Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 19th July 2021 |
Here is the latest from the wide world of comedy. Read it quick, before your device melts in the sun.
Latest comedy news
Mawaan Rizwan becomes BBC's Young People's Comedy Laureate
The BBC Comedy Association has appointed Mawaan Rizwan as its first Young People's Comedy Laureate. The news was revealed as the BBC New Comedy Awards 2021 opens for entries.
Tom O'Connor dies aged 81
Comedian and game show host Tom O'Connor has died aged 81.
George Lewis writes book offering advice to new dads
Comedian George Lewis has written a book offering advice to new fathers. DON'T PANIC! All The Stuff The Expectant Dad Needs To Know will be published in February 2022.
Comedians Giving Lectures Series 2 and 3 line-ups revealed
Filming is underway on two more series of Comedians Giving Lectures, the Dave show hosted by Sara Pascoe. The list of comedians taking part has also been revealed.
Tom Allen, Jessica Knappett and Munya Chawawa host Complaints Welcome
Tom Allen, Jessica Knappett and Munya Chawawa are to host Complaints Welcome, a new Channel 4 comedy entertainment series.
Only Fools And Horses book to mark show's 40th anniversary
A book celebrating the 40th anniversary of Only Fools And Horses is to be published. Co-written by Jim Sullivan, the son of creator John Sullivan, it aims to be "a fully illustrated definitive history of the iconic BBC show".
Greg Davies to host Never Mind The Buzzcocks on Sky
Sky has confirmed the return of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, with Greg Davies hosting, Noel Fielding and Daisy May Cooper as team captains, and Jamali Maddix as a regular panellist.
Comedy club threatened with violence for cancelling Lawrence gig
The Concorde Club in Hampshire has reported receiving violent threats towards its staff after cancelling a gig by Andrew Lawrence.
Eggs Collective land Silky Hotel comedy for the BBC
Eggs Collective have made Silky Hotel, a comedy coming to iPlayer later this month. Susie Blake and John Henshaw star as romance gurus who run the "most romantic hotel in the world".
James Corden to star in Amazon Prime comedy drama Mammals
James Corden is returning to UK television screens, starring alongside Sally Hawkins in Mammals, a comedy drama series for Amazon Prime.
Advert
Bridget Christie - the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Rose d'Or and South Bank Sky Arts Award winner - presents her highly-anticipated brand new tour show. Join Bridget this September to December as she tries to work out who she is and how she became the star of her own Netflix special and BBC Radio 4 series. Info & tickets
Features
Comedy Rewind: Can't trust the Cowboys!
A look back at early eighties sitcom Cowboys, which starred Colin Welland, David Kelly, James Wardroper and Roy Kinnear as a rabble of builders.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Charlie George
King Rat, live ketamine and Kate Winslet on a bollard - no wonder Charlie George was asked to host museum tours.
British Comedy Quiz #162
This week: Frank, Susan, Lofty, Romesh, Kevin and more.
Win Mischief Movie Night In passes
Fancy a night in at the movies? Enter now for your chance to win two livestream tickets for the laugh-out-loud improvised Mischief Movie Night In.
The Story Of Morecambe & Wise extract
Here's the introductory chapter of Sunshine And Laughter: The Story Of Morecambe & Wise, the new book by Louis Barfe.
We've also got an interview with author Louis Barfe on the site.
Random 8: Graham de la Cruz (Adam Rhys-Davies)
He's about to bring sass and sequins to Southwark, but how did Graham de la Cruz get creative with a Shih Tzu?
Isy Suttie's The Things We Do For Love
After a break of four years, Isy Suttie's podcast is back for a new series (the chat show in which the Peep Show star interviews guests about their romantic pasts). Series 2 starts with three episodes released at once: Jessica Fostekew, Alan Davies and Sian Harries.
For the other podcasts we publish - including RHLSTP - see our podcast area.
