Weekly Newsletter |
Tuesday 6th May 2025 |
Latest comedy news
Fatiha El-Ghorri, Danielle Vitalis, Paul Black pilot BBC Comedy shorts
Taskmaster star Fatiha El-Ghorri leads a new series of BBC comedy pilots, which also features shorts from Smothered's Danielle Vitalis and sketch comic Paul Black, backed by the likes of Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee and Tom Davis.
Simon Bird to direct WWII comedy film Pretend I'm Not Here
Matthew Broderick, Sally Hawkins and Martin Freeman will star in Pretend I'm Not Here, a film directed by Simon Bird about a couple who offer refuge to a Jewish perfume salesman during World War II.
Horrible Science Series 2 confirmed
CBBC has ordered a second series of Horrible Science, the new spin-off from Horrible Histories, before the first series has begun airing.
Chris McCausland to front TV documentary about new technology
BBC Two has commissioned Chris McCausland: Seeing Into The Future, a documentary in which the comedian heads to Silicon Valley to explore how cutting-edge technology could transform lives.
FYI
Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 judging panel applications open; Josh Jones launches monthly comedy night in Manchester; Rowan Atkinson says live action Mr Bean return "not an impossibility"; and Daisy May Cooper voices Impedimenta in Asterix & Obelix series.
Advert
Rosie Jones (Live At The Apollo, The Last Leg) and Sam Campbell (Would I Lie To You?, Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2022) headline at Stratford East, London (Zone 2) in COMEDY ROYALTY on Thursday 15th May hosted by Eshaan Akbar (QI, Live At The Apollo) and featuring Sharon Wanjohi (Stand Up Sketch Show, Comedy Central Live). Book now as a handful of comedy's biggest names are on their way to Stratford East for one night only, and it promises to be an incredible evening of comedy.
Features
Comedy Chronicles: Big dreams, small scenes - The missed hits of Larry Martyn
Few people, in the history of British comedy, must have felt so diminished, as they reflected on the disparity between their dreams and their reality, as actor Larry Martyn.
Brad Ashton: "I'm nearly 94 so I'm thinking of retiring..."
A chat with veteran comedy writer Brad Ashton.
Ruth Berkoff on The Beauty of Being Herd
Sheep facts, a banging rave and an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, The Beauty of Being Herd is a heartfelt comedy show with original songs about a woman who's decided to live as a sheep. Ruth Berkoff explains more.
First Gig, Worst Gig: David Tsonos
As he gets ready to record his first special at the Brighton Fringe, Canadian David Tsonos recalls Cruise blues, heady headlining and post-military coach misery.
Elis James shares his three favourite sports books
Elis James is returning as a judge on the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. Here he shares with BCG his three favourite sports books of all time.
British Comedy Quiz #355
This time we're asking you about The Big Job, a crushed grape, Arthur Pilbeam and more.
Advert
Last chance to bag a LIFETIME membership to NextUp, where you can stream hundreds of comedy specials. Perfect for any stand-up fan. Find out more
TV listings
Dad's Army At The BBC
Toby Jones shares a selection of classic clips that feature Britain's favourite Home Guard platoon in appearances that took them beyond the confines of Walmington-on-Sea.
Joe Lycett's United States Of Birmingham
Joe's quest to become friends with all the Birminghams continues in the American Midwest.
Classic Movies: The Story Of Kind Hearts And Coronets
An examination of the classic Ealing comedy starring Dennis Price, with Alec Guinness playing eight roles.
Taskmaster
The first team task of the series brings the usual awkwardness, but also the joys of Stevie Martin inventing a new way for humans to move, and Fatiha El-Ghorri sweeping the lawn with a small broom.
Man Like Mobeen
After a late schedule change last week, three new episodes premiere on Thursday. Mobeen has to steal from the Turks, Jerry reveals his true colours, Emre investigates the theft, and Uncle Shady offers Mobeen a lifeline.
Spinster
The second of this year's BBC Comedy Short Film pilots. Single, penniless poet Ruby has recently moved back home to live with her mum, Jen.
Horrible Science
The new sketch show from the Horrible Histories team. Tune in to witness vampires on holiday, Sir Isaac Newton riding a rollercoaster, and more. Further new episodes follow on Saturday and Sunday at 9am and 6pm.
Have I Got News For You
David Tennant will host this Friday's episode, with Miles Jupp and journalist Beth Rigby as the guests.
Blankety Blank
Josh Widdicombe, Judi Love, Aisling Bea, Kojey Radical, Jedward and Michelle Collins fill in the blanks to help contestants.
