Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 6th January 2025 |
Latest comedy news
Chris McCausland writes his autobiography
Chris McCausland is publishing a memoir this autumn, despite his having only begun writing it a little over a week ago. The currently untitled autobiography from the stand-up and reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion will be out 9th October.
Nina Gilligan named Comics' Comic 2024
Stand-up Nina Gilligan has been awarded the Best Comic title in the Comics' Comic awards. Hayley Ellis was voted top of the Best MC category, and Spiky Mike was named Best Independent Promoter. Additionally, Janey Godley was posthumously recognised for her outstanding contribution to UK comedy.
Stephen Fry to be knighted
Stephen Fry has been recognised in the New Year Honours List with a knighthood.
FYI
Alternative comedy magazine CHAFF launches; West End Comedy Club closes as venue redeveloped into pod hostel; and Nathan Cassidy releases stand-up special Amnesia on YouTube.
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.
Features
Comedy.co.uk Awards voting
Vote now to help determine which shows should make the shortlists in our annual TV and radio awards.
Comedy Rewind: It Ain't Half Hot Mum ain't half funny
Broadcaster Georgy Jamieson explores It Ain't Half Hot Mum, the 1940s-set sitcom that Jimmy Perry and David Croft labelled their favourite and funniest work.
2024 quiz
How much do you remember about the year just gone? Here are some questions about comedy-related events to test your memory and knowledge.
Top 50 live comedy shows of 2024
Mark Muldoon delivers a rundown of his favourite comedy shows from 2024 in his latest comedy diary. Look out for these productions on tour in the months ahead.
Chris Cantrill, Kevin Quantum - Bobby Carroll's Live Comedy Diary
Bobby's bladder almost ruins a trip down to London to see Chris Cantrill's lauded breakout / breakdown show for him, yet he proves finally fighting fit for a slice of magic and variety from Kevin Quantum.
Comedy Chronicles: When Ernie Wise launched the mobile phone
An article looking at comedians helping to launch new technology, particularly sitcom star Reg Varney making the initial withdrawal from the world's first voucher-based cash-dispensing machine and Ernie Wise making the first mobile phone call.
TV listings
QI
Rosie Jones, Josh Widdicombe and Susan Calman take part in the panel show.
Live At The Apollo
Paul Chowdhry introduces comedians Ania Magliano and Ian Smith to the stage.
A League Of Their Own
Romesh Ranganathan returns for a new series of the sports-based panel show, with team captains Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott and regular panellist Micah Richards joined by Tyson Fury, Maya Jama and Rob Beckett.
Video Nasty
A new comedy horror series set in 1985, about three teenagers who aim to complete a cult VHS collection. The trio have to find a way to get the final tape before word gets out that they've stolen money from the school graduation fund.
Would I Lie To You?
Rob Brydon is back in the host's chair as Series 18 kicks off. Harry Hill, Kojey Radical, Jill Scott and Stacey Solomon are the guests.
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Jimmy Carr hosts as Jon Richardson and Rosie Jones take on Joe Wilkinson and Phil Wang. Susie Dent is joined in Dictionary Corner by Dr John Cooper Clarke.
Taskmasterclass
The second episode of this occasional format that goes behind-the-scenes on Taskmaster and showcases highlights. In this episode, Greg patiently explains to Alex how the show is in fact a vast educational curriculum designed to help comedians better themselves.
