Binging: Phoenix Nights

You've finished The Wire, Breaking Bad and The Killing but you're still hungry for more boxsets. Fear not, Standard Issue writers are on the case with some gems you might not yet have seen. Karen Campbell rises like an inflatable penis to sing her praises for Peter Kay's celebration of working-class northern night spots.

Over the last 20 years, Peter Kay has made himself the best-loved British comedian - simultaneously achieving critical acclaim (award nominations; the genius of Phoenix Nights) and massive popular success (millions of stand-up DVDs sold, catchphrases, TV ads). This authorised doc won't be a hard-hitting thing, exactly, but the circumstances of Kay's remarkable rise certainly bear repetition. Kay himself and a range of personalities, like party circuit pal JK Rowling, collaborator Dave Spikey and comedian Reece Shearsmith, account for his appeal.

Dave Spikey: from a tin bath to sailing Greek islands

In this week's my peccadillo, comedian Dave Spikey talks about his passion for the "exhilirating" pastime of sailing.

The interview: Dave Spikey

Dave Spikey tells Tom Walsh: "Peter phoned and said 'what do you think about getting everybody back together?'"

Dave Spikey: I'm so relieved me and Peter are OK again

The Phoenix Nights stars hadn't spoken for a decade after a bitter rift over credit for the show but the recent live shows brought them together again.

Interview: Dave Spikey

Dave Spikey is back on the road again with the second half of his Punchlines tour.

Review: Dave Spikey: Punchlines - The Lowry, Salford

Old-fashioned, constructed gag telling may well have not been in fashion for a long time but that doesn't stop Dave Spikey attempting a different way of telling them. But its hard to wonder, if the audience is there and wanting them, why he needs to bother.

UK's first Vegan Comedy Festival announced

Dig out your tofu jokes, stand by with quinoa quips, next month the UK's first Vegan Comedy Festival will open in Brighton. Twenty comedians will appear over the course of the two-day event, every one of them vegan. The comedy festival is an off-shoot of VegfestUK, a celebration of all things vegan - cookery demonstrations, food stalls, talks, speed-dating - which is now in its 13th year. The odd vegan stand-up like Sara Pascoe, Lucy Porter or Dave Spikey has appeared at the festival in the past, but this will be the first time there has been a dedicated comedy event. Carl Donnelly, Michael Legge, Andrew O'Neill and Harriet Kemsley are among the established names and up-and-comers who will perform as audiences enjoy vegan beer and hotdogs from the bar.

Dave Spikey talks about the return to Phoenix Nights

Comic loves playing club compere Jerry St Clair in the Manchester Arena live stage show - because he's appearing with all his mates.

Dave Spikey interview

Dave Spikey talks about what the audience can expect ahead of his tour show Punchlines.