TV listings
Big Zuu's Big Eats
Big Zuu cooks for Mo Gilligan this week. Mo is preparing to try out some new material at a South London comedy venue so Zuu is pulling out all the stops to provide him with the ultimate post-gig meal.
Les Dawson: The Lost Tapes
A new one-off documentary showing previously unseen family footage and clips featuring Les Dawson.
This Way Up
Series 2 continues. Aine and Richard attempt to move their relationship forward in the bedroom and things get a little awkward when they try to hide it from his housekeeper, Marcia.
Rob And Romesh Vs
Rob and Romesh's sporting journey continues as they continue their search to find a sport and join Team GB ahead of the Olympics.
Breeders
As Jim and Jackie's golden wedding anniversary party is plunged into darkness by a power outage, the growing tensions between Paul and Luke reach an explosive and terrifying climax.
CelebAbility
Scarlett Moffatt leads a group of three friends looking to win prizes by defeating Matt Richardson, Vicky Pattison, Josh Jones and Donna Preston in a series of silly games.
The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan
Mo Gilligan returns for a second series of his entertainment show. Lily Allen, Jack Whitehall, Fast And Furious star Nathalie Emmanuel and singer Anne-Marie are the guests.
New comedy on the radio includes Beena And Amrit (Monday, 6:30pm), Simon Evans Goes To Market (Tuesday, 6:30pm), Paul Sinha's General Knowledge (Wednesday, 6:30pm) and Arthur Smith: Syd (Sunday, 7:15pm). For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Ed Reardon's Week 14The complete Series 14 of the popular BBC Radio 4 comedy - plus Christmas special. In these globally unprecedented times, Ed is also experiencing new and unusual circumstances. For the first time in 20 years, he's financially independent thanks to the timely arrival of his state pension, and living in a stylish, newly affordable 'capsule urban living unit' (a former office space converted into a flat). He has the luxury of three (organic) meals a day, all the premier catfood Edgar can eat, and even a new car - as well as free time to devote himself to his own long-cherished projects. But old habits die hard, and Ed's soon distracted by an unexpected meeting with his ex, Maggie, a fight to save an ancient oak tree, a request to write Ping's granny's memoirs and an eye-wateringly expensive trip to the vet... |
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Robert Sellers - Raising Laughter: How The Sitcom Kept Britain Smiling In The '70sFor the first time the stories behind the making of every sitcom from the 1970s will be told by the actors, writers, directors and producers who made them all happen. Aside from providing entertainment to millions of people, the sitcom is a window into the culture of the day, and Raising Laughter provides a fresh look at one of our most divisive and controversial decades: the 1970s. It was the era of the three-day week, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the winter of discontent, trade union Bolshevism and wildcat strikes. Many of these sitcoms tapped into the decade's sense of cynicism, failure and alienation, providing much-needed laughter for the masses. Shows like Rising Damp and Fawlty Towers were classic encapsulations of worn-out, run down Britain, while the likes of Dad's Army looked back sentimentally at an imagined English past. This is nostalgia with a capital N, an oral history, the last word, and an affectionate salute to the kind of comedy programme that just isn't made anymore. |
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RentadickOriginally scripted by comedy legends John Cleese and Graham Chapman, this "hilarious" farce was the first of only two main features from cult director (and Oscar-winning editor) Jim Clark. Starring James Booth, Richard Briers and Richard Beckinsale as three hapless private investigators, Rentadick is featured here as a brand new high definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio. Armitage, a rich scientist, has problems. Not only is his luscious wife being pursued (and caught) by all and sundry, but his laboratory is under threat of industrial espionage. He engages private detectives to protect both his business and his wife, but the service he receives is certainly not what he expected! |
