Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 7th November 2022 |
Latest comedy news
Derry Girls stars drive World's Most Dangerous Roads for Dave
Dave has revived World's Most Dangerous Roads, with pairings in eight hour-long episodes including Derry Girls stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, stand-ups Ed Gamble and Lou Sanders, Joe Wilkinson and Zoe Lyons, Suzi Ruffell and Maisie Adam, Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie, Darren Harriott and Ria Lina, as well as Lara Ricote with Stephen Mangan and Will Mellor with Leigh Francis.
Peter Kay announces comeback live tour
Peter Kay has announced a new stand-up tour, 5 years after his last was cancelled shortly after tickets had gone on sale.
Big Fat Quiz to return for sport special
The Big Fat Quiz format is to return to Channel 4 for a sports special, hosted by Jimmy Carr.
Bloods and Toast Of Tinseltown up for Rose d'Or Award
Bloods, Toast Of Tinseltown, The Outlaws and This Is Going To Hurt are amongst the British comedies nominated in the 61st annual international Rose d'Or Awards.
Taskmaster to return for new New Year Treat
Channel 4 has commissioned another celebrity special of Taskmaster. The one-off New Year Treat programme is expected to air on New Year's Day.
Bobby Mair releases full show Cockroach for free
Comedian Bobby Mair has released a full-length recording of his 2022 Edinburgh Fringe show, Cockroach, for free on YouTube.
Channel 4 pilots sitcom from disability activist Kyla Harris
Channel 4 is piloting a comedy from intersectional filmmaker and disability activist Kyla Harris, which she co-wrote and stars in alongside Sally Phillips and Darren Boyd.
Del Boy falling through bar voted funniest sitcom scene
A poll run by TV channel Gold has named moments from Only Fools And Horses, The Vicar Of Dibley, Dad's Army and Fawlty Towers as the funniest British sitcom scenes.
FYI
Also: Joel Dommett to host two pilots; Kae Kurd announces 2023 tour; Matthew Holness announces Garth Marenghi book tour; Guessable? gets US remake; Water sliding with Frankie Boyle, as comic announces 2023 tour; James Corden says he 'inadvertently' told a Ricky Gervais joke; Josie Long announces 2023 tour Re-Enchantment and the Beat The Frog World Series 2022 line-up.
Advert
Catch Anthony Jeannot's (Bath New Act Finalist 2021) London encore following a totally sold out run at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 at The Pleasance Best of Fringe on 17 November!
"Poignant, beautiful stuff... narrative comedy of the highest calibre." ★★★★ 1/2 WeKnowMelbourne
"A haunted house ride of millennial angst, philosophical in its own manic way... Grim, sharp, hilarious." ★★★★ ShortCom
Features
Bobby Carroll's Comedy Diary - Scott Bennett, Marcel Lucont, Chris Forbes
Bobby has been watching Scott Bennett at Glasgow's Glee club, Marcel Lucont, Marcel Lucont at Edinburgh's Stand and Billy Kirkwood and Chris Forbes at Monkey Barrel.
Spot the fake Channel 4 show
As the rollercoaster of 2022 nears its close, we have an exclusive extract from the new publication Have I Got News For You: The Quiz Of 2022 to tickle your grey cells.
Comedy Chronicles: There's two of 'em! - The Winters and their discontent
Once huge stars, sibling double-act Mike & Bernie Winters are now often remembered far more as the butt of jokes than for their contributions to comedy. Here we look at their career and body of work to find out why, and set straight a few misconceptions.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Tom Ward
He's heading out on a national tour, but why did TV viewers never see Tom Ward's big standing ovation?
Win a Worzel Gummidge prize bundle
We have three prize bundles to give away, comprising of a DVD or Blu-ray copy of the stunning new extra-packed Worzel Gummidge restoration and two exclusive signed prints.
British Comedy Quiz #227
Richard Curtis, Mr Bean and My Parents Are Aliens are amongst this week's question topics.
John Robins, Friday Night Live, Marina Hyde, The Weirdos - Mark Muldoon's Comedy Diary
Mark's live comedy adventures this month take in James Acaster, Tim Key, Channel 4's Friday Night Live, John Robins, Amy Gledhill, Marina Hyde, The Death Hilarious and Weirdos Present: The Envelopes.
Random 8: Sleeping Trees and Dan Wye
Together for a fairytale film mash-up, Sleeping Trees and Dan Wye recall some gruesome injuries and an onslaught of jäegerbombs.
