Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 9th May 2022 |
Latest comedy news
Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe Hold The Front Page for Sky
Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe are making a Sky comedy series about local news. Shooting this summer, Hold The Front Page will see the pair championing the role that local newspapers play in the communities they serve.
Motherland wins at 2022 BAFTA TV Awards
Motherland has won Best Scripted Comedy in the 2022 BAFTA TV Awards. The other comedy-related winners were Sophie Willan, Jamie Demetriou, In My Skin, The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan and Big Zuu's Big Eats. Click through to watch clips from the acceptance speeches.
Mike Cox wins Not So New Comedian Of The Year 2022
Mike Cox has won the Not So New Comedian Of The Year competition. Meanwhile Viggo Venn came top at the NATYS showcase.
Künt announces Jubilee chart bid with Prince Andrew song
Controversial award-winning comedy singer Künt has revealed details of his latest chart-topping bid - a song about Prince Andrew in time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
BBC film The Fringe In 12 Jokes tells the story of Edinburgh in gags
The BBC is making documentary The Fringe In 12 Jokes, featuring Eddie Izzard, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton, Frankie Boyle, Lucy Porter and Henning Wehn, among others, reflecting on the impact of Edinburgh festival on their careers.
Simon Amstell making Maria, film comedy with Star Wars' Felicity Jones
Simon Amstell has revealed details of his latest film, Maria, a comedy starring Felicity Jones, about a woman trying to escape the reality of getting older. Meanwhile, Chris Addison has also begun work on his first British feature, Miri, about an Orthodox Jewish teen falling in love with ice skating
Stewart Lee stand-up specials to air on BBC Two
BBC Two is to broadcast Snowflake and Tornado, two stand-up specials recorded by Stewart Lee.
The Skewer wins Radio Academy's ARIAS award
The Skewer, Cold Case Crime Cuts and Rosie Jones: Box Ticker Too were recognised at ARIAS 2022, the Radio Academy's awards.
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Soho Theatre Live is back on Amazon Prime Video UK with Season 3 and 10 incredible comedy specials. Featuring Mark Watson, Natalie Palamides, Olga Koch, Spencer Jones, Michael Odewale, Suzi Ruffell, Alfie Brown, Luisa Omielan, Felicity Ward and Anuvab Pal. Available for UK and Ireland Prime Video subscribers now. Watch Season 3.
Features
Josh Widdicombe on Hypothetical's return
Hypothetical returns for a fourth series next week. Here, we talk to Josh Widdicombe about why James Acaster is "perfect" to present with, why he's not giving Ed Gamble any satisfaction, which comedian delivers the best Widdicombe whinge and what he's been up to with Nish Kumar.
British Comedy Quiz #201
BCG message board regular Alfred J Kipper has written this week's questions. His chosen topics include Peter Sellers, Wolfie Smith and Not The Nine O'Clock News.
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Milton Jones is opening Underbelly Festival in Earls Court this Friday night! You would have seen him on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, this show is one you don't want to miss! Visit the Underbelly website to secure your tickets.
TV listings
Agatha Raisin
The competition to be crowned winner of the Carsely Jam-Off has always been fierce, but when the prize jam is poisoned leading to the death of a judge, things may finally have gone a step too far...
Peacock
In the final episode of this short taster series, life is on the up for Andy as things are going well with love interest Georgia.
Comedians Giving Lectures
Rhys James gives a lecture titled 'I Stalk Strangers Online', Huge Davies presents 'What Every Pro Musician Needs To Know' and Sally Phillips talks about 'The Power of Uncertainty'.
Derry Girls
Episode 5 has flashback elements. Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah are determined to put on a good show as they prepare for the highly anticipated class of 1977 school reunion.
Hullraisers
When the smug 'super-Dad' in charge of the pre-school PTA insinuates that Toni doesn't contribute - or get much acting work - she offers to run a baked-goods stall at the school fair. Only she can't bake.
Richard Hammond's Brain Reaction
David Baddiel, standing in for Johnny Vegas, goes head to head with Victoria Coren Mitchell. Guests Bobby Mair and Lou Sanders join the fun, while comedian and brainiac Ria Lina tries to keep things on track.
The Island
It's finale time, who will be crowned the winner? And are some of the comedians' choices about to come back and haunt them? Yes. Yes they are.
Inside No. 9
Hard-as-nails Detective Inspector Katrina, a divorcee and single mum, is determined to crack the case of the missing boy. But there's also her drinking, her love life and her inner demons. She doesn't want help, but it turns up anyway.
