Weekly Newsletter |
Tuesday 7th May 2024 |
Latest comedy news
Kiri Pritchard-McLean writes foster carer sitcom for the BBC
Kiri Pritchard-McLean is writing a sitcom about foster caring for the BBC based upon the experience of providing respite care for vulnerable children. She and her partner are also developing a second loosely autobiographical sitcom with Ellie White attached.
Paul Whitehouse's Sketch Show Years arriving on Gold next month
Paul Whitehouse's Sketch Show Years is coming to Gold next month, a retrospective journey through his favourite British skits from the last six decades.
Bridget Christie's The Change to return for Series 2
Channel 4 has commissioned a second series of The Change, the comedy series written by and starring Bridget Christie.
Frank Sidebottom CD collection contains previously unheard tracks
A new CD collection featuring the work of Frank Sidebottom includes 20 tracks that have never been released before.
BBC pilots hidden camera game show Sneaky Sneaky for primetime
The BBC is piloting Sneaky Sneaky, a primetime comedy game show featuring celebrities pranking unsuspecting contestants.
Inside No. 9 stage show confirmed
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are to star in the live show Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright in London's West End for 12 weeks, from January.
Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special confirmed
The BBC has confirmed that Gavin & Stacey will return on Christmas Day 2024 "for the last ever episode".
Dane Baptiste dropped by agent after misogynist death threat
Comedian Dane Baptiste has been dropped by his agent, Gag Reflex, after posting a misogynistic, antisemitic death threat towards another comedian on social media.
Sarah Parish and Mark Heap to star in Piglets
ITV has confirmed the cast of Piglets, the police-based comedy from the team behind Green Wing. The lead roles will be taken by Sarah Parish and Mark Heap.
ITVX to live stream Edinburgh Fringe shows
ITVX Presents: Edinburgh Fringe Live will involve four hour-long comedy showcase shows being streamed live from the Edinburgh Festival.
Lauren Pattison stars in Radio 4 sitcom Tom And Lauren Are Going OOT
Lauren Pattison has landed her first Radio 4 series, co-writing and starring with Tom Machell in Tom And Lauren Are Going OOT, a four-part sitcom about a Geordie couple's struggles to leave the house in 15 minutes.
Ben Elton is considering a Blackadder play
Blackadder co-writer Ben Elton has said he would like to create a new stage play for the characters, if Richard Curtis was interested.
Live tours
The latest tours announced:
Shaparak Khorsandi
Chloe Petts
Rhys Nicholson
Amy Gledhill
FYI
Mark Steel reveals he's cancer-free; Ivo Graham's stand-up special is now on YouTube; Apply to be an Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 judge; Count Abdulla cancelled; Ruby Speaking ends after one series; Suzi Ruffell & Rhys James join kids for Channel 4's Tiny Day Trippers; Seann Walsh to co-star in new touring production of the play Art; and Changing Ends Series 2 is coming this summer.
Advert
Fawlty Towers is now in the West End. If you book via Ticketmaster before the end of the month you can save up to 48% off tickets. Ticketmaster
Features
Random 8: Michelle Shaughnessy
All set for alternative life-coaching in Shrewsbury, Michelle Shaughnessy takes the ultimate eight-question test.
Comedy Chronicles: How Lew Grade knocked entertainment into shape
A profile of Lew Grade, one of the most powerful TV executives who - via companies such as ATV - defined the comedy that appeared on television from the 1950s onwards.
First Gig, Worst Gig: Si Beckwith
From Mötley Crüe to a meat raffle: Si Beckwith takes us back in time.
British Comedy Quiz #304
Les Dawson, Norman Wisdom, Jon Pertwee and Alison Steadman are amongst the people that pop up in this quiz.
Komedia celebrates 30 years in Brighton
Much-loved Brighton venue Komedia is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
TV listings
Hold The Front Page
For the first time ever, Josh and Nish are reporting overseas. In Benidorm. Their demanding editors want ten stories a day.
Painting Birds With Jim And Nancy Moir
Series 2 of the show in which the couple visit places around Britain to create original pieces of art celebrating the unique species of bird native to that region. First up, the peregrine falcon In London, with help from The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins and photographer Mary McCartney.
Inside No. 9
The start of the ninth and final series of the hit anthology format. Late-night passengers get stuck in a tunnel when their train breaks down. Patiently, they wait for the replacement service until a nurse gets her purse stolen and tempers start to fray.
Taskmaster
John Robins demonstrates the power of his forearms, Steve Pemberton stains his shirt with orange juice, and Sophie Willan repeatedly shouts the name of a body part in Little Alex Horne's little flustered face.
Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays
Joe Wilkinson and Katherine Ryan enjoy a low-cost city break to the affordable Latvian capital city, Riga.
Horrible Histories
Rattus enlists songwriter Richie Webb for a show in which everything is a song.
