Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 17th July 2023 |
Latest comedy news
The Sean Lock Comedy Award launched by Channel 4
Channel 4 has announced The Sean Lock Comedy Award, which will showcase talented new writers and performers "who embody the alternative comedic spirit of Sean and Channel 4".
Richard Curtis curates Christmas Actually stage show for Comic Relief
Christmas Actually, a festive stage show curated by Richard Curtis in aid of Comic Relief, will run at London's Royal Festival Hall from 7th to 11th December.
Armando Iannucci adapts Dr Strangelove for the stage
Stanley Kubrick's Dr Strangelove will be adapted for the stage for the first time ever, with Armando Iannucci co-writing the new West End version with director Sean Foley.
Just Stop Oil invade The Last Leg
A trio of Just Stop Oil protestors interrupted The Last Leg as it went on air on Friday evening.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show returns to BBC One for a seventh series
Michael McIntyre's Big Show is returning to BBC One for a seventh series, with the usual mix of celebrity guests, musical performances and features such as Send To All and Midnight Gameshow.
Riki Msindo wins Chortle Student Comedy Award 2023
The winner of the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2023 competition was Bristol University's Riki Msindo, with Exeter University undergraduate Josh Adkins named runner-up.
Billy Connolly announces new travel book Rambling Man
Billy Connolly will publish a new book in October. Rambling Man: My Life On The Road explores his 'Rambling Man' philosophy and shares stories from a live adventuring across the globe.
Eric Morecambe novel The Reluctant Vampire to become BBC series
The BBC has commissioned The Reluctant Vampire, a series based on Eric Morecambe's 1982 children's novel of the same name.
Eddie Izzard to tour greatest hits show
Eddie Izzard: The REMIX Tour Live, featuring the comedian's best routines told in new ways, will run in the UK in November and December.
Ed Gamble pilots culinary Taskmaster spin-off Foodmaster
Ed Gamble is piloting Foodmaster, a food-related Taskmaster spin-off for Channel 4 in which five celebrity contestants attempt to answer the question: "Food is great, but how can it be improved?"
Advert
Begin your journey through the annals of Carry On, Britain's longest-running comedy film series with these 4-disc Blu-ray sets, featuring the first 8 films of the uproarious franchise - in high-definition for the first time worldwide. Each of the classic titles also features an enlightening audio commentary with members of the original cast, and Collection 2 is released on Wednesday. Info & order
Features
Edinburgh Festival listings and features
It's now just a couple of weeks until the Edinburgh Fringe kicks off. You'll find listings for all the shows in our dedicated Fringe section, plus interviews and articles from some of the comedians performing.
Comedy Chronicles: Pete and Club: Peter Cook's Establishment
The remarkable and little-told full story of the rise and fall of Peter Cook's famed satirical nightclub, The Establishment.
Mitchell & Webb's most iconic sketches
From army caps with skulls on to a smug brain surgeon, here is a look at five iconic sketches performed by David Mitchell and Robert Webb.
British Comedy Quiz #262
Where did Jim Hacker go to university? Who is Reg Prescott? Where didn't the Four Yorkshiremen stay? What happened on the 13th March 1986? We have some more fun questions for you here.
Random 8: Alexandra Haddow
With an award freshly plundered and her Fringe debut imminent, Alexandra Haddow talks funeral crashing, nans, tans and a naughty Nighy job.
Advert
The South London Comedy Festival begins TODAY at Streatham Space Project! Packed with new material and Edinburgh previews from top comedy talent, including: Jenny Eclair, Paul Chowdhry, Sikisa, Chloe Petts & more. July 17th - 27th. Full line-up and tickets
TV listings
Guessable?
Fin Taylor, Olga Koch, Joe Sugg and Remi Burgz play the parlour games in this episode.
Janey And Ashley Get A Real Job
Mother and daughter, comedians Janey Godley and Ashley Storrie go head to head to prove they have what it takes to get a 'real job'. Tonight's opening episode sees them begin by getting to grips with working on a farm.
Horrible Histories
In honour of the Women's World Cup, legendary Lioness Jill Scott is joined by Rattus for a journey through the history of the beautiful game.
Rob And Romesh Vs
Series 5 of the show in which Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan try out things. They start by joining Penn & Teller in their long-running Vegas magic show. They have just three days to pull their act together.
Jack Whitehall Gets Around Live From Wembley Arena
The first television broadcast of Jack Whitehall's 2014 DVD-released show.
Shopping With Keith Lemon
Series 4 of the show in which the character Keith Lemon chats to people in shopping environments. First up: Big Brother hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best as they go looking for homeware, followed by a trip to a pet store with reality star Olivia Attwood.
CelebAbility
Pete Wicks leads a group of three friends looking to win prizes by defeating Danny Miller, Bobby Norris, Bobby Mair and Angellica Bell.
Not Going Out
A great episode of the sitcom guest starring and co-written by Chris McCausland. It is Lucy's birthday, and the family are on a vintage steam train. But Lee decides to play Poirot when a stranger turns up unannounced in their carriage and Lucy's special day is ruined.
