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Friday 22nd May 2020

It's Friday again, and time for another edition of the newsletter. Read on for the best picks and our latest competitions.

Coming soon

Monty Python's Flying Circus - Complete Series 4

Monty Python's Flying Circus - Complete Series 4

Pre-order. Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of a genuinely iconic series, Network presents Monty Python's Flying Circus Series 4, starring Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, in all its HD glory. This pre-eminent restoration has been produced from the best available materials, painstakingly restored, and terror and destruction are sure to follow. Previously edited sketches have been returned to their original length, while filmed sequences and Terry Gilliam's animations have been newly scanned in high definition, adding unimaginable depth and clarity to classic moments. From the archive come genuine rarities including previously unseen studio outtakes and extended versions of filmed sketch material, making this the ultimate in television restoration and a must-have for every generation of Python fan.

We have one bundle of all four series, in their deluxe-packaged Blu-ray versions, to give away. Enter now

John Cleese - Creativity: A Short And Cheerful Guide

John Cleese - Creativity: A Short And Cheerful Guide

Pre-order. Hardback, Audiobook, eBook

Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire.

Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you've come up with something that might be worth pursuing? What do you do if you think you've hit a brick wall? Not only does he explain the way your mind works as you search for inspiration, he also shows that, regardless of the task you've set yourself, you can learn to be better at coming up with a promising idea, refining it and knowing when you're ready to act on it. We can all be more creative. John Cleese shows us how.

Britannia Hospital

Britannia Hospital

Pre-order. Blu-ray

The concluding instalment in Lindsay Anderson's Mick Travis trilogy, following If.... and O Lucky Man!, Britannia Hospital finds the filmmaker casting a sourly satirical eye over Thatcher's Britain.

With a phenomenal cast at his disposal - everyone from Alan Bates, Leonard Rossiter, Joan Plowright, Robin Askwith and Mark Hamill to Graham Crowden and Malcolm McDowell reprising the role of Travis - Anderson trains his sights on royalty, trade unions, the media, and scientific research in typically uncompromising fashion.

This is the world Blu-ray premiere release of the film, newly remastered in high definition and presented with its original mono audio soundtrack, plus a wide selection of extra features.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Collector's Edition

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Collector's Edition

Pre-order. Vinyl

Presented in triple gatefold vinyl for the very first time, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency stars Harry Enfield as the singular detective in this full-cast BBC radio dramatisation of the novel by Douglas Adams. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2007, the six episodes are adapted and directed by the acclaimed Dirk Maggs - and it's the first time the original broadcast version of the series has been released to own.

Dirk Gently has an unshakeable faith in the interconnectedness of all things. His Holistic Detective Agency mainly succeeds in tracking down missing cats - until he becomes embroiled in a supernatural case that will test his belief to the limits. When an old friend starts behaving strangely, Dirk is drawn into a murder investigation involving quantum physics, an Electric Monk, and an ancient mystery that must be solved...

Emma.

Emma.

Pre-order. Download, DVD, Blu-ray

Jane Austen's beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation of Emma.

Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.

From director Autumn de Wilde, this beautifully shot comic film stars the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Miranda Hart, Bill Nighy and Gemma Whelan.

The Mary Millington Movie Collection

The Mary Millington Movie Collection

Pre-order. Blu-ray

This special edition Blu-ray box set (individually numbered and limited to 3,000 units) features adult star Mary Millington's most glamorous film roles, with new, stunning 2K restorations to mark 40 years since her untimely death, including: Come Play With Me (1977), The Playbirds (1978), Confessions From The David Galaxy Affair (1979), Queen Of The Blues (1979), Mary Millington's True Blue Confessions (1980) plus Respectable: The Mary Millington Story (2015), an in-depth documentary chronicling her extraordinary life.

This collector's edition of 70s 'sexploitation' comedies is a must for any Millington fan, filled with scintillating new extras, packaged in a collectable case (displaying brand new artwork throughout) and including a huge 80-page book, with an introduction from David Sullivan and notes by biographer Simon Sheridan (author of Keeping The British End Up: Four Decades Of Saucy Cinema).

The Personal History Of David Copperfield

The Personal History Of David Copperfield

Pre-order. Blu-ray, DVD

Adapted from the classic novel by Charles Dickens, The Personal History Of David Copperfield brings to life one of the author's most cherished characters.

From birth to infancy, from adolescence to adulthood, the good-hearted David Copperfield (Dev Patel) is surrounded by kindness, wickedness, poverty and wealth, as he meets an array of remarkable characters in Victorian England. As David sets out to be a writer, in his quest for family, friendship, romance and status, the story of his life is the most seductive tale of all.