The Graham Norton Show
Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Billy Porter, Claudia Winkleman and Myles Smith are lined up for this Friday's show.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
Shop
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Holy Flying CircusIn 1979, Monty Python's film Life Of Brian caused outrage around the world. Nuns with banners picketed cinemas, councils banned the film without even seeing it and the religious group Festival of Light organised a concerted campaign against the film trying to get it banned. Against this backdrop Michael Palin and John Cleese found themselves facing prominent society figures Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark in a television debate in front of a live studio audience to defend their film against charges of blasphemy. But who won? |
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She Stoops To Conquer & The Vicar Of WakefieldAnglo-Irish author Oliver Goldsmith was one of the most accomplished writers of the 18th Century. A novelist, playwright, poet and essayist, he came to fame with his novel The Vicar Of Wakefield and comic play She Stoops To Conquer. Both those classics are included here as BBC radio adaptations, with star casts including Julia McKenzie, Amanda Root, Peter Jeffrey and Sunny Ormonde. She Stoops To Conquer is a farcical comedy of manners, in which a London gentleman looking for love finds himself the butt of a mischievous prank. The Vicar Of Wakefield, meanwhile, is part morality tale, part satire of the sentimental novel. From 1766, it recounts the humorous adventures of the naïve, ever-optimistic Rev Charles Primrose, who lives contentedly in the countryside with his wife and six children until losing his fortune to a swindler. Can his faith face up to adversity and come through unscathed? |
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Gavin & Stacey - The Complete CollectionWritten by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones, this award winning series follows the ongoing romance between Essex boy Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Barry lass Stacey (Joanna Page). This is the complete collection for fans including all three series and the Christmas specials from 2008, 2019 and 2024, available on both DVD and Blu-ray. If you've already got the previous sets, the new finale episode is available separately in both formats. |
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The House Of The Spirit LevelsAn epic six-part comedy saga with a star cast, from master storyteller and satirist Nick Revell. When Tony Hardstaff breaks the bank playing 'Snap!' at the St Petersburg Casino, he is swept up in a maelstrom of romance and adventure. Seduced by the sultry Natassia Fillipovna Karamazov - a woman with curves so perfect they could make a geometry professor spontaneously combust - Tony is caught in flagrante by the Russian mafia and flees for his life. Taking the first plane out, Tony returns to his ancestral home in Grimesdale, and to the bosom of the family he left a decade earlier. But the prodigal son is not welcomed with open arms. His ruthless 183-year-old father Obadiah is less than thrilled to see him, his sister Jane is so shocked she suffers a nosebleed, and his mother Alice is so upset she drops dead on the spot. To cap it all, Tony's Brontë-obsessed ex-sweetheart has gone round the bend, his best mate Dave is now leader of the Morris Dancing Survivalist Militia, and the town he grew up in is under threat...Magical realism meets Northern family saga in this surrealistic comedy, starring Revell with Morwenna Banks, Alistair McGowan, Peter Serafinowicz, Alison Steadman and Claire Skinner. |
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Dead Ringers - Series 24-25Series 24 and 25 of BBC Studios' popular impressions show, collected together with the 2024 Christmas specials. The popular topical comedy show is back with another helping of political vituperation, media mauling and celebrity savaging. So sit back and treat your ears to a bumper helping of superb satirical impressions from the team: Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Duncan Wisbey and Jason Forbes. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Behind-the-scenes of Vengeance Most Fowl
A behind-the-scenes look at how the animators at Aardman created the latest Wallace & Gromit adventure.
A La Mode - Jazz Emu
Enter the world of fashion with Jazz Emu in his latest music video. Guest stars include Alex Horne.
Comedy Central Live - John Tothill
Ex-teacher Mr (John) Tothill wants a couple of glasses of wine and a couple of drunk ciggies.
Junior Taskmaster - Series 1 outtakes
Fans of this new Taskmaster spin-off will enjoy these eight minutes that were cut from the broadcasts.
Spotlight
4 O'Clock Club
This children's sitcom has likely passed you by but it's one of Britain's longest-running TV sitcoms, clocking up some 123 episodes by the time it concluded in 2020. Co-created by and initially co-starring rapper and comic Doc Brown (Ben Bailey-Smith), it's a musical comedy series following students at Elmsbury High - can music keep them out of trouble?
Thanks for reading
Mat Smith took on the 'New year, new me' BCG Pro Gag-a-Week theme with this:
Last year I decided to get into shape. And I did it. Technically, an egg is a shape.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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