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Mitchell On MeetingsDavid Mitchell investigates how the humble meeting took over the world - and what we should do about it. In this follow-up to Behaving Ourselves: David Mitchell On Manners, the comic actor and columnist turns his attention to meetings, examining our love/hate relationship with them and asking how we evolved from getting together for a 'thing' to shouting at each other on screen via Zoom. Exploring how our meetings culture is spinning out of control, David sits in on a council Zoom meeting in Cheshire (not that one); picks the brains of Imperial College Business School meetings expert Sankalp Chaturvedi; and chats to the former Leader of the House of Commons, Sir David Lidington, about Cabinet briefings and ministerial meetings.As he learns the secrets of communication, consensus, and coming together productively, can David overcome his scepticism and learn to love meetings? |
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Private Eye: The 60 YearbookPrivate Eye: The 60 Yearbook is a history of the last 60 years, as seen by Britain's first, most successful and indeed only fortnightly satirical magazine. From the Beatles to Brexit, JFK to Trump, the Moon landings to the Mars landings, it tells the story of the past six decades as they were recorded in the Eye's pages. The news stories you remember - and plenty you may have forgotten - are retold in cartoons, covers and the magazine's legendary spoofs as well as extensive extracts from some of its best-loved features like Mrs Wilson's Diary, Dear Bill and The Secret Diary of John Major. It is also the story of the headlines Private Eye made itself, from the earliest stirrings of investigative journalism exposing the Poulson Scandal and Ronan Point, through major miscarriages of justice like the Stephen Lawrence case and the Lockerbie cover-up and national scandals that have cost the country billions in dodgy PFI contracts, government cock-ups and secret sweetheart tax deals. Inside are the stories that led to the fall of two cabinet ministers, countless corrupt business figures and even the official in charge of making sure everyone else in Whitehall's behaviour was above board. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Snack Simulator - BCG Pro Video Contest winner
Have you piled on the pounds during lockdown? Or feeling disillusioned with your plant-based diet? Care about mankind, but more about your tastebuds? Well, you're just one click away from guilt free gorging!
Creator Richard Shanks has also just released Freedom Day Protection.
Alasdair Beckett-King - This Happened When I Was 10
A true-ish story starring 10-year-old Alasdair Beckett-King in animated form.
The Comedy Guide To Life - Living Situations
Sam Lake, Ben Pope, Maria Shehata and George Zacharopoulos treat us to their best stories about living situations in the latest episode of Dave's online stand-up show.
The Duke - Making The Film
Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren introduce The Duke. Set in 1961, it follows the story of Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver who stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.
Social Media Bullies
We've all seen the trolls on the internet, how they leave nasty comments and make mean jokes without thinking how it will affect people, all behind a screen so we don't know who they are. Well, they are all using SmugBook now...
The Unnatural History Show With Ross Noble
All six episodes of Ross Noble's web series are now online. It's like Springwatch... but also very much not like Springwatch. Check it out to see what we mean.
Newsreader Misreads Tone
A newsreader misreads the tone. Literally. Another great sketch from Yiannis Vassilakis.
What ever happened to nineties TV gunge?
In 1995, TV presenter Craig bought all of TV's gunge. Today, his risky investment has landed him in hot water with the wife; can Dave Benson Phillips help him get rid of 50,000 barrels?
F*#k The Government - The Ancap Calypso
Dominic Frisby's latest song. He says: "If this isn't next year's Eurovision entry, we know for sure the game is rigged."
Spotlight
The Javone Prince Show
Comic actor Javone Prince is probably best recognised as a co-star of E4's hit sitcom PhoneShop; or perhaps for his many guest supporting roles in sitcoms in more recent years. Marking its sixth anniversary today, his own BBC Two starring vehicle was a self-titled variety series, mixing sketches with studio music and stand-up-esque introductory segments. Although short-lived - running for just one series of four episodes - it featured a wide range of comedy talent, some in very early roles, and is the kind of testbed format TV comedy would greatly benefit from today as a place to give new talent a break, both on the screen and off.
Thanks for reading
Liam Kelly has won the church-based BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition with this creation:
"There's no social distancing in my church. Everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet."
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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