Directed by Armando Iannucci - who also wrote the script, with Simon Blackwell - the acclaimed comedy stars Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Aneurin Barnard, Daisy May Cooper and Gwendoline Christie alongside many other fantastic British talents.

4 Stands Up

4 Stands Up

Pre-order. Audio Download

The complete second and third series of the BBC Radio 4 stand-up showcase featuring the biggest names on the comedy circuit.

In these series, Rhod Gilbert and Chris Addison introduce a line-up of the best and brightest stand-ups, inviting fresh faces and old hands onstage to display their comic talents. Each programme features three different stars - a newcomer who performs the opening act, an established comedian or double act offering up sketches, musical numbers or character pieces and a final headline artist. Stars include Jon Richardson, Russell Kane, Stephen K Amos, Doc Brown, Miles Jupp, Justin Moorhouse, Robin Ince, Sarah Millican, Simon Brodkin (as Lee Nelson), Pippa Evans (as country singer Loretta Maine), Francesca Martinez, Zoe Lyons and Tim Vine.

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

Pre-order. Blu-ray, DVD

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land is the thirteenth outing of the legendary sci-fi comedy, reuniting the original cast of Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), and seeing the return of Holly (Norman Lovett), the much-loved ship's computer.

Three million years ago David Lister, a vending machine repairman, was sentenced to eighteen months in suspended animation for smuggling his pregnant cat aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf. While Lister remained in stasis, a radiation leak killed the rest of the crew. Safely sealed in the hold, his cats' descendants evolved into humanoid form, and now roam deep space in a fleet of their own, where Lister is considered a god...

We have Blu-rays of this feature-length special to give away. Enter now

The Now Show - Series 50 - 52

The Now Show - Series 50 - 52

Pre-order. Audio Download

25 episodes of Radio 4's flagship topical comedy show, presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis. Featuring some of the best and brightest contemporary comedians, this award-winning show takes a satirical look at the news through a mix of stand-up, songs and sketches, as well as interview segments in which experts in their field explain the facts behind the headlines.

Covering International Women's Day, Comic Relief, Christmas ads, Twitter panic, Doctor Who, Cambridge Analytica, the Skripal poisonings and Stormy Daniels, there are also three special episodes from the Election: The Vote Now Show.

Adam Kay - Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank You

Adam Kay - Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank You

Pre-order. Hardback, eBook

Curated and edited by Adam Kay, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller This Is Going To Hurt, Dear NHS: 100 Stories To Say Thank You features 100 pieces by a stellar list of household names, sharing their personal stories of the NHS, from the heartfelt to the hilarious. All profits from the book will go to NHS Charities Together to fund vital research and projects, and The Lullaby Trust, which supports parents bereaved of babies and young children.

The final contributors to the book were announced this morning, including Miranda Hart, Dermot O’Leary, Jamie Oliver, Ed Sheeran, David Tennant, Dame Julie Walters, Emma Watson and Malala Yousafzai.

The Man In The Hat

The Man In The Hat

Pre-order. DVD

The Man In The Hat is a beautifully framed odyssey of music, story-telling and silent comedy traversing the breath-taking landscapes of France.

The brand new comedy follows The Man in the Hat (Ciarán Hinds) as he journeys through France in a Fiat 500, accompanied by a framed photograph of an unknown woman. He is pursued by five angry men in a Citroën Dyane. Why are they chasing him? And how can he shake them off?

Travelling north on his escape across the mountains, gorges and bridges of France, he hears stories of love and loss, listens to Schubert, Otis Redding and Canteloube, and encounters mysterious strangers including The Damp Man (Stephen Dillane), The Chef (Muna Otaru) and The Biker (Maïwenn); coming face to face with the vivid eccentricities of an old country on an old continent, whilst trying to evade the pursuers who are always, relentlessly, on his tail.

Agatha Raisin - Series Three

Agatha Raisin - Series Three

Pre-order. DVD

Ashley Jensen (After Life) returns as the titular amateur detective based on the best-selling novels by M.C. Beaton.

In these four feature-length mysteries, set to air on Sky One from early June, glamorous PR-executive-turned-sleuth Agatha opens her own private detective agency in the picturesque Cotswolds. Armed with her trademark tenacity and fashion flair, along with help from her friend Roy (Mathew Horne, Gavin & Stacey) and paramour James (Jamie Glover, Waterloo Road), Agatha uncovers the killers lurking in her sleepy village.

