Weekly Newsletter

Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Latest comedy news

Will Sharpe creates Prodigies series for Apple TV+

Will Sharpe creates Prodigies series for Apple TV+

Apple TV+ have announced Prodigies, a new comedy drama created by Landscapers and Flowers writer Will Sharpe. The seven-part series focuses on the relationship between two ex-child prodigies.

Karen Dunbar to head out on 80 date tour of Scotland

Karen Dunbar to head out on 80 date tour of Scotland

Chewin' The Fat star Karen Dunbar is to tour Scotland from May to November with a new live show.

Zara Gladman pilots BBC sketch show Good For Her

Zara Gladman pilots BBC sketch show Good For Her

Zara Gladman is piloting a BBC sketch show, with Good For Her airing on BBC Scotland and iPlayer this summer, ahead of the character comic making her Edinburgh Fringe debut later this year.

Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole? arrives at Comedy Central

Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole? arrives at Comedy Central

Jimmy Carr is to host a new show on Comedy Central in which comedians pass judgment on members of the public, with Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**hole?, inspired by the popular Reddit subreddit of the same name.

Taskmaster Series 19 launches on Thursday 1st May

FYI

Comedians to star in Celebrity Traitors; West End New Act of the Year 2025 finalists announced; Tim Key publishes L.A. Baby! and Taskmaster Series 19 launches on Thursday 1st May.

Advert

WeGotTickets

WeGotTickets are in their second week of celebrating the UK's amazing grassroots and independent comedy scene. Over 150 comedy shows hit stages across the country this month, featuring top talents like Phil Wang, Suzi Ruffell, Stephen K Amos, Kae Kurd, Rhys James, Jen Brister, Shazia Mirza, and loads more. If you've ever needed an excuse to check out your local comedy club, this is it - grab some tickets now!

Features

Comedy Chronicles: Hugh & You - The amiable acting of Hugh Lloyd

Comedy Chronicles: Hugh & You - The amiable acting of Hugh Lloyd

A profile of Hugh Lloyd, the actor with the craftiest of comic spirits who appeared in many comedy shows between the 1950s and early 2000s.

Random 8: Amelia Hamilton

Random 8: Amelia Hamilton

Philosophy, Skeleton Bob and God Save the Queen - Amelia Hamilton takes the eight-question challenge.

First Gig, Worst Gig: Bella Hull

First Gig, Worst Gig: Bella Hull

How do a monkey, elephant, baby cobra and piggie fit into Bella Hull's comedy life? All will be revealed.

British Comedy Quiz #353

British Comedy Quiz #353

Featured in this knowledge test: Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, Lauren Cooper, Derek Nimmo, Roy Slater and more.

Random 8: Adam Hopkins

Random 8: Adam Hopkins

With a new show and a new special - filmed in Taiwan - Adam Hopkins talks Mandarin murmurs, Beitou springs, and a chicken shop in Pudsey.

Advert

Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**Hole?

CASTING is open for Comedy Central's brand new comedy entertainment show: Jimmy Carr's Am I The A**Hole? Inspired by the hugely popular Reddit thread, #AITA. The team are looking for individuals and duos to appear on the show, who are up for discussing their hilarious, petty or downright ridiculous tales of behaviour with Jimmy Carr and his panel of comedians. You must be 18+ to enter. Successful cast will be paid.

For more information, full T&C and to apply, head to: shortaudition.com/AITA

TV listings

Joe Lycett's United States Of Birmingham

Joe Lycett's United States Of Birmingham

Tuesday 9pm, Sky Max. Episode 1

A series in which Joe Lycett visits cities in the US and Canada named Birmingham. His road trip begins in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Just Act Normal

Just Act Normal

Wednesday 9:30pm & 10:05pm, BBC Three. Episodes 3 & 4

Two more episodes of the comedy drama, with Jamelia popping up as Fake Jackie - the woman hired by the young trio to pretend to be their mum to fool suspicious teacher Ms Jenkins.

Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

Friday 9pm, BBC One. Series 69, Episode 4

Angela Rippon debuts as host, with Richard Osman and Jo Brand guesting.

Blankety Blank

Blankety Blank

Saturday 8:05pm, BBC One. Series 21, Episode 2

Bradley Walsh hosts as Roisin Conaty, Sandi Toksvig, Fire from Gladiators, Desiree Burch, Paddy McGuinness and Joe Pasquale fill in the blanks.

For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.

Shop

The League Of Gentlemen - The Complete Collection

The League Of Gentlemen - The Complete Collection

Monday 9th June 2025. Blu-ray

Newly remastered and restored, this complete box set comes to Blu-ray for the first time in HD.

