Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 26th June 2023 |
Latest comedy news
The Horne Section TV Show returning to Channel 4 for Series 2
The Horne Section TV Show is returning for a second series on Channel 4. Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Ronni Ancona and US comedian and bandleader Reggie Watts are amongst those joining the cast, with Tim Key, John Oliver and Desiree Burch reprising their roles.
Dawn French to publish The Twat Files book
Dawn French has written a new book. The Twat Files, in which she documents all the times she's been "far from perfect", will be published in October.
Nick Frost to publish a book mixing cooking and memoirs
Nick Frost is to publish a book that is described as "a mixture of memoir and cooking". A Slice Of Fried Gold: Taste My Memories will be published on 28th September.
BBC Two orders comedy from disability activist Kyla Harris
The BBC has ordered We Might Regret This, an autobiographical comedy from disability activist and filmmaker Kyla Harris, co-starring Sally Phillips and Darren Boyd, and co-written by Harris with her fellow Canadian Lee Getty.
Smack The Pony star Fiona Allen announces first tour
Fiona Allen is to embark on her debut stand-up tour. Following Edinburgh Festival dates, she will perform On The Run in venues from September.
Comedians Giving Lectures cancelled after three series
Comedians Giving Lectures, the Dave format hosted by Sara Pascoe, has been cancelled after three series.
'Sorry, I Didn't Know' to return for Series 4
Sorry, I Didn't Know, the ITV1 panel show focused on black history, is to return for a fourth series.
Stand-up comic starts legal action over Live At The Moth Club format
Stand-up comedian Harry Deansway has started legal action against Baby Cow Productions, claiming their sitcom Live At The Moth Club is a copyright infringement on his 2013 web series Shambles.
Hold The Front Page returning for a second series
Hold The Front Page is returning to Sky Max for a second series, with Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe once again toiling in the newsrooms of local newspapers.
We Are Not Alone will not return to Dave
UKTV have said that Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond's alien invasion comedy We Are Not Alone will not return to Dave for any further episodes.
Angela Thorne dies aged 84
To The Manor Born and Three Up, Two Down star Angela Thorne has died aged 84.
Chris McCausland set for 2024 tour
Chris McCausland: Yonks! will tour the UK from January to May 2024.
Leigh Francis announces first live tour
Leigh Francis is to perform a live tour featuring his various characters, including Keith Lemon and Avid Merrion. My First Time will run across March and April 2024.
FYI
Outsiders Series 3 contestants confirmed; Russell Kane publishes The Essex Variant stand-up show online; BBC New Comedy Award winner Anna Thomas & Paul Allen pilot new shorts; Not Going Out becomes Britain's third longest running TV sitcom; Sean McLoughlin releases So Be It stand-up special; Kunt and the Gang release Phillip Schofield song; Only Fools And Horses stage show cast hope for TV special; Kevin Bridges in talks to adapt his novel for television; David Jason teams up with Jay Blades for Touring Toolshed; Huge Davies launches The Carpark special online; Ali Woods publishes Best Friend Ever stand-up special; and Red Dwarf added to iPlayer.
Advert
"Strong whiffs of Blackadder and Python are in the air" - Time Out
The riotous, side-splitting new comedy BLEAK EXPECTATIONS boasts an impressive line-up of guest star comedians including Stephen Mangan, Tom Allen, Jack Dee, Alexander Armstrong, and Stephen Fry alternating as the show's narrator. Don't miss this stupendously splendid West End premiere that will leave you in stitches. Harrumble! Info & Tickets
Features
Comedy Rewind: An alternative night out with Saturday Live
Showcasing a range of acts from the booming alternative comedy scene of the 1980s, this Comedy Rewind revisits the anarchic Saturday Live.
Mark Evans on bringing Bleak Expectations to the stage
Mark Evans talks about how he transferred his Dickensian spoof Bleak Expectations to the West End.
The Young Ones Quiz
How well do you know The Young Ones? Let's find out...
Random 8: Marcel Lucont
As he looks ahead to Laugh Till It Hurts, Marcel Lucont recalls tackling a beige dough handbag.
TV listings
Guessable?
The loft regulars welcome Rosie Jones, Jordan Gray, Sam Campbell and Thanyia Moore this week.
Wonders Of The World I Can't See
This week on the travel show: Chris McCausland explores The Colosseum in Rome with Tom Allen.
Larry Dean: Fandan
Just after midnight tonight, a broadcast of the double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee's debut special, recorded in his hometown of Glasgow.
Grandfather Rights
A comedy short about the future of health and safety. Calum's Grandad insists his driving licence allows him to drive all sorts of dangerous vehicles while Calum doesn't want to leave the house without a defibrillator.
The Change
Two more episodes. With her tree found and the time capsule missing, Linda starts to question whether it's time to return home, and receives a visit from sister Siobhain.