For a complete list of TV and radio broadcasts, including repeats, see our full schedule.
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'Allo 'Allo! - The Complete CollectionThe Café René, at the heart of the picturesque town of Nouvion in occupied France, is a hot-bed of war-time intrigue. Look around and you'll see the Resistance, the Communists, the German army, the Gestapo, the Royal Air Force and one Officer Crabtree (sent from "British Ontelligence Headquitters"), all in various disguises. But just where is the painting of The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies by Van Clomp? There's only one way to find out... This recently re-released box set includes all 84 episodes of the global comedy hit. |
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Promenade RockA comedy caper set in Wales during the heyday of the Great British seaside holiday. Set up the deckchair, pop a hanky on your head and order an ice-cream with a Flake, as you settle in for an outrageous trip to Llantwit-on-Sea. It's the 1950s, the Great British holiday is booming and recently widowed Eirlys Richards runs a lively boarding house in this Welsh seaside town. Wanting to spice up her life, Eirlys welcomes a lover into her holiday haven, however her other three lovers have something to say about this... Written by Christopher Denys, Nerys Hughes and Russell Boulter star in this delightful comedy celebrating the best of Wales with a cast of memorable characters. |
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Sir Lenny Henry: A BBC Radio Drama CollectionA quartet of original radio plays and nine darkly comic tales written by Sir Lenny Henry. Henry has had a long and successful career as a comedian, impressionist, actor and presenter. Having starred in several plays in the West End and on radio, he was inspired to complete an MA in screenwriting and in 2011 penned his first radio drama, Corrinne Come Back And Gone, which opens this collection. He continued his writing career with three more Radio 4 plays and nine episodes of his comic monologue series, Lenny Henry's Rogues Gallery. Collected here for the first time, listen to these poignant and humorous original dramas, featuring an all-star cast including Frances Barber, Clare Perkins, Nadine Marshall, Claire Benedict, Tyrone Huggins, George Fouracres, Peter Bankolé and Lenny Henry himself. |
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PaddingtonAdapted from Michael Bond's beloved books, Paddington follows the comic misadventures of a polite young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British, who travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he begins to realise that city life is not all he had imagined - until he meets the kind Brown family, who read the label around his neck and offer him a temporary haven. With Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington Bear, the film's all-star cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Nicole Kidman, Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and Julie Walters. The international hit first title in the comedy series is available here in UHD for the first time. |
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AmandalandAmandaland is a spin-off from the popular sitcom Motherland. It follows Amanda (Lucy Punch), a recently divorced, status-obsessed "alpha mum", as she downsizes from Chiswick to South Harlesden (nicknamed "SoHa") and navigates the challenges of raising her teenagers, Manus and Georgie. Facing modern parenting struggles like teenage drinking, fake Instagram accounts and eco-anxiety, Series 1 sees Amanda joined by her ever-present mother, Felicity (Joanna Lumley), who masks her loneliness with backhanded compliments, and her reluctant sidekick, Anne (Philippa Dunne), who gets pulled back into Amanda's chaotic world. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Hostages - Trailer
This comic film about five strangers caught in an unfolding terrorism situation is to be premiered in London this Thursday (tickets available). Check out the trailer starring Charlotte Ritchie, Tanya Moodie and more.
Long Steven - Rain
It's time for Steven to go out for a wee. An animation by Birdbox Studio.
Michael Spicer: No Room - I'm Like A Lion
Michael Spicer is back for a second series of his Radio 4 sketch show. You can find the first five episodes on BBC Sounds now.
Comedy Central Live - Sharon Wanjohi
Sharon Wanjohi wants a baby and a house, and explains how the lack of rich-people-whimsy is a recession indicator.
Spotlight
The Windsors
For what still feels a fairly modern sitcom, it's a cause of real pause for thought to recognise that today marks The Windsors' ninth anniversary. From Bert Tyler-Moore and the late, great George Jeffrie, it's an overly-dramatic soap opera spoof following the Royal Family that has aired three series to date. A fourth is reportedly still in the offing, but deaths and dramas both in front of and behind the cameras - not to mention those of the real British monarchy - are believed to have lead to ongoing delays. Starring the likes of Harry Enfield and Louise Ford, the 21 wonderful episodes produced to date are available to stream or buy on DVD.
Thanks for reading
The BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition was about the radio. Here is Matthew Mclane's entry:
I don't believe in capital punishment. No one should have to listen to Johnny Vaughan.
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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