BCG Daily Friday 24th January 2014

Review: If I Were A Black Guy was a sole highlight

Sadly, while Stef, Ash and Dru can be hilarious in musical mode, they're no great shakes as comic actors. The first series seemed to know this, building each episode around a key musical moment.

'Thrilled' Les Dennis is latest addition to Corrie

Coronation Street is set to welcome a new arrival, in the shape of comedian and actor Les Dennis.

Review: Tommy Tiernan, Soho Theatre

Tommy Tiernan delivers a riveting 80 minutes of comedy that's a sort of state-of-the-nation address about his home country.

Radio Times review

Richard Osman of the quiz show Pointless is one of the quickest wits on TV. Fact. The guy is a giant of comedy, although actually he doesn't like people mentioning his height. Fellow panellists - writer and broadcaster Joan Bakewell and comedian Roisin Conaty - and even host Frank Skinner, don't stand a chance as he tosses bons mots and puns into the conversation with casual ease.

Of course, all the guests put forward suggestions for things to be consigned to oblivion - the pet hates tonight range from gardening to cobblers. Skinner, meanwhile, deftly choreographs the banter for maximum laughs.

However, it's Skinner himself who gets the best reaction when he tells the heart-warming story of how a little boy left his much-loved cuddly toy behind at his holiday hotel. The staff there then did something wonderful to persuade him that his toy was fine, but just extending his vacation.

Radio Times review

Back into the light embrace of Pontyberry for a third series of Ruth Jones's comedy drama, which always manages to be comforting and inoffensive without being twee.

Stella (Jones herself) has long since moved on from the series two finale, when she said goodbye to the love of her life, Rob, because even he couldn't compete with her home town in the valleys and the people who live there.

Now she's training to be a nurse under a brisk sergeant-major of an instructor, and repeatedly arguing with a haughty new posh bloke she'll obviously end up sleeping with.

Emma applies for a job as a hairdresser, Aunty Bren's long-lost daughter returns, and Alan is told Little Alan must go on a diet. Basically nothing much happens, and it's delightful.

Slapstick Festival marks two milestones

This year's Slapstick Festival has two milestones to celebrate. For one thing, the brilliant, Bristol-based celebration of silent and classic comedy is marking its tenth birthday. This year's festival also kick-starts a global series of events marking the centenary of Charlie Chaplin's best-loved character, the Little Tramp.

Frank Skinner interview

Frank Skinner is explaining why he is prepared to wrench himself away from his girlfriend and their young son in order to play 35 dates at venues across Britain.

Improvathon: the 50-hour comedy marathon

Any plans for the weekend? Fancy spending 50 consecutive hours at the Park theatre in north London, in a room with no natural light, watching impro? No, I thought not.

Birds of a Feather bounces back to top Thursday ratings

The sitcom climbed back from last week by around 400,000 viewers, amusing 6.32 million (27.2%) at 8.30pm (183k/0.8% on +1).

Marcus Brigstocke talks about 'The Jump'

The comedian insists he is doing it for the thrill of 'sliding fast down things'.

Vic and Bob, everything you need to know - infographic

The comedy duo who revolutionised modern Britain with eranu, uvavu and Greg Mitchell, the sandy coloured labrador.

Sara Pascoe interview

There's a slight possibility that you MIGHT have heard us mention that we have Sara Pascoe Versus The Truth at Vault festival in the tunnels underneath Waterloo on Jan 30.

Room 101 - TV review

I like Richard Osman (massive fan of Pointless), but I very much disagree with his views, on Room 101 (BBC One), about "zoo filler".

O'Dowd's Family Tree & Merhcant's Hello Ladies axed

The two British comedies will not be renewed by the American cable broadcaster - but there is hope for the US remake of Jo Brand comedy Getting On.