BCG Daily Friday 21st March 2014

Comedy festival bows out at Edinburgh Fringe

The four biggest Edinburgh Festival Fringe operators have ditched their breakaway "comedy festival" - six years after being accused of trying to operate a cartel to squeeze out smaller venues and rival promoters.

Radio Times review

There's something almost morbidly fascinating about this hopeless, hackneyed sitcom. The more it tries to sell itself as a frothy bit of fun, the more you can feel its gears groaning painfully through the motions. Has a jaunty ukulele soundtrack ever sounded so desperate?

The only mild highlight of the latest episode is a Lycra-clad guest performance from Rufus Jones - you may recognise him from eye-catching roles in Hunderby, W1A and Holy Flying Circus - as Alfie's swaggering South African boss. But even then he's merely a weak facsimile of every comedy alpha male from Peep Show's Johnson to Matt Berry in, well, everything. Very poor.

Radio Times review

This episode is almost more comedy soap than comedy drama, as young Katie has a serious accident. Her warring parents, plus Stella as an awkward third wheel, maintain a bedside vigil. As Stella wonders how solid her whirlwind romance with Michael is, Ruth Jones proves herself to be too good a writer and actor to let this dip into melodrama. Let's hope their relationship survives, so we can have more scenes like the hilarious one where Michael talks dirty in Valleys slang.

Meanwhile, Big Alan starts planning how to spend inheritance money he might never receive, and Emma becomes another member of the Morris clan whose fairy-tale relationship hits hard against reality. The apple doesn't fall far from the whatchacall, is it?

Only Fools and Horses writers on Sport Relief sketch

If it does give people a giggle and helps raise a lot of money, then lovely jubbly, says Jim Sullivan.

Do Miranda's knowing nods to camera burst the bubble?

Miranda Hart uses some of her conspiratorial TV sitcom moves in her arena show, but the best comics can make big venues seem intimate without resorting to screen tricks.

The rise of the silver stand-up

"I've got to the age now where I'm seriously thinking about what I'd like to come back as." So says Lynn Ruth Miller at the start of her stand-up show, Granny's Gone Wild. Miller is 80 years old and in the thick of a 12-night run in the louche basement of Soho Theatre in London.

Ben Van Der Velde joins Camden busking protest

Comedian Ben Van Der Velde will be leading an 'illegal choir' in a mass busking protest this weekend (Sunday March 23) in response to Camden Council's draconian new anti-busking legislation. The protest is organised by Camden's Green Party. Van Der Velde is standing as the party's candidate in the May local elections.

Kenneth Tynan on Bird and Fortune at The Establishment

In this extract originally published in The Observer on 14 January 1962, an early Soho appearance by the duo makes our critic laugh, even if he finds something essential lacking.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Matt Richardson, David Sedaris and Joe Wilkinson.

Blue Jam: An ethereal mix

Chris Morris's radio gem Blue Jam starts not with a bang, but a sob.

Review: Miles Jupp, Ambassadors Theatre, WC2

A show that is not totally revolutionary in various senses, perhaps, but all exquisitely delivered.

News: Jack Dee - Agony Aunt

Jack Dee is developing a new show in which he offers to solve the problems of his fans.

Only Fools and Horses quiz

Test your sitcom knowledge about Trotter trivia as David Beckham stars in Sport Relief sketch.

A great time to ride silver wave says Nicholas Parsons

Just a Minute's long-time host explains what keeps him so alert and healthy in his nineties.

Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister look at Scotland

The pair's long-running independence show is evolving as the referendum draws near.

Russell Brand to guest star on Match of the Day

Russell Brand is to appear on Match of the Day. The comedian will join the punditry team in aid of Sport Relief for a one-off episode.

Graham Norton: I wish I'd had kids but too late now

Graham Norton has revealed his regret that he never started a family.

Stop hating on Michael McIntyre

Michael McIntyre's new chat show is losing viewers perhaps because of his 'ego', but Ava Vidal wants to know what's wrong with having a good sense of self-esteem? Far better that than being crippled by self-doubt.

Paul Sinha interview

"The decision to jump from being a GP to focusing on comedy was a risk but it was a calculated one."

Cambridge Science Festival gets funny

For two weeks this month comedy and science have been getting along famously, with the Cambridge Science Festival diversifying their 'curriculum' to include funny men and women with as much a grasp of protons as punchlines.

Review: Latest comedy night at Brazz in Taunton

The ever-funny MC Geoff Whiting, for me, was the highlight of the night and brought the crowd at Brazz together with his interaction, wit and put-downs.

John Bird and John Fortune - 1962 review

In this extract originally published in the Observer on 14 January 1962, an early Soho appearance by the duo makes our critic laugh, even if he finds something essential lacking.

Tony Hall could be in line for cameo in W1A

Second series role rumoured for director general after BBC2 premiere of first episode pulled in 1.6 million viewers.

Is this proof the TV chat show is dead?

It takes experience and steel nerves to control a difficult interviewee. The problem is, Michael McIntyre is not a journalist. He's a family comedian, as abrasive as a butterball.

Bath Comedy Festival preview

This year the sixth Bath Comedy Festival promises an excellent line-up, with household names and Radio 4 favourites rubbing shoulders with award winners, the rising stars of tomorrow and hopeful newcomers.

Christopher Biggins to star in Southend pantomime

Christopher Biggins is set to star in this year's pantomime at the Cliffs Pavilion.

Has BBC hit new level for 'worst Welsh accent ever'?

Senior Communications Officer Tracey Pritchard's accent is so bad you have to wonder if it's going to be revealed as a part of the plot.

The Darius Davies three minute interview

Darius Davies had a good Edinburgh in 2013. Despite the limitations of performing in a tiny pub room near the woman's toilets, he raised the roof, attracting audience and critical acclaim. He's one of very few newer comedians not afraid to take a risk, and succeed, as part of Edinburgh's Free Fringe.

The Zoe Lyons three minute interview

Over 10 years Zoe Lyons has cemented her place as one of the UKs great comics. Martin Walker wonders how her act has changed over the years, what she thinks about the axing of BBC Three and how she came up with the title of her latest show, Mustard Cutter.