Celebrating the League's twenty-fifth anniversary at the BBC, it contains all three original television series and all the specials, plus a wide array of existing extras and brand new commentaries shedding fascinating light on the cult comedy series.

Joe Bor - The Friend In The Fridge

Joe Bor - The Friend In The Fridge

Out now. Paperback

From stand-up Joe Bor, The Friend In The Fridge is the comical children's story of a boy, his blob and how sometimes, friends can come from the unlikeliest of places - even the back of the fridge!

Lenny is a young boy with lots of friends. That's if you class the trees and the leaves and the walls he plays football against as friends. Low on confidence and struggling at school, Lenny feels a little lost. But all that changes when he opens the door to his fridge. And discovered Thingamy, a mysterious talking blob. Throughout this journey of friendship, confidence and discovery, Lenny and Thingamy embark on a truly heart-warming tale that takes them from the fridge to the local junkyard, and an adventurous and perilous ending.

The Iceman: The Final Block

The Iceman: The Final Block

Out now. Download

A final live show from cult 80s alternative comedy performer The Iceman. Stradling the line between fascinating, iconic and disaster, this recording has to be seen to be understood - nevermind believed!

Robin Ince - Normally Weird And Weirdly Normal: My Adventures In Neurodiversity

Robin Ince - Normally Weird And Weirdly Normal: My Adventures In Neurodiversity

Thursday 1st May 2025. Audiobook, Hardback and eBook

A powerful, personal exploration of anxiety, ADHD and neurodiversity, Normally Weird And Weirdly Normal reminds us all - no matter how weird we feel - that it's okay to be a little different. We all are.

What if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn't a sign of weakness, but strength? For over thirty years, award-winning broadcaster and comedian Robin Ince has entertained thousands in person and on air. But underneath the surface, a whirlwind was at play - a struggle with sadness, concentration, self-doubt and near-constant anxiety. But then he discovered he had all the hallmarks of ADHD and his stumbling blocks became stepping stones.

In Normally Weird And Weirdly Normal, Robin uses his own experiences to explore the neurodivergent experience and to ask what the point of "being normal" really is. Packed with personal insights, intimate anecdotes and interviews with psychologists, neuroscientists and many neurodivergent people he has met along the way, this is a quirky and witty dive into the world of human behaviour.

Erik The Viking - Standard Edition

Erik The Viking - Standard Edition

Out now. Blu-ray

Boasting an extremely recognisable supporting cast, Tim Robbins plays the titular role in late comedy legend Terry Jones's 1989 comedy fantasy.

A viking with a conscience, Erik tires of pillaging and decides to set out on a quest. When the wise Freya (Eartha Kitt) informs Erik that a great mythic wolf has eaten the sun, the warrior resolves to venture to Asgard, home of the Norse gods, to set things right. Before Erik can reach Asgard, he and his allies must first find a magical horn that resides in the land of King Arnulf (Jones), who, luckily for the hero, has a lovely daughter, Princess Aud (Imogen Stubbs).

Includes original 103-minute cut and "The Director's Son's Cut" (79-minutes) in standard definition.

For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.

Comedy videos

The Daily Tism - Episode Two

The Daily Tism

The second episode of the sketch show written by and starring autistic comedians.

Joseph Charm on Britain's Got Talent

Joseph Charm on Britain's Got Talent

At the weekend Joseph Charm delivered a relatable routine about the trials and tribulations of parenthood on the ITV talent show.

Rob Beckett's Smart TV - Unseen Bits

Rob Beckett's Smart TV - Unseen Bits

Some of the moments that didn't quite make it to the Series 2 episodes. With Strictly Come Dancing gossip, some dodgy accent work from Rob, EastEnders hopes for Danny Dyer, and some unfortunate wording from Josh Widdicombe.

No one's that good an actor

No one's that good an actor

Alasdair Beckett-King's latest sketch. Someone has been arrested. He's either telling the truth, or he's a bloody good actor.

Comedy Central Live - Amy Matthews

Comedy Central Live - Amy Matthews

Why 'touch grass' when you can catch a yawn from a turtle in Antigua?

Spotlight

One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing

One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing

Peter Ustinov, Derek Nimmo and Joan Sims are amongst the stars and sparkling supporting cast of this delightfully daft mid-70s British Disney caper. Set much earlier in the century, it follows a group of Chinese agents attempting to locate a secret formula that has been smuggled to London from their home country, and a group of traditional English Nannies who become embroiled in foiling their search.

Thanks for reading

Amanda Webster won the BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition on the topic of stress:

Failed at helping my boyfriend destress on our camping trip. Ended up with us getting two tents!

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