repeat slot, tonight at 11:45pm on BBC One.
The Jonathan Ross Show
Alan Carr is set to appear on Ross's show on Saturday. It must be slightly odd for him now he's no longer hosting his own chat show. Jonathan also talks to boxer Anthony Joshua and Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt. Rapper AJ Tracey chats and performs in the studio.
Jo Brand's Classic Comedy
The decade of the Rubik's Cube, shoulder pads and alternative comedy: Jo Brand takes us through some classic 80s sketches courtesy of Not The Nine O'Clock News, French & Saunders and the late, great Victoria Wood.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
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Hear My SongSinger Josef Locke (Ned Beatty) fled to Ireland 25 years ago to escape the clutches of the tax man and police Chief Jim Abbott (David McCallum). What he also left behind was the love of his life Cathleen Doyle (Shirley Anne Field). Now, Micky O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar) is desperate to save both his ailing Liverpool nightclub 'Heartly's' and his failing relationship with the beautiful Nancy (Tara Fitzgerald), Cathleen's daughter. The solution? Book the infamous Josef Locke. Mr. X. (is he or isn't he the real Josef Locke?), is booked to play the club. Disaster strikes when he is revealed as an imposter, Micky loses the club and his girlfriend in one night. Next solution? This time book the real Josef Locke! What follows can only be described as magical mayhem as Micky travels to Ireland in search of the elusive man. |
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The Hauntening - Complete Series 3Modern technology is terrifying. The average smartphone carries out three-point-three-six billion instructions per second. The average person can only carry out one instruction in that time. Stop and think about that for a second. Sorry, that's two instructions; you won't be able to do that. But what if modern technology was...literally terrifying? What if there really was a ghost in the machine? Travel through the bad gateway in this modern ghost story as award-winning writer and performer Tom Neenan (The Mash Report, Spitting Image) discovers what horrors may lurk in our apps and gadgets... With a full cast including Nina Sosanya (W1A), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing), Andy Nyman (Campus), Freya Parker (Lazy Susan) and Georgie Glen (The Thick Of It). |
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Catch Us If You CanJohn Boorman makes his directorial debut with this 1965 cult classic in which Dave Clark stars as stuntman Steve, who gives up the rat-race to see the real world, closely followed by his four friends (played by The Dave Clark Five). Escaping London with pretty model Dinah who's also sick of the humdrum, money-driven world, they hot-foot westwards for the idyllic island off the Devon coast that she hopes to buy. Mixing with drug-addled beatniks on Salisbury Plain and society hipsters in Bath, the group press onwards whilst the police, ad men and the national press try to catch them...if they can. The sparkling supporting cast includes Yootha Joyce, Robin Bailey, Clive Swift, Ronald Lacey, Julian Holloway and Sheila Fearn, in this all-new, beautifully restored high definition remaster of the comic, music-punctuated road trip. |
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Stilgoe's AroundSongs, sketches and stand-up, recorded in front of a live audience on location. Songwriter, broadcaster and award-winning entertainer Sir Richard Stilgoe goes out, about and around Britain in this amusing musical revue, which finds him taking a wry look at the pastimes and professions of our wayward island. In the company of a troupe of star guests including Sandi Toksvig, Emma Thompson, Kathryn Tickell, Pam Ayres and John Hegley, he visits locations ranging from the Boat Show to the City of London to perform a unique themed comedy show full of fun and laughter. |
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Criterion Collection: Secrets & LiesWhen Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a black optometrist who was adopted as a child, begins the search for her birth mother, she doesn't expect that it will lead her to Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn), a desperately lonely white factory worker whose tentative embrace of her long-lost daughter sends shock waves through the rest of her already fragile family. Born from a process of rehearsal and improvisation with a powerhouse ensemble cast, Secrets & Lies is a Palme d'Or-winning "tour de force of sustained tension and catharsis" that lays bare the emotional fault lines running beneath the surface of everyday lives. This special edition release features a new HD digital restoration of the film, supervised by Leigh and director of photography D. Pope. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Stripper Seeks Alternative Employment - Video Contest Winner
This sketch by Chris McCurry was the winner of our BCG Pro Video Contest for April. A male stripper is forced to find a new job... as a train conductor.
Forgetting your password in olden times
Password security in the medieval times.
Guy who can't remember life before covid - The Pin
This man really can't remember what the world used to be like.
I'm Not In Love
An exclusive preview clip from I'm Not In Love, a new film available to download from today. This clip features Only Fools And Horses star Tessa Peake-Jones as the central character's pushy mother.
Steff Todd - The Kardashians: Keeping Up Is UP
Impressionist Steff Todd takes on The Kardashians.
The Treason TV Show - Episode Five
Pub passports, the government's racism report, Line Of Duty and the gorgeous Huw Ewdards feature in the topical comedy show.
Posh Paint Colours
Pick up a shade from Spelcock and Binge, the creme de la creme of paint merchants (est. 2018).
Country Lines
A short mockumentary film focusing on how the violent act of motorbike crime has now spread through the UK's towns and villages.
Spotlight
Thunder In The City
One of the more obscure comedies we've researched a full Guide to, Thunder In The City is sadly unavailable on DVD or download/stream at present, but do keep an eye out for rare TV repeats. The 1937 comedy opens in depression New York, where marketing genius Daniel Armstrong finds himself on gardening leave; his expensive, exuberant tactics ill-fitting with the downbeat, dour age. Frustrated, he sets off for England and arranges to visit relatives who are minor aristocracy, but is shocked to find them almost penniless and hoping for the success of an impending, loveless arranged marriage to bring in some much-needed funding. The witty transatlantic comic feature thus sees Armstrong pull out every trick in his sales book to turn the family's fortunes around as quickly as possible.
Thanks for reading
Hatty Hodgson won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition with this one-liner inspired by the topic "Scotland":
"I love shortbread but I'm always losing it in the toaster."
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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