BCG Daily

Friday 4th September 2020

Here is an example of our Daily Email (this is the one we sent on Friday 4th September 2020). Seven days a week we collect up all the news and features from around the web, and email them to subscribers at noon. To join this mailing list just become a BCG Supporter or subscribe to BCG Pro (which is for writers, producers and performers).

News & features

Liam Hourican.

Liam Hourican stars in new film La Cha Cha

Character comic Liam Hourican has landed his first lead film role in La Cha Cha, a dark comedy directed by Twin Town's Kevin Allen.

Marek Larwood.

First Gig, Worst Gig: Marek Larwood

What is Pooman? What does Marek Larwood have to do with it? And why did he liquify his lap pre-gig? All will be revealed.

BCG Pro

thortful.

BCG Pro teams up with card company thortful for new challenge

BCG Pro has teamed up with greetings card company thortful to launch a competition in which BCG Pro members can win cash prizes for thinking up new birthday card captions.

Press clippings

Two Weeks To Live. Kim Noakes (Maisie Williams). Copyright: Kudos Productions.

Two Weeks To Live reviews

Red Pen.

Comments: Political comedy and woke jokes

Joanna Scanlan.

Women's sex lives in lockdown prove online comedy hit

The Guardian

Sex Lives, a show backed by BBC Studios using real-life stories and starring Aimee Lou Wood and Miriam Margolyes being adapted for TV.

Paul Sinha.

Paul Sinha: I'll quit Chase if Parkinson's gets worse

The Mirror

The savvy chaser and former GP vowed not to let the disease dictate his life and said he refused to live in the future, only the present. But Paul, 50, admitted that while his brainpower is still as fast as ever, if it begins to slow he will quit The Chase before they can fire him.

Al Murray. Copyright: Avalon Television.

GMB forced to apologise as Al Murray swears on live TV

The Sun

Ben Shephard was forced to apologise to viewers today after Al Murray swore live on Good Morning Britain. The cheeky comic stuck his fingers up in protest at the BBC over reports the broadcaster is threatening to axe comedy shows for being "too left wing".

This Country. Kerry Mucklowe (Daisy May Cooper). Copyright: BBC.

Daisy May Cooper in hospital with newborn son

The Sun

This Country's Daisy May Cooper has revealed that she is still in hospital after giving birth following a "traumatic few days".

This Country. Image shows from L to R: Kerry Mucklowe (Daisy May Cooper), Lee 'Kurtan' Mucklowe (Charlie Cooper). Copyright: BBC.

BingeWatch - This Country

The Financial Times

The BBC mockumentary follows two cousins in a stagnating English village.

Frankie Boyle's New World Order. Frankie Boyle. Copyright: Zeppotron.

TV review: Frankie Boyle's New World Order, BBC Two

Beyond The Joke

I can't imagine many Tories enjoying this, so maybe it'll get axed in favour of some right wing comedy after this run. And admittedly some of the targets were fish-in-a-barrel. But no other television show is as vicious. It was Boyle at his bilious best.

Adam Buxton.

Adam Buxton interview

GQ

Comedian, podcaster and author Adam Buxton rambles on about David Bowie, not hanging with Steven Spielberg and what makes his perfect Sunday.

Live comedy

John Bishop In Conversation With.... John Bishop. Copyright: Lola Entertainment.

John Bishop: Jack Whitehall paid me in laughing gas

Chortle

Jack Whitehall once paid John Bishop for a gig in laughing gas - claiming couldn't afford the £40 fee.

Mount Pleasant. Fergus Smythe (Neil Fitzmaurice). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions.

Neil Fitzmaurice interview

Metro

Neil Fitzmaurice on why the pandemic is a goldmine for new material.

Live From The BBC. Ben Bailey Smith. Copyright: Phil McIntyre Entertainment.