CelebAbility
Will Best leads a group of three friends looking to win prizes by defeating Katherine Ryan, Indiya Polack, Luke Kempner and Rickie Haywood-Williams.
Not Going Out
Lee's lifestyle catches up on him and he is forced to wait on a hospital ward for routine surgery on his gallbladder until his blood pressure comes down.
Queen Of Oz
Georgie's golden child of a brother, Prince Freddie - the heir to the British throne - pays an unexpected visit with some unwelcome news from their parents.
The Last Leg
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker return for another series of their topical comedy show. In this opening episode they will be joined by Miriam Margolyes.
The Stand Up Sketch Show
Rhys James, Esther Manito, Luke Kempner, Jack Barry, Axel Blake, Felicity Ward and Huge Davies are amongst those having their routines acted out.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Dickie Henderson: A Lifetime In BroadcastingA new book and DVD collection examining and celebrating the all-too-short life and career of star entertainer, comedian and early TV favourite Dickie Henderson, a ratings-winning ITV star through the 1950s, 60s and 70s before his premature death in 1985 at the age of only 62. Includes two episodes of the domestic sitcom The Dickie Henderson Show by Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd, and an unbroadcast sketch show pilot, I Wish I'd Said That, written by Barry Cryer and co-starring Kenneth Williams. |
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Helen Bauer - Little Miss Baby Angel FaceHelen Bauer enjoys a drama. She's her mother's daughter, taking a small situation, blowing it up, then getting upset that it's out of her control. Just like all the best reality TV. At the same time, she dreams of being a sweet angel handling any drama with grace. Who doesn't overthink everything and plan for how she will have all eyes on her at the right moment. |
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Doctor At LargeThe complete classic 1960s comedy starring Richard Briers, the sequel to Doctor In The House, about a newly qualified young doctor and his two best friends, Taffy Evans and Tony Benskin. When Simon Sparrow lands his first job (as a ship's doctor), he soon realises life on the seas is far from plain sailing. First of all, he falls in love with the chairman's daughter, Wendy, but is distracted from his affections by the discovery that he suffers from seasickness, and is expected to perform surgery with only cutlery and a hefty dose of brandy... Adapted from the 1955 novel Doctor At Large, also made into a film and ITV sitcom, this BBC radio sitcom features guest appearances from such varied comedy actors as Miriam Margolyes, Stanley Baxter, Joan Sims and David Jason. |
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Polite SocietyA merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, Polite Society follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. The feature film is out now as a UHD digital download, from writer/director Nida Manzoor (We Are Lady Parts). |
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Billy Connolly: Born On A Rainy DayThis beautifully presented deluxe coffee table book features around 300 of Billy Connolly's iconic drawings and sculptures throughout its 496 pages. With a foreword by Pamela Stephenson-Connolly, and commentary on the artworks by Billy himself, Born On A Rainy Day is truly a must-have for any Billy Connolly collector. Each book will also come with 'Self Portrait', a hand-signed framed limited edition giclée print by the Big Yin himself. It was on a rainy day in 2007 that Billy first put pen to paper. Taking refuge from the grey drizzle of Montreal, Canada, he entered an art shop with a twinkling curiosity and left with an armful of supplies and the urge to create. Over the next five years his drawings evolved into his debut fine art collection, Born On A Rainy Day, which launched in 2012. Billy's initial works were in black and white, but as he's progressed, he's brought dynamic colours into his pieces. Being described by The Times as 'poignant', 'funny' and 'enigmatic', Billy's art is charmingly simplistic, his faceless figures possess an extraordinary self-awareness and humanity. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Child Star
A former child star struggles to settle into civilian life as he navigates his way out of the entertainment industry in this short written by and starring Mark G Smith (which features guest stars including Jessica Fostekew and Mark Silcox).
MP shocked by online abuse - Broken News
Broken News reports on the comments of a member of parliament.
Changing Ends - Bloopers
The funniest bloopers and behind-the-scenes moments from the set of Alan Carr's sitcom Changing Ends.
Michael Whitehall reacts to Jack's new stand-up material
Jack Whitehall invites his dad to watch him delivering stand-up material about him.
Comedy Central Live - Daniel Foxx
Comedy Central Live discovers what Daniel Foxx's 97-year-old nan thinks LGBTQ+ actually means after accidentally going to Brighton Pride, and why James Bond is a massive dweeb...
Spotlight
Not For Turning
This single 2020 Radio 4 comedy drama follows a 19 year-old politics obsessive attending his first party conference and coming to grips with his homosexuality when he is outed by a gutter journalist. Mixing themes of politics, friendship and identity in a modern social media-fuelled society, it's a fun listen and included in the recent digital download collection #Blessed.
Thanks for reading
Chris Ballard submitted this planet-based BCG Pro Gag-a-Week joke:
The best way to describe my singing is that it's like living on a gas giant - inept tune.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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