BCG Daily Thursday 30th January 2014

Andy Hollingworth's best photograph: Johnny Vegas

Andy Hollingworth talks about his best photograph, the latex head of Johnny Vegas.

Outnumbered, BBC One, review

Outnumbered may not be as funny as it once was, but it's still unmissable for its pure understanding of family life, says Sarah Crompton.

Harry Shearer: Nixon didn't like a lot of people

Harry Shearer, 70, is best known for The Simpsons. He listened to 2,000 hours of Nixon tapes for his new series and says the leader was a 'twisted guy'.

Gary Hollywood on Mrs. Brown's Boys meteoric rise

The 34-year-old actor from Glasgow admits he's gobsmacked at the show's rise to fame as talks for a sequel to the film begin before the first one is even out.

Outnumbered series 5 episode one review

Sitcoms have a limited life span, so when their creators - in this case, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin - stretch them out for a prolonged amount of time, one can grow resentful. After tonight's edition of Outnumbered I was left with the unpleasant aftertaste of having witnessed an old dog being begrudgingly dragged out for a walk.

Radio Times review

A return to form this week as Joyce takes some time off and bumps into old flame Cyril (Matthew Kelly), whose fortunes have taken a nose dive. She leaves Leslie, the normally affable transvestite, in charge of the Solana and the power instantly goes to his head - an implausible transformation, but it taps into Tim Healy's comic potential. He's never been funnier.

Meanwhile, Donald and Jacqueline take Big Donna's ashes on a last hurrah through town, and Madge has some startling news for Mick and Janice. It's a busy, farcical episode that even has room for a cameo from Janet Street-Porter.

Harry Shearer portrays Nixon behind closed doors

Harry Shearer is best known for providing the voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons and as Derek Smalls in spoof rock band Spinal Tap. His next role sees him take on former US president Richard Nixon in a series based on the disgraced politician behind closed doors.

This brilliant sitcom remains incredibly well-observed

Though it's not as laugh-out-loud funny as it once was, I still feel that Outnumbered remains one of the more well-observed sitcoms on British television.

Jim Davidson's Big Brother win gets 3 million viewers

As the comedian beats rapper Dappy on Channel 5, 4.8 million tune in to Outnumbered's return to BBC One.

Opinion: My Jim Davidson shame?

Early in the run I looked online at the odds and he was 22-1. I thought that was worth a few quid. I don't bet except on the British Open so I completely forgot that I had a Paddy Power internet account opened in a moment of madness a couple of years ago. Then real life got in the way and by the time I got to the bookmakers Davidson's odds had come down to 7-4. I whacked £20 on anyway.

How Richard Desmond reversed Jim Davidson's fortunes

The discarded Davidson might never have been brought back to us were it not for the Channel 5 boss giving him a chance on Celebrity Big Brother. Now he's flavour of the month.

Jo Brand honoured for nursing work

Jo Brand has been awarded an honorary doctorate from a university in Kent.

Nixon's the One!, Sky Arts 1, review

Harry Shearer was excellent as the former American president in Nixon's the One! says Charlotte Runcie.

Episode review: Birds of a Feather - Tattoo You

We love this show and, yes, it's sometimes predictable but that's in part because they're old friends that you already know so well.

Kerry Godliman interview

Cast your mind back to 2003 and the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition. "Wow. Was that 10 years ago? I remember entering a lot of competitions that year," laughs Kerry Godliman. "They all slightly blur together."

Chris Ramsey sure is living the dream

A star of Hebburn and panel shows, Chris Ramsey is still getting used to his fame. But is enjoying the Nando's perks.

The cutest sitcom on TV has been ruined by stroppy teen

Kids are not kids for long. That's part of the wonder of childhood... and it has evaporated from Outnumbered.

Lovely return of a family favourite

When Outnumbered does leave our screens it will leave a hole in need of filling by another suburban sitcom, and that hole will be harder to fill than perhaps we thought.