Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 21st June 2021 |
As we reach the Summer Solstice today it's tempting to think back over the near half-year of comedy just gone - but as you'll see below, there's plenty more coming up in the months ahead! Make sure you check out the video section at the bottom for some big laughs.
Latest comedy news
The Stand Up Sketch Show to return for Series 4
ITV2 is to return to hybrid format The Stand Up Sketch Show for a fourth series, including debuts for stand-ups Olga Koch, Carl Hutchinson, Shane Todd and Michael Akadiri.
Lee Mack sitcom Semi-Detached axed, as comic makes Soccer Aid film
Lee Mack's sitcom Semi-Detached has been cancelled by the BBC, while the comic has started making an ITV football documentary.
New book to shine a light on creation of 1970s sitcoms
Raising Laughter, a new book due to be published in September, will take a look at the creation of 1970s sitcoms. Writer Robert Sellers has interviewed a myriad of people involved in the shows.
Mae Martin signs first-look deal with Objective
Mae Martin has signed a first-look deal for any new projects they develop, with production company Objective Fiction. The deal follows the international success of sitcom Feel Good.
Roman Kemp pilots ITV2 prank show
Roman Kemp is piloting an ITV2 prank show. The presenter has shot an hour-long teaser, with the working title Prank Kings, to air on the channel soon.
Insider's Guide To Inside No. 9 book to be published
New book The Insider's Guide To Inside No. 9 is due to be published in October, featuring a behind-the-scenes episode-by-episode guide to the first five series of the hit comedy drama anthology.
Doon Mackichan writing acting memoir
Doon Mackichan is writing a memoir through the prism of her acting roles.
Features
Win a collection of films starring Stanley Holloway
A new four-film box set featuring the work of hugely popular comic and actor Stanley Holloway is to be released in July, and we have three copies to give away.
Comedy Rewind: Lee Evans - So What Now?
2001 comedy Lee Evans - So What Now? saw the stand-up star bringing his madcap energy to the world of sitcom.
British Comedy Quiz #158
Tommy Cooper, Rising Damp, Bob Mortimer and The League Of Gentlemen are amongst the topics in this quiz.
Random 8: Alex Lynch
His podcast Out Of Character gives guests a novel test, but why did Alex Lynch have nightmares for Children In Need?
Podcasts
RHLSTP With Richard Herring is back in front of a live audience, with Geoff Norcott up first. There's also a new episode of The Worst Writer In The World (this time: a short play Young Howard wrote), and more.
TV listings
Big Zuu's Big Eats
Harry Redknapp is on a rare day off and, once he's finished his round of golf, is hoping Zuu can provide his unique take on fish and chips, cheese toasties and bread and butter pudding.
Guessable?
Sara Pascoe, alongside team captains Alan Davies and Darren Harriott, welcome Rick Edwards, Big Zuu, Joanne McNally, and Aaron Simmonds into the loft.
Intelligence
The final two episodes from the series. Jerry is flying high and facing opportunities for promotion on both sides of the pond.
There's Something About Movies
Alan Carr and the gang are joined by David Tennant, Nish Kumar and Kevin Bridges for another round of film-based trivia and challenges.
CelebAbility
Scarlett Moffatt leads a group of three friends looking to win prizes by defeating Jorgie Porter, Kae Kurd, Chris Hughes and Suzi Ruffell in a series of silly games.
We Are Lady Parts
It's the final episode in the series this week so fingers crossed for more! Amina's at an all-time low: publicly shamed, shunned by her uni friends, and out of Lady Parts. But Momtaz is hell-bent on getting the band back together...
Breeders
As Ally contemplates her pregnancy, a new piece of information blows her world apart. A worried Ava tries to help her mum while Luke regrets lying about his anxiety.
Sliced
If there was one person Ricky didn't want to see today, it was his ex-girlfriend, Casey. Controlling, domineering and very happy to use blackmail to get what she wants...
Yesterday, Today & The Day Before
It's over already. This week is a compilation looking back at the best bits of the previous five episodes of the topical comedy show.