Have I Got News For You
Mel Giedroyc hosts. Staff writer at the Atlantic, journalist Helen Lewis has been confirmed as a panellist, with the other currently TBC.
The Young Offenders
Series 4 of the sitcom. Conor and Jock have grown older, but not any wiser. A madcap trip sees them on the wrong side of the law as they're given a free holiday to Colombia.
Late Night Lycett
Joe Lycett is set to attend the Baftas dressed as Queen Elizabth I, after losing a bet to his aunties on this show. There's another live episode this Friday.
QI
A selection of the best moments from the recent series. Sandi Toksvig asks questions connected to the letter U, as Alan Davies and the guest panellists try to come up with interesting, point-worthy answers - all the while avoiding the most obvious ones.
Jon Richardson: The Knitwit
The first TV broadcast for this Jon Richardson stand-up special. He asks all the important questions: Will the recycling be put out on the right day? Who is going to smooth over the top of the margarine?
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Janey Godley - Janey: The Woman That Won't Shut UpJaney Godley has been a determined fighter all her life - from her tough Glasgow childhood to becoming the much-loved comedian she is now. As she faces her diagnosis with cancer, Janey shares with candour and humour the good and the bad. The Woman That Won't Shut Up is the story of how "a mouthy female comedian finally overcame the prejudices that stopped her getting gigs to earn her place in the male-dominated comedy establishment". |
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Masala FMSpice up your life with Masala FM, East London's most happening community radio station. It's the home of banging tunes, advice for the lovelorn and the hottest news from the street - all brought to you by down-with-the-kids DJ Maz Mazoo, no-nonsense agony aunt 'Auntieji', romance show smoothie Khalid and hard-hitting investigative reporter Shanta. But when the network's owner, corn oil tycoon 'Krispy' Krishna, decides to shake things up, the presenters are running scared. |
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Bless This House - The Complete SeriesTomorrow marks the anniversary of screen icon Sid James's birth (8th May 1913), and his most successful television series is about to be reissued on DVD. This 12-disc box set includes all 65 episode of the smash-hit 1970s sitcom and its feature film adaptation, in which James plays a husband and father who is constantly trying to bridge the generation gap and deal with his family whilst also trying to keep his own incompetence to a minimum. |
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Romesh Ranganathan - Lil' Muffin Drops The MicFrom comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan comes a tale that proves rap battles and baking muffins really can mix. Ever since James's dad left, he can't seem to stop worrying about everything. Luckily his favourite hobby baking is a fun (and delicious!) distraction. But no matter how many amazing cheese scones James makes, he still feels like there's a missing ingredient in his life. When James hears someone rapping in the playground one day he's completely hooked and starts writing his own raps featuring all of his favourite things. |
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Mrs. Brown's Boys - Series FourThe critically-mauled but enduringly popular BBC sitcom returned last autumn for (almost) a full series for the first time in nearly a decade. Alongisde Brendan O'Carroll as titular matriach Agnes Brown, the cast feature in four deliciously daft episodes: Miserable Mammy, Mammy Scissorhands, Million Dollar Mammy and Mountain Mammy. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
A League Of Their Own - Mexican Road Trip trailer
The latest A League Of Their Own road trip starts on Sky Max on Tuesday 21st May. Jamie Redknapp, Jill Scott, Micah Richards, Mo Gilligan and Maisie Adam explore what Mexico has to offer, as well as take on a number of epic and fun sporting challenges along the way.
Fin Vs The Internet - Jonathan Pie
Facing Fin Taylor's brutal jokes this time: social media satirist and fake newsreader, Jonathan Pie.
Tory plan to win back votes - Broken News
The Conservative Party plan to win back votes and voters has been revealed after "disappointing" recent election results.
Sick wars
In the dog eat dog world of the corporate machine, you have to take every opportunity you can to get ahead. You can't let something as simple as a common cold or other illness slow you down from impressing your boss.
Argh!
Everybody is exhausted. Thankfully, a novel new wellness craze promises to help people vent their worldly frustrations. It's certainly worked for Alderbrook. For now at least...
Passport photo
A hopeless moron tries to have his passport photo taken.
Queenie - Trailer
The trailer for this forthcoming Channel 4 series. "Meet Queenie. Journalist. Catastrophist. Expressive. Aggressive. Loved. Lonely. Enough?"
Comedy Central Live - Bronwyn Sweeney
Bronwyn Sweeney is going out in style, like Winnie the Pooh.
Spotlight
The Kennedys
From 2015, this was the fun period sitcom from comic actor and writer Emma Kennedy, based on her own upbringing in the 1970s. We thought it deserved far more than the single series it got, with the recognisable, highly talented comic cast ensuring a very entertainment watch. Well worth revisiting if you get the chance.
Thanks for reading
David Kidder has won the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition based around a certain chicken brand:
Icarus had a bad experience at Nando's. It was the hot wings.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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