TV listings
Frankie Boyle's New World Order
Frankie Boyle tackles the biggest issues troubling the planet with the help of Nish Kumar, Desiree Burch, Alex Brooker and Laura Smyth.
Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable
Mel and Lou are joined by Olga Koch, Jonathan Ross and Slim for the final episode of this third series.
Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains
Rhod is joined by Nick Grimshaw, Meera Syal and Zoe Williams as they travel back in time to discover who had a needy Tamagotchi and who spent 10 months in Ayia Napa.
Two Doors Down
Series 6 of the sitcom, but now without Doon Mackichan. Colin turns to his neighbours for support when he is unceremoniously dumped by Cathy. Beth and Eric do their best to cheer him up. All six episodes will be on iPlayer after Episode 1 airs.
Don't Hate The Playaz
Jordan Stephens is joined by guests So Solid Crew, Jamie Laing, Zeze Millz and Miraa May along with team captains Maya Jama and Lady Leshurr.
BBC New Comedy Awards
It's the final. Kerry Godliman hosts as Dee Allum, Omar Badawy, Robbie McShane, Marjolein Robertson, Dan Tiernan and Joshua Bethania take to the stage in their bid to win over judges Fern Brady, Rosie Jones and Nabil Abdulrashid.
Taskmaster
This week's highlights include Sarah Millican flailing about with a frying pan, Fern Brady enjoying the power of a spiky plant and Munya Chawawa pulling off a spectacular billiards shot.
Jamie & Harry's World Cup Challenge: Got, Got Need
Jamie Redknapp has eight players still remaining to collect so he and his dad Harry fly to Madrid to meet Luka Modric, but they are disappointed when he cancels their meeting. Later, a Scottish golf club meeting does work out.
Fantasy Football League
The regulars are joined by Maisie Adam and legendary newsreader and journalist Trevor McDonald for more chat about the week in football and to share their fantasy teams from the digital dugout.
The Russell Howard Hour
Russell Howard returns to chat to guests and pick over the recent news headlines.
Mammals
The new comedy drama in which James Corden plays a man who is questioning the complexity of modern marriage and fidelity.
Have I Got News For You
A highlights episode looking back at the series just gone. We guess there were a few interesting things they had to talk about...
The Tuckers
Glyn's in the county skittles final, taking on a hated rival. Bobby is in deep, deep trouble. And will Billy leave the family business?
QI
Series 20 of the panel show starts, with all the topics beginning with the letter T. In this opener, Sandi Toksvig shares her top tips and tools with Joe Lycett, Holly Walsh, Bill Bailey and Alan Davies.
I Literally Just Told You
Another episode of the comic quiz show. As you may have read at the top of the newsletter, the format has been nominated for an international award, so a third series seems possible.
The Graham Norton Show
Mo Gilligan is set to appear this Friday, plus Bruce Springsteen, Anya Taylor-Joy and Florence and the Machine.
The Big Narstie Show
Series 5 of the late night show hosted by Big Narstie and Mo Gilligan. Guests are set to include hip-hop star Eve, actor Ross Kemp and Celebrity Gogglebox regular Bez.
Blankety Blank
Konnie Huq, Sara Davies, Bruno Tonioli, Jo Brand, Jamie Laing and Natalie Cassidy are the celebrities helping contestants win prizes this time.
The Jonathan Ross Show
Sylvester Stallone, Tyson Fury, Black Panther stars Martin Freeman and Danai Gurira and former England footballer Rio Ferdinand are the guests. Plus, Little Simz performs in the studio.