Rob And Romesh Vs
Rob and Romesh are opening their own restaurant. In the first of a special two parter, they learn all about the restaurant industry to find out what they will do for their establishment.
Taskmaster
This time, several contenders become baffled by things as apparently simple as a high five and a fish tank, which doesn't bode well as they continue their quest to win Greg's gilded bonce.
Chivalry
Bobby gets an exciting opportunity. And Cameron and Bobby attempt to take a break from work, but find themselves in the middle of a crisis when a damning video goes viral.
Celebrity Juice
Chris Eubank, Megan McKenna, Majestic and Jamie Laing join captains Laura Whitmore and Emily Atack for more games, fun and anarchy on the panel show hosted by Keith Lemon.
Growing Up Scottish
Previously known as Scotland Made Me..., here's a second series of the show mixing archive footage with Scottish comedians talking about their childhoods. This time: friendship and Scotland's homes.
Here We Go
An awkward encounter with a local artist, Frank, commissioned by Rachel to paint a Jessop family portrait, leads to Sue buying a swimming pool to help her recover from her hip replacement.
Have I Got News For You
Anna Maxwell Martin makes her HIGNFY debut as she takes to the host's chair, whilst Chris McCausland is one of the guests.
The Other One
In the second episode of the new series, Cat reignites a feud with rival delivery driver Patience, putting her job on the line.
Ministry Of Offence
It's Left against Right, as two teams of politically-opposed comedians go head to head. This is the show hosted by Steve N Allen, with team captains Leo Kearse and Diane Spencer.
Steptoe And Son: Secrets & Scandals
A documentary looking behind-the-scenes on the classic sitcom. It includes an examination of how a Met Police vice squad operation actively targeting celebrities led to the arrest of star Wilfrid Brambell.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
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London Comedy Allstars is back! Head down to Underbelly Festival for a night of all-out laughs
Underbelly Festival is back in London for the summer, bringing the very best comedians to Cavendish Square. Every Friday night join London's top comics from 9:30pm for an unforgettable night of live entertainment. Located less than five minutes from Oxford Circus, this is the perfect spot to grab a drink after work and enjoy a show. This week's line-up includes Catherine Bohart, Alex Kealy, Charlie Baker, Lauren Pattison & Michael Akadiri! It is definitely not to be missed, so visit the website to get your hands on some tickets.
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Morecambe & Wise - The Lost TapesOver four hours of never before released episodes of The Morecambe & Wise Show. Lost for over fifty years, now available for the first time on DVD. In 1968, the BBC broadcast the very first series of The Morecambe & Wise Show. One of the BBC's first ever full colour comedy series, the programme would run for another nine years, quickly becoming one of the most beloved BBC television shows of all time. Sadly, none of the eight episodes that made up Series 1 of The Morecambe & Wise Show were ever archived. And until recently, they were thought lost forever. However, after more than a decade of patient archive research and restoration, the series is now available to enjoy again. Four complete episodes have been recovered on film, with the other four surviving as high-quality audio-only recordings. Following extensive restoration all eight episodes are presented here on DVD for the very first time. Also included is an extensive collection of additional special features, all previously unreleased. They include a once lost one-off special episode from 1970; an unbroadcast 1972 studio tape; a specially shot BBC Two trail; two rare 1960s BBC interviews; deleted scenes and featurettes. |
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Horrible Histories - Series NineReturn of the CBBC multi-award-winning series that presents a laugh out loud take on history, with all the horrible bits left in. Based on the successful books by Terry Deary and sporting a hugely talented ensemble of comic actors and special guest stars, Horrible Histories puts the hilarity in history's dirty deeds, famous events and quirky characters in a mix of sketches and songs. Series 9 includes a gruesome guide to growing up, a Strictly Horrible tour of dance and a special British black history episode. As well as the plastic bag inventor! Always historically correct and hugely entertaining. |
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Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones - Series 1-4Mention Milton Jones to most people and the first thing they think is 'Help!'. So he's set out on a mission to help anyone, anywhere - whether they need it or not. Armed with a new motto, 'No problem too problemy', and accompanied by his faithful assistant Anton and landlady Pauline, he sets out to assist people in any way he can. In these 24 episodes, he tries out an array of new careers, and becomes embroiled in numerous new adventures. Join him as he becomes a wedding planner (and attempts to track down a vanishing groom-to-be), turns financial advisor (only to sink the pound and fight off a Swedish invasion), takes up genealogy (and gets stuck up an unexpected family tree) and goes under the sea to save the Earth (as well as stumbling across a mysterious great aunt). |
