Weekly Newsletter	Monday 27th January 2014

It's a brand new week in the world of comedy, and as ever we've got a number of tasty news nuggets to tell you about - do read down for some great features and a pick of the week's TV, too.

Latest Comedy News

Channel Dave gives Dave Gorman two more series Channel Dave has ordered two extended length new series of the stand-up show Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish. Read In And Out Of The Kitchen given BBC Four series In And Out Of The Kitchen, Miles Jupp's Radio 4 sitcom about a cookery writer, has been commissioned for a 3-part TV series by BBC Four. Read BBC wants more League Of Gentlemen but stars are too busy It has been revealed that the BBC have approached The League Of Gentlemen to make more of their cult TV series, but the stars are too busy. Read CBBC creates online comedy drama about internet dangers CBBC is launching Dixi, an online comedy drama format which aims to educate children about the dangers associated with social media and the internet. Read E4 orders parallel universe comedy drama pilot E4 has ordered a pilot episode of ALT, a comedy drama about two friends in their 20s who find themselves transported to a parallel universe. Read Rowan Atkinson working on new animated Mr Bean series Rowan Atkinson is reportedly working on reviving hit comedy character Mr Bean for a new animated sitcom series. Read Alan Davies to host Winter Olympics TV comedy show Alan Davies is to host a comedy show about the Winter Olympics. Alan Davies Apres-Ski will launch on BBC Two when the Games start next month. Read David Beckham to appear in Only Fools And Horses sketch Football star David Beckham is to appear in the new Only Fools And Horses sketch filmed for Sport Relief. Read

Also of interest...

Here are some pages on other websites that you might also be interested in... - An article about the nun who inspired Mrs Brown's Boys: The Daily Mail - Rufus Hound is planning to stand in May's European elections to campaign against changes to the NHS: BBC News - A new series of the hit American drama 24 is being filmed in London - and Stephen Fry will play the Prime Minister: The Mirror - A special episode of Horrible Histories titled 'Ridiculous Romance' is due to be broadcast next month: British Comedy Guide - Eric Idle posted on Twitter last Thursday: "Working this morning with John Du Prez on a new Python single. Should be a fun weekend recording tracks and singing." - The Mirror reports the BBC is reluctant to order more episodes of Still Open All Hours. "Ratings are only part of the recipe for success": The Mirror - In memory of Roger Lloyd-Pack, here's a picture of a train with 'Trigger - Rest In Peace' graffiti on it: Twitter Found these links interesting? For more like this each evening follow us on social media, or visit our website:

Features

Outnumbered interviews Ahead of the new and final series, the cast of Outnumbered talk about growing up and how the show compares to their own family life. Read Do The Right Thing The award-winning panel show podcast is back for a fourth series. Hear how top comedians would deal with different far-out situations. Listen Found! Comic guitar tapes from 80s 'Rock God' Kenny Star This Glorious Monster have published an instructional video series by 80s 'Rock God' Kenny Star. To accompany that, here's a confrontational MNE interview with Kenny from 1986. Read

TV Listings

Here is a guide to the new British comedy on TV this week... The Many Faces Of... Monday, BBC Two, 9pm This new documentary celebrates the sadly forgotten work of comedy genius Dick Emery - his BBC One sketch show ran for 18 years, regularly pulling in 17 million viewers. Don't miss this master of character comedy. Guide Uncle Monday, BBC Three, 10pm The third episode of the new BBC Three sitcom that's received much praise. Andy tries to get back with Gwen by entering a battle of the bands; unfortunately, he doesn't have a band. He also attempts to turn Errol into a ladies' man... Guide Hank Zipzer Tuesday, CBBC, 5pm Childrens comedy inspired by the book series 'Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever'. This TV show stars the books' co-writer, Happy Days legend Henry Winkler - The Fonz himself. Eyyy! Guide House Of Fools Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm Another helping of utter madness from Reeves and Mortimer. When Bosh's probation officer visits the flat, Bosh asks Vic, Bob, Julie and Beef to help him convince her he has finally become a decent member of society. Guide The Kumars Wednesday, Sky1, 9pm This week, Sanjeev, Ashwin and Ummi - not forgetting Hawney - chat to Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern, The Simpsons' Harry Shearer and Sky News presenter Kay Burley. Guide Outnumbered Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm It's back at last! Sadly, this looks set to be the last full series of the wonderful, hit family sitcom. This week, Ben's been cast as the lead in the school musical - Spartacus - and Karen's just started at secondary school. Guide This Is Jinsy Wednesday, Sky Atlantic, 10pm Rob Brydon guest stars as Jinsy singing sensation, Rex Camalbeeter, who likes dressing up as a female badger and singing about it. Yet more surreal nonsense - see our guide for a pick of the show's songs. Guide Birds Of A Feather Thursday, ITV, 8:30pm Gaining astronomic ratings every week, surely an 11th series commission is just around the corner? We're now half way through the series, Episode 5: Tracey has Botox, Travis has a tattoo and Sharon looks as if she'll need a hearing aid. Guide Benidorm Thursday, ITV, 9pm Donald and Jacqueline plan a send-off for friend Big Donna. Meanwhile, Lesley's been left in charge of the resort. Keep an eye out for new series regular Perry Benson (Clive) - the undoubted highlight of the show. Guide Fake Reaction Thursday, ITV2, 10pm Guests facing toe sucking, scary noise dancing, smelly sumo pants and a penguin-fed platter are Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona, TV presenter Matt Johnson, Made in Chelsea's Cheska Hull and comedian Patrick Monahan. Guide Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm Charlie Brooker & Co return to once again shed a little light on the main talking points of the past week. Guide The Midnight Beast Thursday, E4, 10pm The boys are back as the new series continues. Stef, Ash and Dru are skint, in spite of their new job at the Bingo Hall. Guide Room 101 Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm Singer Michael Ball, actress Caroline Quentin, and 'German comedy ambassador' Henning Wehn try to dump fundraising, clairvoyants and junk mail into the Orwellian chamber. Guide Stella Friday, Sky1, 9pm Things get saucy this week when, as a side effect of taking HRT, Stella's you-know-what drive goes up a notch, leading to an unexpected encounter with a famous face. Guide The Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 10pm Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker return with another series of their topical chat show. It's been a ratings winner for Channel 4 to date, and seems to have produced a number of 'watercooler moments' - will the new series keep up the momentum? Guide QI Friday, BBC Two, 10pm More of the best bits from Series K, with Stephen Fry, Alan Davies and guests. Guide The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC One, 10:35pm Among the guests on Graham's sofa tonight: Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, talking about his Golden Globe-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club; comedian and actor Alan Davies; and music from singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Guide Live At The Electric Friday, BBC Three, 11:50pm Roger Showbusiness attempts to hypnotise the audience into eating cheese; WitTank use their all-seeing, all-knowing oracle to order The School stationary; and Luke McQueen resorts to even more desperate measures in order to #getsarahback. Guide The Jonathan Ross Show Saturday, ITV, 9:35pm This week's guests are film stars Goldie Hawn and Liam Neeson, singer and reality TV star Peter Andre and singing sensation Pixie Lott, who performs live in the studio. Guide For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.