Ben Bailey Smith: 'I'm still angry about Bake Off 2017'

The Guardian

The actor, comic and rapper on his TV loves and hates, from the surfeit of competition shows to Sean Lock and Benedict Wong's forgotten comedy 15 Storeys High.

Bridget Christie.

Stand-up Under the Stars review

The Guardian

Bridget Christie pokes fun at Madonna, Suzi Ruffell talks smear tests and John Robins is heckled about Butlins. Our critic Brian Logan's first stand-up gig in months is a riot of joy and tension.

Sarah Saeed.

Sarah Saeed: my accidental road to funny

Funny Women

I have performed comedy in a character act since about 2005 as my opera singing alter-ego Marianna Harlotta. It took me a long time to realise that I could use the occasions when people laughed at me to my advantage and hone these incidences into a comedy skill.

BCG Pro

Richard Curtis. Copyright: Comic Relief.

Richard Curtis backs climate scheme

Broadcast

"Flickers of the Future" to lobby for more environmental issues in drama, comedy & entertainment.

Videos

The Man In The Hat. Copyright: Rather Good Films.

The Man In The Hat - Trailer

The Man In The Hat sets off from Marseilles in a small Fiat 500. On the seat beside him is a framed photograph of an unknown woman. Behind him is a 2CV into which is squeezed Five Bald Men. Why are they chasing him? And how can he shake them off? The Man In The Hat is in UK cinemas from Friday 18th September 2020 and available to own on DVD from 26th October.

The Russell Howard Hour. Russell Howard. Copyright: Avalon Television.

The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4 trailer

Russell Howard says lets laugh at everything, for the rest of the year.

Rhiannon Hopkins.

When you find pictures on your boyfriend's phone

Rhiannon Hopkins sings about what she found on her boyfriend's phone.

Podcasts

Larry Dean.

The Comedian's Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith - Episode 345 - Larry Dean

Larry Dean is a phenomenal comic who doesn't coast on his brilliant physicality, but writes hard and really gets to the kernel of what's funny about his life. We talk...

Today's TV

Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle. Peter Kay. Copyright: Goodnight Vienna Productions.

Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle

BBC One, 9pm

Peter Kay's Stand-Up Shuffle, Episode 1: Join one of Bolton's funniest stand-up comedians for his finest moments from the last 25 years.

Jon Richardson: Old Man. Jon Richardson. Copyright: Universal Pictures.

Jon Richardson: Old Man

Channel 4, 10pm

A chance to see a live performance recorded at Blackpool's historic Grand Theatre, on what was the final night of the comedian's sell-out, 158-date UK and Ireland tour. Here, Jon takes to the stage to comment - and generally complain - on topics including parenthood, Brexit and haircuts. The question of why nobody but him can correctly load a dishwasher is also raised. Alas, Jon can offer no solutions to all the problems he identifies, but nevertheless provides plenty of mirth as he fails to reach a viable conclusion to his grouses.

Today's radio

Mr Muzak. Nigel Penny (Richie Webb). Copyright: Top Dog Productions.

Mr Muzak

BBC Radio 4, 11:30am

Series 2, Episode 2: Pav is supplying the ambience to the opening of an all-year-round Christmas store. And by 'ambience' he basically means Nigel and Rachel singing carols. The ghosts of Christmas past mean this can only be an unpleasant experience for Nigel. This is compounded by Stan's attempts at securing a tree, Marco's suspect catering promises and the manager of the store who fancies herself as Letchington's answer to Mariah Carey.

Mark Nelson.

The Good, The Bad And The Unexpected

BBC Radio Scotland, 1:30pm

Series 6, Episode 1: Mark Nelson is joined by guests Hal Cruttenden, Wendy Wason and Tam Cowan.

The News Quiz. Image shows from L to R: Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Andy Zaltzman.

The News Quiz

BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm

Andy Zaltzman hosts the satirical quiz in front of a virtual audience, with guests Helen Lewis and Daliso Chaponda.