This series sees Agatha drumming up business by investigating a legendary haunted house; enrolling in dance lessons after disaster strikes a young woman's engagement party; putting her detective skills to the test when she investigates the death of a woman James is seen arguing with; and horrified when a roast pig at the Winter Fayre turns out to be a human corpse...

A Series 1 to 3 box set is also available to pre-order.

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

Out now

The Family Way

The Family Way

Out now. Blu-ray, DVD

Based on Bill Naughton's warm-hearted play, The Family Way, directed by Roy Boulting, is a thought-provoking exploration of the emotional impact of the Sixties sexual revolution.

Featuring a soundtrack by Paul McCartney, the film stars Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett as two sensitive youngsters who fail to consummate their marriage following the vulgar ribaldry of their typically working-class Lancashire wedding.

Newly restored and remastered in HD, and available on Blu-ray for the first time, The Family Way, considered controversial at the time, remains a warm, gentle comedy of manners, morals and manhood.

After Henry - The Complete BBC Radio Series 1-4

After Henry - The Complete BBC Radio Series 1-4

Out now. Audio Download

All four series of the hugely popular BBC radio sitcom - plus two Christmas specials.

After the death of her GP husband, widow Sarah (Prunella Scales) is battling to bring up her strong-willed 18-year-old daughter Clare (Mary Maddox), hindered by her meddling mother Eleanor (Joan Sanderson). Living on the middle floor of the family home, with Clare downstairs and Eleanor upstairs, Sarah finds herself besieged from above and below as she tries to cope with the demands of both her mum and her daughter. Luckily, she finds solace at work, where her best friend and boss at Bygone Books, Russell, provides a sympathetic ear.

Desolation Jests

Desolation Jests

Out now. Audio Download

A dark, quirky parody of Desert Island Discs, Desolation Jests is a post-apocalyptic sketch show that takes a not-altogether-accurate look at the history of comedy. Featuring faux interviews with spurious celebrities, conducted by the Roy Plomley-esque host JP Doom, it poses the question 'Which comedy sketches would you most want at your side to face the end of the world?'

The cast is lead by Sir David Jason and John Bird.

Worzel Gummidge

Worzel Gummidge

Out now. Blu-ray, DVD

The first of Mackenzie Crook's brand new adventures of Worzel Gummidge are now available to own and delight in again, on Blu-ray and DVD.

Inspired by the classic books of Barbara Euphan Todd, Worzel Gummidge is the tale of a witty, mischievous scarecrow who comes to life when humans aren't looking - at least, not adult ones. Now reimagined for a modern audience these two specials are a comedic, magical fantasy for all ages.

Written, directed by and starring Crook, the series is a timely and revealing examination of how everybody needs a place to call home... including scarecrows. Co-stars include Michael Palin, Rosie Cavaliero, Steve Pemberton, Thierry Wickens, Vicki Pepperdine and Zoe Wanamaker.

Marriage Lines - The Complete Series 1 & 2

Marriage Lines - The Complete Series 1 & 2

Out now. Audio Download

All 26 episodes of the radio adaptation of the hit 1960s BBC sitcom, starring Richard Briers and Prunella Scales.

Kate and George Starling are just beginning their lives as young newlyweds and are already experiencing the frustrations, as well as the joys, of marriage. But although they have their ups and downs, their mutual love and mistrust gets them through. In these two series, they experience the downsides and delights of domesticity: from getting locked out of their new flat, sparring over nights out and coping with the next-door neighbours, to planning a holiday together and looking forward to a new arrival. Parenthood brings further challenges - including organising baby Helen's christening and finding a family home - but a job abroad could offer new opportunities for the Starlings.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy / The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe - The Original Albums

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy / The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe - The Original Albums

Out now. Audio Download

Monday is Towel Day but Don't Panic! Reissued for the first time in 40 years, two unique recordings of Douglas Adams's sci-fi comedy drama.

When Earthman Arthur Dent learns that first his house and then his planet are about to be bulldozed, it's the beginning of an interplanetary adventure for him and his friend, Ford Prefect. After fleeing Earth they hitch a lift with hoopy frood Zaphod Beeblebrox, who hurtles from one improbability to another - literally. Following the success of the BBC radio series, Douglas Adams adapted his scripts for these two full-cast albums, with incidental radiophonic music provided by Paddy Kingsland.

Some People

Some People

Out now. Blu-ray

A lively musical tale of teen rebellion, Some People stars BAFTA winner Kenneth More alongside a group of young actors on the cusp of bursting onto the Swinging London film scene.

