Weekly Newsletter

Monday 11th October 2021

There are more than 25 new programmes to watch on TV this week. We've a summary of all that, plus our other regular sections, below.

Latest comedy news

Kieran Hodgson & Morgana Robinson tackle climate change for Channel 4

Kieran Hodgson & Morgana Robinson tackle climate change for Channel 4

Kieran Hodgson and Morgana Robinson are leading a one-off comic documentary on climate change for Channel 4 entitled How We Forgot To Save The Planet.

Joe Lycett Vs The Oil Giant coming to Channel 4

Joe Lycett Vs The Oil Giant coming to Channel 4

Joe Lycett is to present Joe Lycett Vs The Oil Giant, a one-hour Channel 4 documentary in which he investigates the corporate practice of 'greenwashing' at energy giant Shell.

Tim Key and John Kearns toast pub drinking in new Radio 4 series

Tim Key and John Kearns toast pub drinking in new Radio 4 series

Tim Key and John Kearns have recorded Lasties, a series of comic plays for Radio 4, a "love letter to being in a pub with a pal" set during last orders.

Lazy Susan complete filming on their TV series

Lazy Susan complete filming on their TV series

Sketch duo Lazy Susan have completed filming on their TV sketch show series, which is coming to BBC Three in 2022. Guest stars will include James Acaster, Lou Sanders and Kiell Smith- Bynoe.

Meet The Richardsons wins at Broadcast Digital Awards

Meet The Richardsons wins at Broadcast Digital Awards

Meet The Richardsons, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, Don't Hate The Playaz and Big Zuu's Big Eats were amongst the winners at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2021.

Advert

The Comedy Of Errors

'Glorious' ★★★★★ - Guardian

The Royal Shakespeare Company is back, and it's on a 'mission to entertain' (Daily Telegraph) with The Comedy of Errors, a riotous farce of unlikely coincidence and everyday miracles.

With 80s vibes and an extraordinary score, 'physical comedy master director Phillip Breen and his multi-talented company wring every last laugh from every possible verbal, visual and physical gag' (WhatsOnStage) in the 'irresistible' (The Times) production.

Tickets from £20 - book now.

Features

Beyond the Fringe

Novelty Jukebox: Beyond The Fringe

In the early 1960s four British lads shook the world: not John, Paul, George and Ringo but Alan, Jonathan, Dudley and Peter.

Win Code 404 Series 1 and 2 on DVD

Win Code 404 Series 1 and 2 on DVD

We have Code 404 Series 1 & 2 DVD box sets to give away. Check out Stephen Graham and Daniel Mays in action together in the Sky cop sitcom.

Josh Widdicombe talks about his family tree

Josh Widdicombe talks about his family tree

Josh Widdicombe talks about tracing his family tree via the BBC TV show Who Do You Think You Are?.

Comedy Rewind: What do I see in him? Revisiting Watching

Comedy Rewind: What do I see in him? Revisiting Watching

Spool back to the late 1980s with Comedy Rewind, when 13 million of us were watching Watching.

The Larkins interviews

The Larkins interviews

Bradley Walsh, Joanna Scanlan, Sabrina Bartlett and Tok Stephen talk about starring in the new version of The Darling Buds Of May.

First Gig, Worst Gig: Steve Hughes

First Gig, Worst Gig: Steve Hughes

The heavy metal stand-up currently has both his heads on - a comedy tour, and a new rock album. But what's all that about programming?

Win a copy of the Taskmaster board game

Win a copy of the Taskmaster board game

Win a Taskmaster board game. Challenge yourself and your friends and family.

British Comedy Quiz #174

British Comedy Quiz #174

How well do you know the Only Fools And Horses theme tune? Let's find out...

Random 8: Isabelle Farah

Random 8: Isabelle Farah

Great books, gatecrashing and the greatest great-grandma name ever: Isabelle Farah gives us eight random answers.

Podcasts

Podcasts

David Mitchell appears on RHLSTP, and explains why you won't see him on Taskmaster. Also, new episodes from Sitcom Geeks, The Worst Writer in the World, and more.

TV listings

The Goes Wrong Show

The Goes Wrong Show

Monday 8:30pm, BBC One

An American prison break drama is this week's offering from the Cornley Drama Society; full of intrigue, excitement and double crossing. Look out for the scene where the set is hanging in mid-air.

The Complaints Department

The Complaints Department

Monday 9pm, Comedy Central

Jason Manford is joined by comedians John Thomson, Sara Pascoe, Fern Brady and Shazia Mirza as they play a series of games based on the funniest and quirkiest complaints from the British public.

Alma's Not Normal

Alma's Not Normal

Monday 10pm, BBC Two

When social services sends through her records, Alma faces up to her experiences of being in the care system. Will she end up missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime?

British As Folk

British As Folk

Monday 10pm, Dave

Darren Harriott, Fern Brady and Ivo Graham visit the UK's most popular holiday destination, Cornwall, to explore the side the tourists rarely see and discover if Britain still likes to be beside the seaside.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

Tuesday 9pm, Sky Max

Noel Fielding is joined by DJ Jax Jones and actor Mike Wozniak as they face off against Daisy May Cooper, regular Jamali Maddix and singer Ella Henderson.

