BCG Daily Friday 29th November 2013

A rude welcome to Jane Bussmann's world

I helped to write a sitcom this week. It was with Jane Bussmann, the brilliant writer on Smack the Pony, Brass Eye and South Park, among other twisted TV gems. I wasn't the only one; there were about 50 of us in the basement of London's Soho Theatre on Sunday night, lending a hand on her new six-part sitcom.

Frank Skinner interview

I'm back doing stand-up but it's much more polarised now.

Eddie Izzard made suggestions for Monty Python reunion

Terry Jones explains why he's 'not proud' of Monty Python and talks about his new Christmas show.

Sean Lock on the comedians that should be on your radar

Comedian Sean Lock reveals the comics you ought to have heard of, but probably haven't.

Stewart Francis: I've quit Mock The Week

Stewart Francis says he has quit Mock The Week - and that he will bow out of stand-up with a tour in 2015.

Russell Brand: The Sun on Sunday lied about me

Not a big deal in the scheme of things, but it's still the same fecund bone-yard of gossip, poison and lies.

Hints of third series of Black Mirror and 'delay'

Charlie Brooker has revealed that his cult Channel 4 drama Black Mirror will return for a third series - but has no idea when.

Misfits 5.6 - review

A mixed hour this week, which is often the way with Misfits.

The semi-finals arrive on BBC Radio 2

We've backed our bags, bid a fond farewell to our lovely heat hosts BBC Radio 4 Extra and have now set up home over at BBC Radio 2 for the semi-finals, which will air on the station next week.

Comedy revolution: political pranksters at large

They waltz into politicians' houses, party conferences and embassies highlighting the hypocrisies of the rich and powerful. And they've never been arrested - yet. Joshi Herrmann joins the BAFTA-winning Heydon Prowse and Jolyon Rubinstein on their latest stunt: to try to flog the Houses of Parliament to the highest bidder

Alan Partridge's 2013 review of the year

It's been a huge year: a new royal, a Brit finally winning Wimbledon and a controversy-free leader for the Catholic church. But one daytime digital radio DJ towered above it all, like a Norfolk colossus: Alan Partridge. We asked the King of Chat for his 2013 talking points.

Radio Times review

As Jack Dee reminds us, he hosted the first two series of this show introducing all sorts of comedians who have now become household names. "I can't tell you how much I regret that... seeing people overtake you," he adds, shaking his head bitterly. He shouldn't worry. His patter is as sharp, self-deprecating and drily funny as ever.

Valiantly attempting to follow Dee's set is Seann Walsh, who riffs on the perils of binge-drinking, and Milton Jones, who wears such a loud shirt he actually doesn't need to say a word to get the audience falling about laughing. However, every single one of his jokes is terrific: his definition of Caucasian and his messy afternoons with ducks, pigs and other animals will make you guffaw - but never again will you end a phone call with "I'll let you go".

Radio Times review

QI loves to stray towards the saucepot at the best of times, let alone when the episode theme is "Kinky". So tonight's episode is not recommended for the prudish, covering as it does electrically assisted kissing, sex with pigeons and a boy who got a certain body part trapped between powerful magnets. And that's the stuff we can print.

At one point Fry uses super-saturated sodium acetate and exothermic nucleation (apparently) to make instant crystals into a rude shape, while Johnny Vegas sings the theme from The Snowman. It's one of the oddest sequences you'll see on television, ever. Also steering through the smut are Sandi Toksvig and Janet Street-Porter.