The Last Leg
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker will be back for another episode, including taking a look at how the nations did in the football.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
 |
HighLitesAll six series of the BBC radio comedy centred around a village hairdressing salon - plus pilot episode. Based in the little town of Bridgeford, High-Lites salon boasts the most misanthropic hairdresser in Britain: sharp-tongued, mean-minded Bev. With the help of her soft-hearted (though slightly dim) assistant, Shirley, she tends to the tresses of a motley crew of local characters. As she cuts their hair, she finds out everything that's going on in their lives - and wastes no time in spreading some gossip of her own... |
|
Matt Winning - Hot MessFor fans of Randall Munro's What If?, Matt Parker's Humble Pi, and anyone looking for practical tips on how to stop the end of the world! Dr Matt Winning is a stand-up comedian and environmental economist with a PHD in climate change policy, which means he's the sort of doctor who will rush to your side if you fall ill on a plane, but only to berate you for flying. "We are currently facing a global climate emergency. You've probably noticed. But why does the end of the world need to be so depressing? Hot Mess aims to both lighten the mood and enlighten readers on climate change. This is a book for people who care about climate change but aren't doing much about it, helping readers understand what the main causes of climate change are, what changes are needed, and what they can (and cannot) do about it. But, most importantly, it is book that'll help people find the comedy in climate change, because if we can do that, well, we can do bloody anything." |
 |
I, Regress - The Complete Series 1 & 2All 10 episodes of the dark, surreal comedy featuring Matt Berry's twisted regression therapist, with a superb line-up of guest stars alongside. Unorthodox, unpredictable and verging on the unprofessional, Dr Berry is a deeply disturbing hypnotherapist. His experimental regressive technique is both strange and terrifying and involves taking unsuspecting clients on unsettling journeys through their subconscious. Each episode sees him dealing with a patient who needs treatment for a particular problem. There's Karen House-Water, who's aquaphobic (and therefore afraid of half her own name); Ray Highknock, a smoking addict who wants to kick the habit; a pair of East End twins with unexpected past lives; and a man who's scared of everything about cats (including the musical). As the doctor puts them into a trance, we take a trip into the deepest recesses of their minds, experiencing alongside them the dreamlike - or nightmare-like - situations that their brains (and Dr Berry) have created... |
|
William Shakespeare: 3 ComediesRoyal Shakespeare Company live stage productions of three of William Shakespeare's most popular comedies: The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Twelfth Night and The Taming Of The Shrew. The casts include Kara Tointon, Adrian Edmondson, Rebecca Lacey and David Troughton, and all were filmed live on stage at the company's iconic Stratford-upon-Avon theatre. |
|
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - The Complete Series 9John Finnemore returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is very different to the previous eight. There are still sketches and songs, and it's still written and performed by him and his usual ensemble cast - but with no live studio audience, John has taken the opportunity to try something new. Each episode in this series of Souvenir Programme consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order. There's no narrative as such - it's still a sketch show - but as we follow the characters back in time, from lockdown Zoom calls to childhood birthdays and funerals, the individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family. And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise and a truly unforgettable earworm... |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Introverts Coming Out Of Lockdown - BCG Pro Video Contest winner
This song about preparing to come out of lockdown, written and performed by Nikola McMurtrie, is the June winner of the BCG Pro Video Contest.
Dubiously Dubbing: Alan Partridge
This video by Yiannis Vassilakis has been a huge hit on social media. It sees him playing a man who is dubbing Alan Partridge scenes into French, Spanish, Italian and Greek.
Dominic Frisby - FOMO
Another catchy music video from the comedian, this time looking at FOMO - the fear of missing out.
Laugh Lessons
The BBC has published 20 sketches from up-and-coming comedians on iPlayer under the title 'Laugh Lessons' - have a watch. Here's one of them: Manrika Khaira, "Walsall's top social media talent", demonstrates how to be a successful and in demand influencer.
Who Cares?
The first in Amelia Dimoldenberg's new series for Dave's social media platforms, in which she interviews people on the street to see what they think about various topics. First up: billionaires.
Off The Rails - Trailer
The trailer for this forthcoming film in which a group of women head on an interrailing journey across Europe that they did not quite finish during their studies. Now in their fifties, they are older but not necessarily wiser.
The Green & Pleasant Guide - Stately Homes
Stately homes are dotted all over the countryside, like liver spots on a doddery old duke. This episode of the animated series explore the houses used to film TV shows like Whooping Cough Manor.
Silent Lee in... The Audition!
When the only person standing in your way is you...
Good British News
The newest news show in town... "News that's not afraid to be unwoke and British!"
Grandma's Dirty Secrets
Is your grandma a gentle soul, kind and caring? The sort of person who obeys all the rules, hates to hear you swearing, thinks we should all be well-behaved and considerate to others? That's how grandmas are right? Well, no. They were young once...
What's My Name?
A well put together sketch in which a man has a severe allergic reaction. This is probably not one to watch if you're back in an office!
Trying to get the deposit for your flat back
Everybody loves talking to their landlord.
Love Spreads - Trailer
To keep their recent successes fresh, all-female rock band Glass Heart seclude themselves in a remote cottage to work on their second album.
Spotlight
Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story
Today marks 11 years since the unjustly early death of comic Chris Sievey, best known as papier-mâché icon Frank Sidebottom. It thus seems apt to point you toward this genuinely fascinating, eye-opening feature-length documentary film about the man and his cult creation. Sievey was a true polymath and creative powerhouse with a complex life. Whether you're familiar with the alternative comedy legend or not, the film is a compelling and informative watch. Whilst you're there, why not also check out Film4's Frank? The 2014 feature is built around the Sidebottom character as an enigmatic musician, starring Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Thanks for reading
James Docherty has won the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week contest on weddings:
"My partner wanted to get married to make our relationship more secure. I suggested instead we used a mix of upper and lower-case letters and numbers."
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
Join our mailing list