Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 23rd December 2024 |
Latest comedy news
Chris McCausland to deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message
This year's Alternative Christmas Message on Channel 4 will be presented by Chris McCausland. He will use the five-minute slot to call for an end to discrimination against disabled people.
Comedy Central Live returning to television in 2025
Comedy Central Live is returning to linear television next year, with sets from Chris McCausland, Judi Love and Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner Amy Gledhill among others.
Mandy to return for Series 4
Diane Morgan is reportedly set to film a fourth series of her sitcom Mandy.
James Corden and Ruth Jones write Gavin & Stacey book
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship, a new book by James Corden and Ruth Jones going behind-the-scenes on their hit sitcom, will be published in October 2025.
Hal Cruttenden to tour again in 2025
Stand-up show Hal Cruttenden Can Dish It Out But Can't Take It will run from September to November 2025.
Romesh Ranganthan shoots Sky Max travelogue Can't Knock The Hustle
Romesh Ranganathan has shot a travelogue on his international tour, in which he explores how different cultures maintain a work-life balance. Airing on Sky Max next year, Can't Knock The Hustle follows him to India, South Korea, the US and Canada.
FYI
Chelsea Birkby releases debut special on YouTube; Starstruck stars Emma Sidi and Al Roberts announce pregnancy; Bill Bailey becomes patron of Musical Comedy Awards; and Russell Howard to stream stand-up special on 15th January.
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Making Merry Mischief, 'the funniest theatre troupe in Britain' (The Telegraph), have one final night of MISCHIEF MOVIE NIGHT (IN), the improvised movie streamed live into your living room from Sadler's Wells Lilian Baylis Studio in London.
No two shows are the same, as you suggest a genre, location and title, and Mischief hilariously bring the show to life, complete with rewinds, fast forwards, directors cuts and a thrilling live score to laugh along to.
Starring them, directed by you, MISCHIEF MOVIE NIGHT (IN) is a guaranteed comedy blockbuster. Tune in tonight at 7pm and/or 9pm.
Features
Comedy Chronicles: Random acts of kindness
A series of anecdotes about comedians being genuinely kind and nice to each other. Those featured include Ray Alan, Roy Hudd and Arthur Askey.
Christmas Quiz 2024
Our annual festive-themed quiz. How much do you remember about Christmas specials from the past?
Christmas crackers: 7 seasonal specials
Stuck for which Christmas specials to dig out this year? Tim Dawson suggests 7 classic comedy specials to have you hooting.
Restoring The Likely Lads
Producer Charles Norton discusses the landmark 60th anniversary DVD collection of important BBC sitcom The Likely Lads and its successor, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?.
Comedy Rewind: Man About The House film - 50 years on
A look back at the film version of Man About The House, which appeared in cinemas 50 years ago. It is one of the better sitcom film spin-offs of the 1970s.
Advert
The Carry On crew are back in freshly minted high-definition mirth! Carry On Collection 4 debuts the first four films from the Rank era worldwide on Blu-ray in HD. Enjoy Don't Lose Your Head, Follow That Camel, Carry On Doctor and Carry On Up The Khyber like you've never seen them before.
Festive TV highlights
Would I Lie To You?
A festive episode of the lie-based panel game. With Jimmy Carr, Laura Smyth, Rustie Lee and Lenny Rush.
Junior Taskmaster
The final of the new spin-off from the popular challenge show. Which of the kids will head home with a golden trophy of Rose Matafeo's head?
Mackenzie Crook Remembers... Detectorists
Mackenzie Crook shares what inspired him to write his hit series Detectorists. The first episode and the 2015 special then follow.
Dick Clement And Ian La Frenais Remember... Porridge
Fifty years on from when the prison doors first slammed shut on Norman Stanley Fletcher, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais look back. A classic special follows.
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Paul and Bob head to Cahors in the South West of France, where they celebrate another eventful year of fishing together.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The highly anticipated new special. Wallace invents a 'smart gnome' that has a mind of its own - or does it?
Gavin & Stacey
You'll have already heard about this special from the many media previews. But how will it end? You'll have to tune in to find out. A documentary going behind-the-scenes is on New Year's Day at 7pm.
Mrs. Brown's Boys
The tradition of an annual new special continues. This one sees Agnes struggling to find the festive spirit. Another new special follows on New Year's Day at 10:30pm.
Blankety Blank
Jane McDonald, Joel Dommett, Jonathan Ross, Oti Mabuse, Sara Pascoe and The Vivienne take part in a festive special.
Outnumbered
The family are back for a new special. Together they try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas.
The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year
Richard Ayoade, Katherine Ryan, Rob Beckett, Judi Love, Chris McCausland and Maisie Adam take part in the annual panel show format.
Taskmaster's New Year Treat
David James, Hannah Fry, Martin Lewis, Melanie Blatt and Sue Johnston take part in this one-off special of the popular challenge show.
Tommy Cooper: The Lost Tapes
This special programme showcases performances by the revered comedian previously unseen by a British TV audience.
Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains
A New Year special. Jon Richardson gives us a tour of his teenage bedroom, Vicky Pattison performs her favourite 90s dance routines and Loyiso Gola reveals his past as an unsuccessful rapper.
Cunk On Life
Philomena Cunk returns to tackle some of the most complex concepts to have ever been discovered, including Quantum Physics, Existentialism, Nihilism, Hedonism - and at least four other isms.
What Just Happened?
A special end of year TV version of the award-winning radio panel show from BBC Wales. Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Robin Morgan are joined by Tudur Owen, Will Hayward and Mel Owen.
Rob And Romesh Vs Darts
Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan meet professionals including Luke Littler as they prepare to play a match at Alexandra Palace.
The Last Leg Of The Year
Chris McCausland, Sandi Toksvig, Guz Khan, AJ Odudu, Natalie Cassidy and Josh Pugh take part in a bumper edition of the show.
The Graham Norton Show
Robbie Williams, Rami Malek, Motsi Mabuse and John Bishop join Graham Norton for a chat ahead of Big Ben going bong.
Queen Of The New Year
Still Game's Greg Hemphill and Burnistoun's Robert Florence once again joined by the best of Scottish comedy talent for a sketch show to see out 2024.
The Big Fat Quiz Of Everything
Harry Hill, David Mitchell, Roisin Conaty, Sophie Willan, Josh Pugh and Fatiha El-Ghorri take part in a one-off episode of the panel show hosted by Jimmy Carr.
Have I Got Sport For You
Jason Manford hosts this pilot spin-off rounding up the year's top sports stories. Jon Richardson, Maisie Adam, Eddie Hearn, Kadeena Cox, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Stuart Broad join in.
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
A new series of the popular words and numbers game kicks off with Sarah Millican, Josh Widdicombe, Alan Carr and Thanyia Moore. The Delightful Sausage join Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Above is just some of the new TV scheduled across the next fortnight. For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Thanks for reading
Alex Buchanan won the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on pantomimes:
I thought I'd gotten over my panto addiction until someone asked me where V was in the alphabet.
Thank you for reading our newsletters this year. If you've found them interesting and useful, please considering making a donation - it'll help us produce more content for you. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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