Guilt

Guilt

Tuesday 10pm, BBC Scotland

The dark comedy drama returns for a second series, on BBC Scotland and iPlayer on Tuesday and then BBC Two nationwide on Thursday. In an Edinburgh cellar, two gunshots ring out. Across town, Max McCall is released from prison.

Question Team

Question Team

Tuesday 10pm, Dave

Richard Ayoade hosts this all-new panel show in which the players write the questions. e Bob Mortimer, Thanyia Moore and Kerry Godliman are first to play.

Hitmen

Hitmen

Wednesday 9pm & 9:30pm, Sky Comedy

The final two episodes of the second series of the sitcom starring Mel & Sue. How will things end?

Rob Beckett's Undeniable

Rob Beckett's Undeniable

Wednesday 9pm, Comedy Central

Rob Beckett invites guests Jamie Laing, Lou Sanders, Lloyd Griffith and Thanyia Moore to bring as many brilliant facts as they can in an attempt to impress everyone.

Brassic

Brassic

Wednesday 10pm, Sky Max

Vinnie's friend Gideon calls to say his mother has passed away and asks Vin to help him honour her final wishes. Head to our site for interviews with the cast.

Outsiders

Outsiders

Wednesday 10pm, Dave

It's the Outsiders' third day living together in the wild. The competition is hotting up as the teams compete for three new badges - camouflage, inventing a camp flag, and composing an anthem, while David Mitchell hovers over proceedings.

Taskmaster

Taskmaster

Thursday 9pm, Channel 4

In this edition Morgana drenches herself in peas, Victoria learns a new skill, Desiree makes a political statement with jam, Alan piles on the sunglasses and Guz pens a new song.

QI

QI

Thursday 10pm, BBC Two

Aisling Bea, Roisin Conaty and Jessica Fostekew take part in an episode of the panel show titled 'Sensational'.

The Russell Howard Hour

The Russell Howard Hour

Thursday 10pm, Sky Max

Billy Connolly looks set to be a guest on the show this Thursday. We'll be seeing a lot of Connolly on screens over the next month as he begins a publicity tour for his new autobiography.

The Emily Atack Show

The Emily Atack Show

Thursday 10pm, ITV2

This week's theme is life lessons. In sketches Emily goes back to school, takes a disastrous road trip and, when she suspects her boyfriend is cheating, her Devil and Angel get the better of her.

Complaints Welcome

Complaints Welcome

Thursday 10pm, Channel 4

Tom Allen, Jessica Knappett and Munya Chawawa field TV viewers' complaints in this new format. The first episode hasn't been recorded yet, so we'll have to wait to see what it's like.

Late Night Mash

Late Night Mash

Thursday 10pm, Dave

Episode 7 of the latest incarnation of the topical comedy format. The show continues to rotate its stars whilst they tour the country, so no news yet on who will appear this week.

Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

Friday 9pm, BBC One

Alexander Armstrong hosts as Ian Hislop and Paul Merton as joined by guests Mishal Husain and Geoff Norcott for the second of the series.

The Cleaner

The Cleaner

Friday 9:30pm, BBC One

Wicky heads to the country to clean up a nasty mess in a holiday home, and bumps into his first 'proper' girlfriend. See our episode page for an interview with guest star Jo Hartley.

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

Friday 10:35pm, BBC One

Billy Connolly talks about his autobiography Windswept & Interesting. Plus Lenny Henry, Jodie Whittaker, Timothée Chalamet, Eileen Atkins and Coldplay.

Spitting Image

Spitting Image

Saturday 9am, BritBox

The puppet-based topical comedy show continues to take shots at politicians, sports stars and more.

Blankety Blank

Blankety Blank

Saturday 9pm, BBC One

John Thomson, Karim Zeroual, Sue Perkins, Joel Dommett, Gloria Hunniford and Judi Love are the celebrities playing along this week.

Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up

Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up

Saturday 9:35pm, ITV

Paul O'Grady puts questions, scenarios and dilemmas to Rupert Everett, Danny Jones, Catherine Tyldesley and Martin Kemp.

The Larkins

The Larkins

Sunday 8pm, ITV

The new comedy drama continues. Mariette has agreed to stay for the summer and with the arrival of Charley and Tom Fisher her heart is being pulled in many directions.

The Ranganation

The Ranganation

Sunday 9pm, BBC Two

Romesh Ranganathan hosts another episode of his topical comedy show. Roisin Conaty and Guz Khan are set to join him in the studio this week.

The Deirdre O'Kane Show

The Deirdre O'Kane Show

Sunday 9pm, Sky Max

Irish comedian and actor Deirdre O'Kane hosts a new stand-up series with top performers. First up: Bill Bailey and Catherine Bohart.