The Larkins
Ma and the children try to convince Pop to take the court case seriously, but he has more fun things on his mind. He is conducting his own defence in court - what can go wrong? Mariette and Charley make a welcome return home.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
 |
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators - Series 1-4The first four series of this much-loved BBC comedy mystery series in which an oddball couple of private detectives named Luella Shakespeare and Frank Hathaway investigate crime in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. (DI) Frank Hathaway, now a debt-laden investigator, meets Luella Shakespeare when she employs him to investigate the fiancé she met online. Frank and Lu form a highly unlikely and hugely entertaining detecting duo. They quickly discover all is not as peaceful as it seems in this pretty theatre town. Vengeful lovers stalk the streets, the mayor is murdered and a magician's trick fatally misfires. Featuring an array of wonderful guest stars, each episode forces our dynamic duo to solve another mystery with their charm and detective instinct. |
 |
ABC Nights In - Getting Rid Of PeopleA night in with ABC Television - this specially curated release is one of eight new programming compilations that offer a unique viewing experience, recreating a potential evening's viewing from the 1960s, including vintage advert breaks and continuity from 'Diddy' David Hamilton. The new titles present a range of comedy, drama and entertainment programming, with this set including: |
 |
Ring Around The BathIn this fraught, witty, real comedy about a middle-aged mother desperate to begin her post-children life, Stella is wondering why those grown-up children are all still in her house. Dreaming of retiring to a life in the countryside with her husband, instead she's dealing with four extra people in the house, rooms that urgently need de-junking, surprise pregnancy tests, difficult neighbours and a mother who really isn't helping anything. When she attempts to clear the useless clutter from the house, Stella realises it's her children who really need to go; if she can't move to the country, then she's going to make sure the country will move to her; and when it finally seems like at least one child is moving out, that's the perfect moment for Stella's mother to decide she's moving in. Stella feels like the family chaos will never end... |
|
Have I Got News For You: The Quiz Of 2022You'll have seen our extract feature above - now order the full book! Some people, when they reach the end of a long, uncharted year of chaos on the home and world stages, like to look forward to new horizons (albeit another long, uncharted year of chaos on the home and world stages, only with increasingly worse weather). But before you leave the cosy confines of 2022, challenge yourself to live through it all one more time with a quiz book from your favourite topical Friday night panel show, with rounds including 'London's Hottest Party Venue', 'Backbench MP or Charles Dickens Character?', 'It's a Royal Cock-up' and Have I Got News For You regular features: the Missing Words and Odd One Out rounds. With over 1,000 questions and plenty of gags on everything from politics to pop culture, Have I Got News For You: The Quiz Of 2022 promises hours of entertainment and will serve as a timeless souvenir of a rollercoaster year. |
|
We Joined The NavyWe Joined The Navy is a 1962 naval comedy starring film icon Kenneth More, Lloyd Nolan, Joan O'Brien and Mischa Auer and directed by Wendy Toye, and has been newly remasteres and restored in high definition for this release. Lieutenant Commander Robert Badger is an excellent naval officer with one major problem. He speaks the truth at the most inopportune times, leading him to be transferred from ship, to shore, and then to instruct at the Royal Naval College. When his remarks are repeated by one of his students to his father, an anti-military Member of Parliament, he has one last chance to prove himself. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Can you read the bottom line?
Opticians who don't wear glasses are the worst. A sketch by Michael Spicer.
Outsiders interviews
Ahead of the second series of challenge show Outsiders, which starts next week, David Mitchell invites contestants Jessica Hynes, Phil Wang, Joe Wilkinson, Maisie Adam, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Darren Harriott into his bunker to discuss various topics.
Taskmaster - Series 14 outtakes - Part 2
A second bunch of moments didn't make the final show.
Matt Hancock gets his 'letter from home' on I'm A Celeb
Matt Hancock gets his letter from home on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.
Your Christmas Or Mine? - Trailer
The trailer for this new comedy film. It's Christmas Eve-Eve and after a mix up, a young couple experience each other's family Christmases.
Trying To Return Clothes In 2022
Oh, why is it so hard to return a pair of jeans FFS?
Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything - Trailer
A trailer for the new comedy starting on Sky next month. Rosie Molloy (Sheridan Smith) is addicted to everything. Smoking, alcohol, Terry's Chocolate Oranges, Xanax, Adderall, caffeine... the list goes on.
Cluedo comes to life
Quirks & Foibles give you the ultimate murder mystery... it's almost like these characters belong in a board game.
One Of The Good Ones - Jazz Emu
Jazz Emu says: "I started writing this song as comedomusicological exercise in attacking one specific individual for Your Entertainment. But the more I wrote, the more I started to feel like a voyeur, contorting that stranger into a reductive stereotype of my own creation. This song is about that."
Spotlight
A Fine Romance
Starring Dame Judi Dench and her real-life husband Michael Williams, this gentle early-80s comedy came from the pen of Bob Larbey, co-writer of sitcoms including Please Sir! and The Good Life, who would reunite with Dench a decade later when he wrote As Time Goes By. Over a four-series run, it followed the up-and-down relationship of Laura and Mike, two pleasant but rather dull middle-aged individuals. The 26 episodes are of an even more bittersweet, low-key comedy style than As Time Goes By would be in the 1990s, and if such comedy is up your street, this could be a perfect winter warmer - the complete collection is available on DVD.
Thanks for reading
Philip Simon has won the latest BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of "horse racing":
Next up we've got Spring Roll, Crispy Seaweed, Garlic Bread, Doughballs and 27 Poppadoms with Mango Chutney at the end. They're under starters orders...
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
Join our mailing list