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Dawson & DixieFrom 1974, German television special Dawson und Dixie saw Les Dawson and George Sewell, amongst others, travel to Berlin to make this sketch show. Never seen before in the UK, it will be released on DVD this summer and includes subtitles for German language sections. |
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Tony Nicholson - Shut That Door! The Definitive Biography Of Larry GraysonLarry Grayson was extremely funny, highly likeable and much-loved. Those were sentiments felt not just by his millions of fans, but also by those who knew him personally. He was a complicated man who didn't become a star until well into his middle age, having worked for years as drag act Billy Breen. The peak of his popularity came in the early 1980s with Larry Grayson's Generation Game on BBC1, with regular viewing figures of over eighteen million. Larry Grayson's story is fascinating from beginning to end, and has never properly been told before. This extensively and painstakingly researched account of his life is aspirational, funny and heart-breaking in equal measure. |
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Jack And The Beanstalk: After Ever AfterFairytale sequel to Jack & The Beanstalk, starring Sheridan Smith, David Walliams, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Blake Harrison and Daniel Rigby. When Jack (Eddie Karanja) discovers the Giant isn't dead after all, they form an unlikely alliance against the angry, narrow-minded locals of the village - but the notorious giant killer is waiting for them... |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
The Dots on Britain's Got Talent
At the weekend, Simon Cowell was fooled by The Dots, a musical comedy act in which everything that can go wrong does go wrong. The episode also featured impressionist Ben Nickless and Joey Howard, the latter of whom was buzzed off the stage.
Late Night Forever! With Jordan Brookes - Comedy Blaps Pilot
Jordan Brookes is presenting the chat show of his nightmares. Literally. Stuck in a coma after a mysterious accident, he finds himself hosting a psychedelic talk show live from his own subconscious.
Billi - Comedy Blaps Pilot
Billi, an egomaniac with a self-proclaimed 'heart of gold', tells the brave and gritty story of just what a twenty-five-year-old brat will go through in order to get a half-head of highlights.
William Of Orangedale - Comedy Blaps Pilot
Coming-of-age comedy about teenager William and his friends growing up on a council estate in East Belfast and the shenanigans that they get up to.
Unfair - Comedy Blaps Pilot
Culture clash comedy Unfair is the story of clueless student Sorcha who leaves her leafy home for a life on a showman's yard with boyfriend, Bentley.
Red Flag - Comedy Blaps Pilot
Red Flag is an exciting sketch show from the brilliant comedy mind of Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Disability Benefits - Comedy Blaps Pilot
A sitcom pilot starring Rosie Jones. Having been made redundant, and with her state benefits cut to shreds, a young woman with very little left to lose begins to build an illegal drugs empire.
Mudlarking champion
We introduce you to Britain's top mudlarking champion: we salute you, Frederick Bowles.
Mate! Liquid Gold!
As Pfizer and Moderna prepare to announce new COVID vaccine profits, Jolyon Rubinstein asks why share the tech and #EndCOVIDmonopolies when you have liquid gold in your hands?
The Criminal
When The Poison Eveline is brought in for questioning by two keen detectives, their interrogation doesn't go as she expected. An offering from Sketchy Ones, guest starring Nina Wadia.
Comedy Central Live - Jen Ives
Jen Ives looks at dating app deceptions and an Otter bedspread that sets the mood.
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Writing Your TV Comedy Script - an online course run by Chris Head - starts this Wednesday and runs for five weeks, with sessions from 7pm to 9pm. On this course you'll produce a 30 minute script as Chris takes you through a structured approach to writing, and together you'll analyse the opening episodes of a range of different shows in a variety of styles to uncover all the insights you'll need to complete your own masterpiece. Find out more
Spotlight
The Card
Another classic - Oscar-nominated, no less - feature to recently have been restored and released on Blu-ray in modern high definition, The Card is the funny period tale of a young Edwardian working class man who uses hits wits to drag himself, and his community, out of poverty. With a bit of luck and a lot of confidence and ambition, Denry Machin works his way up from his extremely poor background to become his industrial town's youngest mayor; marrying a local beauty, befriending nobility, annoying the pompous town bigwigs, and making a lot of money along the way! Alec Guinness stars in this adaptation of a novel, alongside Petula Clark, Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, Joan Hickson and others.
Thanks for reading
We asked our BCG Pro members to joke about mirrors. Here is Sean Fee's entry:
I put up way too many mirrors in my house. It was a prism of my own making.
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