BCG Daily Monday 17th February 2014

Scotland's funniest postcode

Meet the residents who share a suburb with Scots funnymen Kevin Bridges, Frankie Boyle and Sanjeev Kohli.

Joke Thieves preview

Permitted plagiarism provides a rich seam of comedy as stand-ups with very different acts channel rivals' material.

Steve Coogan: I don't want to abandon Alan Partridge

Steve Coogan has said he will do "something else" with Norfolk's local radio star Alan Partridge - but his next challenge might be directing.

Why you must all watch the Life of Rock With Brian Pern

It is very low budget and was sold to the BBC as essentially a clip show with a bit of comedy tacked on says Simon Day. It is much more than that, of course, but even this apparent shortcoming actually helps because there are occasional moments when you are not sure what is from the archive and what has been shot for the show.

Chris O'Dowd: I turned down big movies for Moone Boy

You get the sense success has caught laid-back Chris O'Dowd on the hop.

Blandings review

Timothy Spall makes a brilliant and utterly convincing crumbling aristocrat.

Blandings, TV review

Blandings is a lot of fun. Harry Enfield doing his Cholmondley-Warner on steroids was just one of the several guest stars we're promised.

Preview: Moone Boy, Sky 1

You would have to have a heart made of concrete not to smile at Moone Boy.

Comedy review: Boothby Graffoe, Glasgow

Currently mourning the loss of a prop, The Wheel of Almost Certain Misfortune, which was stolen earlier this week following a show at the Stand's sister venue in Edinburgh, Boothby Graffoe didn't let his bad luck throw him.

Review: Lost Voice Guy at the Belmont Hotel, Leicester

Take a bow, Lost Voice Guy. You may not be able to speak but your quick-wit and light-hearted routine certainly left me speechless.

Shropshire writers Radio 4 series History Retweeted

Tim Barnes and Simon Berry, both from Shrewsbury, have landed a four-part comedy series on the station titled History Retweeted.

Review: Rob Beckett at the Little Theatre, Leicester

A fresh-faced young man - blonde hair, big toothy grin - bounded on to the stage using the audience as his comedy. A new Ken Dodd, you might ask? Well, nearly.

Radio Times review

Troubled, imperfect yet wholly relatable, protagonist Rae Earl is a graduate of the Lena Dunham school of comedy. A lot has changed since we saw her last.

It's the summer of 1996 and, no longer crippled by anxiety issues, Rae is finally dating doting One Direction lookalike Finn. Her mum is still eccentric, her insecurities still niggle but life has never been better for the Lincolnshire teen. Can it last? As September looms, it looks unlikely.

College is about to start, bringing with it the return of social hierarchy and all-too-painful memories of days spent in locked toilets avoiding Big G and the classroom bullies.

"I've been in denial," confides Rae in a trembling voiceover. "In denial about being better, about being thin, about everything." The show's debut run thoughtfully examined the complex world of teenage mental health. This second series looks set to be equally poignant.

Radio Times review

One of the hinterland hits of 2012, this delectably crackers rites-of-passage sitcom set in 1989 Ireland darted about like a toddler on sweets. Contemporary hits, cartoons and cutaways are all employed to unique effect.

As series two opens, 12-year-old Martin (fantastic find David Rawle) is still talking to his grown-up imaginary friend (co-writer Chris O'Dowd). That may sound weird but not only is it an endearing conceit; it's also very funny.

Now it's summer 1990, the Moones plan to go on holiday - just as the Republic of Ireland begin their group games at the World Cup finals. Cue some sweet trope-trampling as Dad Liam tries to stir couch-potato wife Debra into action.

The holiday-mobile is soon on its way, with Martin's oddball pal Padraic and Fidelma's boyfriend Dessie along for the ride, although Trisha is plunged into mourning over the Talking Heads splitting up. Can a family activity cheer her up?

Moone Boy simply has to be seen by more people. It's a beaming-ear-to-ear delight. Where else would Johnny Vegas dress as Doc Brown from Back to the Future Part II? Well, I'll tell you. Nowhere.

Radio Times review

This second episode, about the "middle ages" of rock, is even funnier than the first - especially if you're sufficiently middle aged to understand all the 70s and 80s references. There's a greater emphasis on doctored archive footage than on semi-improvised skits this time, but we're treated to an appearance from Noel Edmonds, while Red Dwarf's Danny John-Jules pops up thinly disguised as the ubiquitous Nile Rodgers.

Tom Jones's interminable note-hold and Phil Collins massacring Stairway to Heaven are particular highlights. Be warned, however: there's some fruity language; from Nigel "potty mouth" Havers no less.

Good Night: Comedy Knights ride to the rescue

London's most hydra-headed comedy night...

BON NUIT: Cabaret Fantastique

Find out all about Brixton's finest cabaret night...

Incoming: Johnny White

He's supernew, but usefully he's also supergood. Meet Johnny White...

John Bishop to captain Sport Relief team

John Bishop and four-time Olympic medal winner Sebastian Coe will captain two teams of celebrities and go head to head in a series of sporting challenges at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the Sport Relief Night of TV on Friday 21 March.

10 lessons Peep Show has taught us about life

There's no show better in the world for teaching us stammering Brits how best to live our life than Peep Show.

Jonathan Creek makes fun of Cumberbatch's Sherlock

He is sporting a long black coat, has a thick crop of dark hair and an obsessive an eye for detail. But this man is not Benedct Cumberbatch's Sherlock (in case his sideburns didn't give it away) but a criminology student called Ridley in a deliberate mickey take that features in the upcoming return of Alan Davies's rival BBC One crime series Jonathan Creek.

Noel Fielding hits catwalk, poses with nude model

Noel Fielding took to the catwalk for Dutch designer Bas Koster at London Fashion Week over the weekend.

Moone Boy, series 2, episode 1 review

The return of Moone Boy for a second series on Sky1 last night came with only one bum note - why the wait?

Moone Boy, Sky One - TV review

Moone Boy is enlivened with the main character's animated doodles. "You know what me and the Irish team have in common?" said Martin to Sean. "We're both amazing at drawing!" That's the kind of schoolboy gag that only an imaginary friend should find amusing, but, somehow, Moone Boy has enough charm to make it hilarious.

TV review: Sharon Rooney is affecting as ever as Rae

As ever, Sharon Rooney was natural and affecting as Rae. Her performance should provoke a painful twinge of recognition in even the most grown-up grown-ups, yet this is still a programme to make you wish yourself young again.

My Mad Fat Diary review

It turns out My Mad Fat Diary's second series opener was just as funny, just as moving, just as brave, just as honest as those episodes that we fell for last year.

Sharon Rooney shines as the superb comedy drama returns

My Mad Fat Diary wouldn't be nearly as great as it was without the outstanding central performance from Sharon Rooney.

Billy Connolly: I will not vote in Scottish referendum

Billy Connolly has revealed he will be New Zealand when the Scottish independence referendum takes place on September 18, but says in any case he's got no interest in the debate about the future of his homeland.