Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 13th March 2023 |
Latest comedy news
Paul Foot to tour Dissolve, his 'most personal show'
Stand-up comic Paul Foot is to tour a new show between September and November 2023 which is being labelled his "most personal, surprising and inspired stand-up offering ever".
Dawn French joins Radio 4 Cornish sketch show Wosson Cornwall
Dawn French stars in Cornish sketch show Wosson Cornwall, coming to Radio 4 next month. French joins a cast that includes Edward Rowe, Joanna Neary and Tamsyn Kelly, with the writing team featuring Morwenna Banks, Paul Kerensa, James Henry and Max Davis.
Chris McCausland gets Channel 4 stand-up show
Comedian Chris McCausland's current touring show, Speaky Blinder, is to be recorded in May for broadcast on Channel 4.
Late Night Mash dropped after two series
Satirical comedy programme Late Night Mash will not return for a third series, Dave has confirmed.
Mo Gilligan to launch stand-up showcase on Audible
Audible will publish Mo Gilligan's Spotlight, a stand-up comedy podcast series hosted by the comedian which will feature acts including Eddie Kadi, Thanyia Moore and Kae Kurd.
Sarah Millican's Bobby Dazzler coming to DVD
Sarah Millican's latest live show, Bobby Dazzler, is to be released on DVD in April.
Baldrick to read Blackadder Bedtime Story for Comic Relief
The BBC has revealed its plans for Red Nose Day, with Tony Robinson reprising his Blackadder character Baldrick for a Bedtime Story about Cinderella. Other Comic Relief sketches include one themed around Love Island and the Stath Lets Flats gang trying to raise money.
Sara Pascoe announces debut novel Weirdo
Sara Pascoe is publishing her debut novel in September, Weirdo.
Alex Horne pilots People Watching game show for Channel 4
Alex Horne and the Taskmaster team are piloting People Watching, a game show for Channel 4 in which comedians interact with the audience.
Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2023 nominations
Ali Woods, Chloe Petts, Kuan-wen Huang, Mad Ron, Milo Edwards and Stuart Goldsmith are amongst the nominees for the Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2023.
RTS award nominations revealed
Shortlists for the 2023 RTS Programme Awards have been announced, with Am I Being Unreasonable? picking up four nominations.
The Kemps & Rhys Thomas shooting All True mockumentary sequel for BBC
Rhys Thomas has reunited with Spandau Ballet stars Martin and Gary Kemp for a sequel to their 2020 BBC mockumentary All True, with filming beginning today in London.
FYI
Garth Marenghi could return to television says Matthew Holness; Bethany Black, Rob Kemp and Wil Hodgson recording stand-up specials; Fighting Talk not broadcast in support of Gary Lineker; Fern Brady & Jamali Maddix get their freak on for Stitch Head movie; Smack The Pony is NOT returning; Armando Iannucci embraces his Daredevil side with new Marvel comic; Henpocalypse! cast revealed (and Danny Dyer to guest star); Harry Hill, Rose Matafeo and Lolly Adefope to appear with Yard Act; Peep Show? Never seen it says Matt King; Eddie Izzard to change name to Suzy and she joins Netflix's Kaos; plus Motherland is to be remade in the US.
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★★★★ - "Silly Boy is hard to beat, a tale that's by turns eye-opening, deeply affecting and candidly hilarious" - Scotsman
In his intimate and highly-anticipated debut hour, Rich Hardisty (Channel 4, Netflix, BBC) takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of his unusual life. Expect anecdotes and observations about momentous movies, missing dads and mania, all from his warm, inquisitive, childlike perspective. Rich tries to convey what mental illness looks and feels like, celebrating the beauty and silliness of it all. Dates & tickets
Features
How we made Little English
Producer Dominique Unsworth and writer/director Pravesh Kumar talk about the making of their independent feature, Little English.
Lucy Porter interview
As she returns to Radio 4 this week with her latest stand-up special, Lucy Porter talks about the upsides of appearing on breakfast television in pyjamas, not writing her novel, losing her marbles and hitting rock bottom.