Sorry, I Didn't Know

Sorry, I Didn't Know

Sunday 10:20pm, ITV

Curtis Walker, James Acaster, Humza Arshad and Sikisa join team leaders Chizzy Akudolu and Judi Love to answer questions about black history.

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

Shop

Daisy May Cooper - Don't Laugh, It Will Only Encourage Her

Daisy May Cooper - Don't Laugh, It Will Only Encourage Her

Pre-order. eBook, Hardback

Don't Laugh, It Will Only Encourage Her is the "endearingly honest" debut memoir from the co-creator and star of award-winning BBC comedy This Country, social media star and Never Mind The Buzzcocks captain Daisy May Cooper.

Life hasn't always been straightforward for Daisy May: growing up in rural poverty in Gloucestershire with her brother Chaz, she had to work a myriad of low-paid and unrewarding jobs just to make ends meet.

She explains: "I have lived the most humiliating, ridiculous, screw-up of a life but Mum was right, you've just got to remember, sometimes the worst experiences make the most entertaining stories."

Ed Gamble - You May Struggle To Hear Me Above The Crunch Of My Enemies' Skulls

Ed Gamble - You May Struggle To Hear Me Above The Crunch Of My Enemies' Skulls

Out now. Vinyl

Recorded at the legendary Black Heart in 2019, You May Struggle To Hear Me Above The Crunch Of My Enemies' Skulls is a vinyl exclusive stand-up comedy show from the mind and mouth of Ed Gamble.

Totally improvised across two sweaty nights in Camden, it captures live comedy in its purest form. Mainly, though, it's being released so Ed can pretend he is in a heavy metal band. Ed's body on the cover art is not accurate at time of writing.

Motherland - Series 3

Motherland - Series 3

Out now. DVD

The nation's favourite gang of mums (and dad) return to navigate the pitfalls of middle-class parenting and the clash of cliques formed at the school gates in the third series of the acclaimed comedy series starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Lucy Punch, Philippa Dunne and Tanya Moodie.

The 2020 Christmas special is also included in this release.

The Assassination Bureau

The Assassination Bureau

Pre-order. Blu-ray

Oliver Reed and Diana Rigg head an impeccable cast in The Assassination Bureau, a spirited caper inspired by a book co-written by Jack London.

Reed plays Ivan, the self-confident chief of an association of hitmen for hire, who will refuse no well-paid offer - especially the lucrative challenge of an aspiring reporter (Rigg). Reasoning that a running cat-and-mouse duel with his henchmen will rid the organisation of incompetents, Ivan agrees to become the object of a nonstop hunt. The game is afoot...and Europe is the playground! The Assassination Bureau is a lavishly produced comic sendup with unforgettable performances from Reed and Rigg, now available in HD on this region-free Australian-released Blu-ray.

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

Comedy videos

Strictly Come Dancing - Robert Webb dances to The Muppets

Strictly Come Dancing - Robert Webb dances to The Muppets

For those that missed it at the weekend, here's Robert Webb and Dianne Buswell quickstepping to The Muppet Show's theme tune on Strictly Come Dancing.

Jimmy Carr throws out a heckler

Jimmy Carr throws out a heckler

Footage from Jimmy Carr's stand-up show at Poole's Lighthouse Centre, where a heckler had been causing problems. It shows Carr telling venue staff to chuck the audience member out.

Every Haunted House Movie

Every Haunted House Movie

Alasdair Beckett-King combines every scary movie you've ever seen into one short sketch.

The Outlaws - Trailer

The Outlaws - Trailer

The Outlaws, a new comic crime thriller starring, written and directed by Stephen Merchant, is coming soon to BBC One.

Going The Distance - Trailer

Going The Distance

This 90-minute comedy about a community theatre trying to put on a play is currently available to stream. Narrated by Stephen Fry, stars include Sarah Hadland, Matthew Kelly and Shobna Gulati.

Taking Stock - Stealing is Stealing

Taking Stock

A new online sketch show that uses nothing but stock pictures. In the opening sketch, Andrea is very clearly not bitter as she talks about an incident from her past.

Your Mate Had A Hair Transplant

Your Mate Had A Hair Transplant

This man got a great deal on a hair transplant.

Spotlight

Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous

The weather has kept fairly pleasant for most of us so far this autumn, but with reports of snow storms even before Halloween, you'll no doubt soon be thinking about snuggling up indoors with a good dose of telly - and may we suggest a (re) watch of the BBC's iconic 1990s sitcom Absolutely Fabulous? With all 39 full-length episodes currently available to stream for free on iPlayer - and more still, including commentaries, shorts and documentaries in this DVD box set - it seems an ideal opportunity to remind yourself of the outrageous antics of Patsy, Edina, Mother and Saffron as they navigate family and fashion in London society. Did you know that the sitcom only came to fruition when Dawn French got a foster child and had to pull out of another series of French & Saunders at very short notice? With studio space already booked and budgets allocated, Jennifer Saunders took up the baton and expanded one of their previous sketches into six full episodes...

Thanks for reading

Kyle Davies won the bathroom-based BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition, with this line:

Why is it called Toulouse and not Deux Toilette?

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