Ray Brooks, Annika (Anneke) Wills and David Hemmings play the young, bored rebels "living for kicks" in this key British film from the early 1960s. Some People is featured here in a brand-new high definition transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio.

Young and bored, Johnnie, Bill and Bert are teenage tearaways whose only interests are motorbikes and rock music. When they are banned from riding and fined heavily, they become convinced that society has no use for them. But a choirmaster finds them playing rock on a church organ and, for some of them at least, there seems to be a way out of a no-hope situation.

The Infinite Monkey Cage - Complete Series 18-21

The Infinite Monkey Cage - Complete Series 18-21

Out now. Audio Download

Four more series of Brian Cox and Robin Ince's multi award-winning science/comedy show - including the 100th episode and The Infinite Moonkey Cage, a special hour-long episode celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landings.

One of BBC Radio 4's most popular programmes, The Infinite Monkey Cage sees physicists Robin Ince and Brian Cox taking a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes. Aided by guests from the worlds of science, academia and entertainment, they delve into a variety of topics in a quest to explore the quirks and wonders of the universe. In these 25 episodes, they talk cryptography and code-breaking at GCHQ; look at the origin of numbers; and learn how to build a bionic human.

Adam Buxton - Ramble Book

Adam Buxton - Ramble Book

Out now. Hardback, eBook, Audiobook

The "long-awaited, rambling, tender, and very funny" memoir from Adam Buxton.

Ramble /ˈramb(ə)l/ Verb
1. walk for pleasure in the countryside. 'Dr Buckles and Rosie the dog love rambling in the countryside.'
2. talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way. 'Adam rambles on about lots of consequential, compelling and personal matters in his tender, insightful, hilarious and totally unconfused memoir, Ramble Book.'

Ramble Book is about parenthood, boarding school trauma, arguing with your partner, bad parties, confrontations on trains, friendship, wanting to fit in, growing up in the 80s, dead dads, teenage sexual anxiety, failed artistic endeavours, being a David Bowie fan; and how everything you read, watch and listen to as a child forms a part of the adult you become.

The Trip To Greece

The Trip To Greece

Out now. DVD

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan have taken themselves off to Greece for their latest series of The Trip, so expect plenty of moussaka and feta and bickering as the two comedians eat their way around the Greek islands.

Oliver Double - Alternative Comedy: 1979 And The Reinvention Of British Stand-Up

Oliver Double - Alternative Comedy: 1979 And The Reinvention Of British Stand-Up

Out now. Hardback

In the late 1970s, the alternative comedy scene exploded into life in Britain and completely changed the style, subject matter and politics of British stand-up. Contemporary critics talked about it as 'anti-matter comedy' that 'makes you laugh while actually rearranging large chunks of your brain'. This book draws on a wealth of archive material - including unpublished recordings of early performances - and new interviews with key figures such as Alexei Sayle, Andy de la Tour and Jim Barclay, to provide a detailed history of the early scene and an examination of the distinctive modes of performance style that developed.

This Country - The Complete Collection

This Country - The Complete Collection

Out now. DVD

Includes Series 1-3 of the BAFTA-winning comedy, plus The Aftermath special.

Praised as one of the best British comedies in years, this mockumentary hit has catapulted its young writer-performers - Charlie and Daisy May Cooper - to instant star status.

Feckless cousins Kerry and Lee 'Kurtan' Mucklowe live in the picturesque, but depressingly dull, village of in the Cotswolds. As they fritter away their days in the most pointless ways possible, they push their friendship to breaking point by constantly winding each other up. But, whether suffering the indignity of Kerry's house being pelted with plums, or celebrating the death of their old woodwork teacher with a bottle of cheap fizzy booze, these two miscreants always manage to stay loyal to each other.

#ZoologicalSociety

#ZoologicalSociety

Out now. Audio Download

A brand new digital musical comedy concept album from Northampton's Royal & Derngate, written by multi-award-winners Vikki Stone and Katie Mulgrew.

Revealing the innermost thoughts of a troupe of loveable zoo animals both onstage and online: from gossiping giraffes and depressed monkeys to a penguin nervous about becoming a single mother and two pandas feeling the pressure to procreate, this brand new musical comedy (with a fabulous star cast) is definitely for grown ups only!

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

Thanks for reading

You can find our full comedy shop on our website at any time, and some of the best new release news, competitions and bargains on Twitter: @BritComedyShop.

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