Comedy Chronicles: Woody Allen versus a boxing kangaroo
In 1966, inside an office at British TV company Rediffusion, a programme meeting reached its climax when some bright spark volunteered the idea: '...Kangaroo Boxing?'.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Joe Mande
From the Mall of America to the Soho Theatre, Joe Mande gives us his gig highs and lows.
Tony Law / Dating Crapp / Fin Taylor - Bobby Carroll's Comedy Diary
Bobby has been watching Tony Law in his dead dad's long johns, fortnightly improv show Dating Crapp and an on fire Fin Taylor.
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Quiz
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy started on the radio in March 1978, so now seems a great time for a themed quiz to celebrate the iconic show.
Just For Laughs festival, London - Mark Muldoon's Comedy Diary
Organisers of London's Just For Laughs festival are aiming for the event to eventually become "the UK's most recognised comedy festival". With a debut line-up that included Graham Norton, James Acaster, Aisling Bea and Nish Kumar, Mark Muldoon sizes up just how likely that's looking...
Random 8: Cally Beaton
Colbert, Owen Meany and Madonna - Cally Beaton takes the eight-question test.
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Next week (Thursday 23rd March) Jessica Fostekew will host the final of the BCG Pro Talent Awards for Performance at London's Museum Of Comedy. There's six great acts to enjoy - come along! Tickets
TV listings
Jerk
Series 3 of Tim Renkow's sitcom launches with a double bill, and the first episode guest stars James Norton (the plot sees Tim landing himself a role as an extra in a period biopic).
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
This anecdote sharing show finished in 2017, but - following a successful revival in 2021 - it's now back this week for Series 7. This opening episode sees Alan Davies joined by Sue Perkins, Lara Ricote, Jamali Maddix and Josh Jones.
Funny Woman
The final episode in the series. The team reunite to record a triumphant last show, but there are surprises still in store for Sophie.
Comic Relief
David Tennant, AJ Odudu, Joel Dommett, Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness will be hosting the charity event this year, with highlights set to include the return of Baldrick and People Just Do Nothing character Chabuddy G on Love Island.
The Last Leg
Nish Kumar and Fern Brady are set to take part in this Friday's live show.
Fantasy Football League
Russell Howard and Roman Kemp have been booked for the football chat this week.
The Jonathan Ross Show
Mel Giedroyc and Munya Chawawa are the comedy names on the guest list with Jonathan on Saturday. There's also Liam Neeson and singer Lady Blackbird on the show.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
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London Hughes - Living My Best Life, HunFrom stand-up comedian, actress, and host of The Netflix Afterparty London Hughes comes an uplifting and raucously funny memoir to show you how to ditch the self-loathing, start the self-loving, and engage with your inner winner. London Hughes has come a long way from secretly writing Frasier fan fiction alone in her bedroom. Between her breakout Netflix comedy special and Edinburgh Festival Fringe-lauded stand-up show To Catch A D*ck, her dating podcast London, Actually and her award-winning TV performances, London the South Londoner has taken the entertainment world by storm. And now, in this sassy, brash, fearless, and funny memoir, London is ready to inspire women of all ages and races with her story - because London is absolutely the best person in the whole wide world to take you on a wild journey of self-discovery. |
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The RebelTony Hancock's debut starring feature, the popular 1961 satire on the pretensions of the art world, gets a standard edition DVD rerelease later this month. Written by sitcom legends Galton and Simpson, Irene Handl is amongst the wonderful supporting cast in this colour big screen comedy, comprehensively restored from original camera negatives in 2019. Previously released on Blu-ray in high definition, and in limited editions on both formats, it follows as bored London office clerk Hancock struggles to break free from the daily drudgery of the commute and his relentlessly grey work life in order to pursue his dream of stardom in the art world. When he finally manages it, he finds that - from Paris's infamous left bank to the highest echelons of society - the art world is not quite all he had imagined. |
