BCG Daily Monday 24th February 2014

Daniel Kitson: the reluctant hero of British comedy

Daniel Kiston - winner of the Perrier, shunner of the press, and these days an accomplished writer and performer of narrative dramas - is fast becoming a national institution.

Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year review

Who'd be a judge? What a job, having to decide between the finalists for this year's Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition.

Benedict Cumberbatch records Cabin Pressure final

Benedict Cumberbatch delighted his fans with a "hilarious" radio performance that couldn't be further from his Sherlock role.

Preview: Jonathan Creek - series 5

This new series of Jonathan Creek is a nice return to form.

News: C4's Last Leg to tour?

The team behind hit Channel 4 chat show The Last Leg may play some live dates later this year.

Radio Times review

Rae Earl (a brilliant Sharon Rooney) is desperate to fit in. It's the only thing that makes college vaguely bearable.

However she's dating Finn, the "fittest boy" in sixth form, and everyone has an opinion on it. Why? Because chubby, troubled girls like Rae aren't supposed to ride off into the sunset with the school heart-throb. Most painful of all is that Rae believes this spiteful chatter, allowing it to chip away at her already brittle self-esteem.

Despite cartoon scrawls and angsty voiceovers, this superbly acted drama never feels self-indulgent. Instead, its heartbreaking account of teenage growing pains will resonate with anyone who has ever navigated those precarious years.

Radio Times review

This final episode, the weakest of the three, is ostensibly about the death of rock. And, of course, there were a lot of rock stars kicking the bucket during the 70s. "You'd be chatting to someone at a party, pop off to get some cheese and pineapple on a stick; by the time you got back they'd be dead," says Brian's manager.

The real focus, however, is the death of Brian's former band - public-school prog rockers Thotch. And this is a good thing, because it means we get more anecdotes from the band's silky guitarist Pat Quid (Paul Whitehouse) and ribald keyboard player Tony Pebble (Nigel Havers). The star turn, though, comes from Lucy Montgomery as Pepita, the klaxon-mouthed cactus player.

Radio Times review

Here's something to consider: if we lost The IT Crowd star turned Bridesmaids big-hitter Chris O'Dowd to Hollywood completely, we wouldn't have this fizzy and fabulous Irish sitcom. And that would be disastrous, frankly.

Clearly a very personal project, it fancifully depicts the 12-year-old O'Dowd - in the shape of Martin Moone - growing up in 90s County Roscommon. The quirk is that O'Dowd plays Martin's grown-up imaginary friend, Seán Murphy, and that quirk is given a fresh twist tonight in the context of a school disco.

It's the first day of secondary school and while Martin is nonplussed by the girls' conversation topics, the dishy, bohemian art teacher Miss Tivnan turns his little head. Less hyperactive than previous episodes, it's nevertheless a scrumptious buffet of sight gags, knuckle-gnawing cringe and punch-the-air individuality.

John Lloyd: TV is lacking satire

Comedy producer John Lloyd has said he does not believe any of the television programmes broadcast in the UK today are truly satirical. But Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye, said Lloyd is being "unduly pessimistic".

Graham Linehan: The Walshes is no Mrs Brown's Boys

The Father Ted creator is hoping his new sitcom The Walshes will not be compared with Brendan O'Carroll's hit - and says he was "never really a big fan" of O'Carroll's work.

Top 5 female comics at 2014 Glasgow comedy festival

A look at Eleanor Morton, Abigoliah Schamaun, Fern Brady, Hailey Boyle and Holly Walsh.

Interview: Chris Ramsey - First and Last

The popular South Shields comic on Gladiators, Game of Thrones and his girlfriend.

Male acts at Glasgow Comedy Festival on funny women

Omid Djalili, Andrew Learmonth, Tom Wrigglesworth, Simon Munnery, Joel Dommett, Adam Kay and Simon Evans on the women who make them laugh.

Interview: Russell Kane on UK tour in 2014 of Smallness

Latest show spins around grand ideas and may be his biggest project to date.

Interview: Bridget Christie on success and feminism

2013 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner takes A Bic for Her on a UK tour. She talks about her show.

The secret to Miranda's mass appeal across all ages

A primary school pupil, cynical teenager, a grown-up and a pensioner. Finding ways to entertain that little lineup, and keep them in one room, would seem an impossibility. You'd have to be silly, cool, intelligent and old school all at the same time. In short, you'd have to be Miranda Hart.

Why Eddie Izzard is serious about German comedy

Eddie Izzard is performing his stand-up show in German to an audience in Berlin. And his 'comedy without borders' has a serious political point to make, he tells Kasper Holden.

Yonderland and Puppetry

Yes, Yonderland was hard, with only four puppeteers and generally a puppet in most scenes you were constantly busy, problem solving all the time. But that was true of everyone involved, striving to make each scene as good as it could be and the effort involved I think really comes over in the show.

Emer Kenny interview

I caught up with Emer Kenny, who plays Danielle, to see what was in store for Danielle third time around.