BCG Daily Saturday 1st March 2014

Jonathan Creek review

Someone in the new Jonathan Creek has Sherlock delusions of grandeur - but it's not Alan Davies.

Losing your comedy partner is no laughing matter

After decades together, a comedy partner becomes almost a physical extension of you.

Jonathan Creek, BBC One, review

It may seem Pie in the sky, but I'd rather be up the creek than in Baker street.

Scots comics go retro with vintage charity sketch shows

Some of the country's top comedians will be giving classic comedy sketches and stand-up a reboot later this month.

Father Ted will never come back says Graham Linehan

Co-writer of the classic comedy set in Craggy Island has said that he will never revive the show.

Radio Times review

Walmington's spats with the rival platoon in Eastgate are always great, pratfalling fun, and a training exercise in which Mainwaring's marauders have to plant a bomb in a windmill is certainly played full tilt. But we open in the pub, where that tedious old walrus Captain Square - all beer and bluster - is holding court. And, in his first appearance in Dad's Army, Robert Raglan (as a sergeant, but he'll later become "the Colonel") throws a priceless glance at the barman as Square bores for Britain.

Arthur Lowe trumps that look with one that was to become a trademark (glasses removed, cheeks puffed out with exasperation), after Frazer gives a typically windy speech.

It's the story where Jones branches out, Frazer has an overinflated opinion of himself, sheep wear helmets and the Verger finds a novel use for a cemetery urn. Utterly, beautifully bonkers.

Radio Times review

Stewart Lee is a stand-up who doesn't do stand-up. He doesn't tell gags; often he isn't very funny. Fellow comedians hate him - he's pleased with Lee Mack's description of him as a "cultural bully from the Oxbridge Mafia" and he's regularly denounced on Twitter as "fat" and "depressed-looking" and much, much worse.

So he's an acquired taste. I like him, though I don't know why, possibly because he's astute and clever. He takes the Twitter loathing and turns it around, pulping the social network site and its users as "a state surveillance agency staffed by gullible volunteers... it's the Stasi for the Angry Birds generation". If you don't laugh at that, then possibly this show isn't for you.

Dartmouth annual comedy festival preview

Dartmouth has regularly supplied its residents and visitors with the best possible medicine for several years now. But the seaside town's eighth annual comedy festival promises to be its most hilariously healing to date.

John Finnemore on the final Cabin Pressure

Well, that's it - as of last Sunday I am officially that guy who used to write Cabin Pressure.

Jonathan Creek: Should it have returned?

The introduction of Sarah Alexander as Creek's wife Polly was a nice touch, but I realised quite quickly that Creek works best when Alan Davies has a sidekick like Caroline Quentin or Sheridan Smith to bounce off of.

Charlie Brooker becomes a father for the 2nd time

Television presenter Konnie Huq and her broadcaster husband Charlie Brooker have welcomed their second child into the world.

Jack Whitehall interview

The comedian on his posh past and his first arena tour. Just don't remind him that it kicks off in three days...

Miranda Hart, Bournemouth International Centre, review

The first night of Miranda Hart's tour with My, What I Call, Live Show was a slick smorgasbord of silliness, reports Dominic Cavendish.

I Can't Sing!: a musical with the X Factor?

Harry Hill has left TV Burp and turned his attention to writing a musical that sends up The X Factor - with Simon Cowell's help.

Jonathan Creek review

It felt like this episode wasn't interested in explaining one big elaborate mystery, but instead wanted to have fun with several small ones - including the case of disappearing funereal ashes spilled on a carpet, and the discovery of love letters from the titular Septimus Noone.

Omid Djalili: How to turn a tough gig around

Here circuit veteran Omid Djalili gives his advice on what should happen when things go disastrously wrong.

Greg Davies: How to deal with heightism

We turn to the towering talent of Greg Davies who gives his thoughts on what not to say to the more "vertically gifted".

Russell Kane: How to deal with being dumped

Russell Kane explains why when breakups occur, men are far worse than women at suddenly being made single.

Russell Howard: How to survive without social media

Russell Howard explains why staying of Twitter may be good advice for any aspiring comedian...