Then You Run
Tara debates whether her friends would be safer without her but it soon becomes clear that danger has followed them to Germany.
Queen Of Oz
The final episode of the series. Georgie takes on a more positive attitude, but then, one by one, things start to fall apart.
The Last Leg
Joining Adam, Josh and Alex in what is likely to be a studio that has tighter security now will be Tim Minchin and Judi Love.
The Stand Up Sketch Show
Steff Todd, Josh Weller, Sarah Callaghan, Luke McQueen, Dane Baptiste, Ivo Graham, Jack Carroll and Dan Tiernan perform.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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The Good, The Bard And The UglyA new book from comedy actor and writer Susie Donkin (Smack The Pony, Horrible Histories). Imogen thinks she knows what Shakespeare's most famous plays are all about. Everyone does, right? Star-crossed lovers. Naughty Greeks getting up to mischief in the woods. Scottish kings losing their minds. Young men with daddy issues. Dads who just need some positive affirmation from their daughters*. (*Okay, that's maybe putting it a bit mildly) But when Imogen brings 14 amateur actors together to perform one of the Bard's great works in a bid to save their local community centre, it becomes apparent that she - or anyone who reads this book for that matter - will never see Shakespeare's greatest works in the same light again... |
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Dickie Henderson On Radio And TelevisionA new book and DVD set 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. Alongside a comprehensive catalogue of his broadcast work is a new biography overview by historian Graham McCann, and a 75-minute DVD. The disc features two episodes of long-running domestic sitcom The Dickie Henderson Show, by Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd, and an unbroadcast sketch/chat show pilot, I Wish I'd Said That, written by Barry Cryer and co-starring Kenneth Williams. |
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Mortification: Eight Deaths And Life After ThemMark Watson is generally accepted to be alive. And yet he's died many times. Not just on stage - though he'll tell you about that - but in other ways, too. There's been the death of a childhood dream. The death of his panel-show career. And then there was the time he died inside and nearly lost it all... "Eye-opening, revealing and painfully funny", this is a book about mortification, failure and all the times life doesn't work out as planned. But it also wisely questions whether the things we strive for - recognition, success, the approval of others - are really the things that matter. It's a book about death that reminds us how to live. |
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Josie Long - All Of The Planet's WondersA BBC Radio 4 comedy series in which award-winning comedian Josie Long attempts to better herself through learning from reference books, with help from Irish comedian Maeve Higgins. Originally broadcast 18 February 2009 - 11 March 2009, each episode is anchored by Josie and Maeve in the studio, with Josie presenting her essay on the week's subject and Maeve helping with questions, illustrations and interruptions. The guests help to play extra characters or to provide specialist advice. |
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God's Petting YouGod's Petting You is a darkly twisted comedy charged with erotic thriller energy in its exploration of the depths and depravity of the Brighton underworld. At a self-help group, cheeky young Charlie, a down on his luck heroin addict, falls in love with the ravishing 'Tattoo Girl', a struggling addict. Teaming up they hatch a hair-brained scheme to steal a small fortune from a criminally-inclined adult star, a plan that's guaranteed to fail. Or is it? |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Don't Overthink It - Cops
Tom's got into a little trouble with the police. How is he gonna get out of it?
BBC announces new blueprint for future - Broken News
The beleaguered national broadcaster has come up with a plan to protect its interests after a troubling few weeks.
The Power Of Parker - Trailer
The trailer for this new sitcom coming to BBC One on Friday 28th. It's Manchester, 1990, and Martin Parker is about to get his comeuppance...
Pin
A man tries to fix an error by the bank while he comes to terms with his new pin.
East Mode With Nigel Ng - The Great Asian Bake Off
Uncle Roger judges a TV baking competition, alongside Auntie Vanessa. Will it all end in tears and soggy bottoms for the contestants?
Stock footage with the sound on is weird
Adrian Gray has created this set of comedy sketches using only royalty-free videos.
Comedy Central Live - Pierre Novellie
Pierre Novellie warns Comedy Central Live about the "quiet ones" at work, before revealing the real reason women take forever to get ready...
The Lovers - Trailer
A new Sky comedy drama following the journey of the love-struck, oddly paired duo, Seamus and Janet, played by Johnny Flynn and Roisin Gallagher. When Seamus unexpectedly drops into Janet's world they instantly clash - and yet also find themselves inextricably drawn to each other...
Spotlight
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
Over the weekend it was announced that the iconic Cold War satire will be coming to the West End stage next year (see above), so it's a perfect time to revisit the highly acclaimed, award-winning comedy. Peter Sellers stars in three major roles - but did you know he was supposed to have also played a fourth? That and much more can be found via our website - plus the opportunity to buy the film, crisply restored, on stunning 4K UHD Blu-ray.
Thanks for reading
Ali Panting submitted this fire-related joke to the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition:
That French arsonist did a great job on the sweetie shop: it was a bon bon-bon bonfire.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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