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The Pete Walker Sexploitation CollectionYears before he became revered as the 'Gentleman of British Horror', prolific filmmaker Pete Walker started his cinema career making hugely popular sexploitation movies and gangland thrillers. Walker's films didn't shy away from controversial subjects and proved irresistible to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. 'X'-rated productions that played solidly in the West End for over a year display the exceptional early talents of Britain's most celebrated and commercially successful director of his generation. Now for the very first time, Walker's finest non-horror movies are brought together for this spectacular new box-set, starring a host of famous faces: Robin Askwith (Confessions Of A Window Cleaner), Francoise Pascal (Mind Your Language), James Aubrey (Bouquet Of Barbed Wire) and David Kernan (Carry On Abroad). The collection includes For Men Only (1967), School For Sex (1969), Cool It, Carol! (1970) and Home Before Midnight (1978), all presented here in brand new HD restorations, and featuring an arresting array of exclusive extras, including brand new interviews with Walker himself. |
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Victoria Wood As Seen On TVSketches and songs from the much-loved BBC TV series, written by and starring Victoria Wood, presented on green and brown vinyl. The Ballad Of Barry And Freda (AKA Let's Do It) originated in Victoria Wood's ground-breaking television series As Seen On TV. It's just one of the many treasures on this double vinyl LP release, which also boasts a plethora of her best-remembered comedy sketches. Written by and starring Victoria herself, the sketches also feature Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Susie Blake, Patricia Routledge and a riotous supporting cast. The scene is set for an affectionately biting send-up of 1980s TV. Two 140g vinyl LPs (one green and one brown) are presented in a wittily illustrated gatefold sleeve, featuring images from the TV series. Cast and credits are accompanied by an exclusive sleeve note by Jasper Rees, author of the bestselling Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography Of Victoria Wood and editor of Victoria Wood Unseen On TV. Two full colour inner sleeves supply a complete track listing. |
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Paddington & Paddington 2Adapted from Michael Bond's beloved books, the two acclaimed Paddington films follow the comic misadventures of a polite young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British, who travels to London in search of a home. Remarkably, this is the first time both have been brought together in a single Blu-ray collection. Hugh Bonneville, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant are amongst the stars. In the first, Paddington meets the kind Brown family, who read the label around his neck ('Please look after this bear. Thank you.') and offer him a temporary haven. Little do the Browns realise just how much comic mayhem one young bear will bring to their family life, and when this rarest of bears catches the eye of a sinister, seductive taxidermist, it isn't long before his home - and very existence - is under threat... The much-anticipated sequel finds Paddington happily settled with the Browns. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr Gruber's antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it's up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Gordon Ramsay tries Nandos
Gordon Ramsay reviews Nandos in this impressions-based sketch from Scheiffer Bates. As you can perhaps guess, the language in this one makes it unsuitable for watching at work or near kids.
Half of British television always starts like this
Michael Spicer has recreated pretty much every show on television: A White Middle-Aged Man Travels Around Again.
The Vampire Conspiracy
The latest in Oli Frost's series of novelty songs about the climate crisis. Apparently climate change is a conspiracy made up by socialist vampires in order to push social policies.
Does a Work Wife stay at work?
Two friendly office workers really push the boundaries of their "work marriage". Suddenly the joke isn't so funny, however, when they're faced with family planning, affairs and divorce...
When your phone won't recognise your face
A meta sketch from Joz Norris about being recognised by phones.
The Cleaner - Series 2 trailer
The sitcom starring Greg Davies returns for a second series next week. Here's the trailer.
Plastic Hand
Plastic Hand is a wonderful friend. All hail Plastic Hand. In Plastic Hand we trust. A dark animation from David Firth, the creator of Salad Fingers.
Comedy Central Live - Axel Blake
Axel Blake tells Comedy Central Live about fighting his son, beefing with rude people and why being lactose intolerant is a real pain...
Spotlight
The Mimic
Turning 10 years old today, Channel 4's sitcom The Mimic starred Terry Mynott as Martin, a thoroughly unexceptional man with a remarkable talent for vocal impressions. Co-starring Jo Hartley as his best friend, Jean, it ran for two series and followed as Martin was shocked to discover the adult son he never knew he'd had - a piece of news that would set his life on a far more upward trajectory.
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Thanks for reading
We asked BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition entrants to joke about construction. Here's the submission from Gavin Webb:
I can count the number of times I've had an accident on a construction site on the fingers of another person's hand.
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