New DVDs

Play It Cool! PRE-ORDER. Featuring the big-screen debut of Liverpudlian pop idol Billy Fury ('Britain's Elvis Presley') this charming, pre-Beatles-era comic musical feature was among Michael Winner's earliest films. A 1962 box-office hit spawning a top-ten single and EP, Play It Cool! features cameos from some of the most recognisable of 60s pop's faces. Details Ali G, Aiii PRE-ORDER. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Ali G, Aiii, is a 103-minute compilation of highlights from Da Ali G Show, including 30 minutes of previously unseen and uncensored material. Also making his DVD debut, courtesy of Kazakhstani television, we introduce Borat. This is one of a number of Ali G DVD re-releases in the next few months - see our site for more. Details Yonderland PRE-ORDER. Written by and starring the cast of Horrible Histories, Yonderland is a naughty comedy for adults and kids. Mum Debbie is bored of being an unappreciated stay at home mum, and heads on the gap year she never had. But forget a gap year in South East Asia, she's heading to Yonderland - a fantasy world, somehow accessible through her kitchen. Details All Neat In Black Stockings OUT NOW. Part bawdy romp, part kitchen-sink drama, this box-office hit features Victor Henry as a twenty-year-old window cleaner whose womanising is curtailed when he finds himself falling in love for the first time. Also starring Susan George and Jack Shepherd, the film became a cult classic with its bold intermingling of sexual adventure, humour and tender love story. Details Drifters - Series 1 OUT NOW. This new E4 sitcom premiered late last year, focusing on a group of female friends, post-university, congregating back in their home town of Leeds and attempting to establish their lives and careers. There's no news on a second series yet, but we hope one is forthcoming. Details For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy Videos

My Mad Fat Diary - Series 2 Exclusive: Friendships Best buds Dan, Sharon, Nico and Jodie play a game of spin the bottle and discuss the filming of Series 2 (which is coming soon to E4). Watch Inside No 9: Trailer The trailer for Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's much anticipated new show. It's really, really good. Trust us. Watch The Trip To Italy - Preview A clip from the second series of The Trip, coming to the BBC later in the year. Rob and Steve are back on the impressions. Yay. Watch The Midnight Beast - Behind The Scenes - Series 2, Episode 1 Watch the musical numbers from the opening episode being filmed. Watch Doll & Em - Trailer A sitcom in which English actress Emily Mortimer heads to Hollywood, closely followed by best friend Dolly Wells as her assistant. It's coming soon to Sky Atlantic. Watch Uncle - No Survivor - Behind The Scenes The making of the full length video for Andy's song No Survivors. Watch

Guide Spotlight

Educating Archie Having made stars of the likes of Tony Hancock, Bruce Forsyth and Hattie Jacques with the long-running and immensely popular BBC radio series of the same name, Educating Archie launched on television with this ITV sitcom in 1958. However, the comedy about a smart ventriloquist's dummy did not translate to nearly such a success with the visual medium, and it lasted only 2 series - compared to a full 10 years on radio, from 1950. Guide

Thanks for Reading

That's all for this week, folks. We'll be back in your inbox as usual next Monday. The British Comedy Guide

(c) The British Comedy Guide 2014. Not yet subscribed? Join our mailing list