BCG Daily Wednesday 26th March 2014

Sacha Baron Cohen wanted for Alice in Wonderland sequel

Sacha Baron Cohen, the Borat actor, is tipped for a starring role in Disney's Alice in Wonderland sequel, Through the Looking Glass.

Radio Times review

The cha-cha-cha theme music from Animal Magic they use over the opening titles of W1A will hang around in your head for days if you're not careful, and so will some of its cruelly funny scenes.

Last time, buzzword bunny Siobhan "Totally" Sharpe (Jessica Hynes) barely got a look in. Here she's centre stage as she muscles in on Ian's trip to appear on Woman's Hour in Salford. "Let's ride this train, let's nail this puppy to the floor!" she drones, while launching a Twitter campaign that races out of control ("We've just been re-tweeted by Enrique Iglesias!")

Ian (Hugh Bonneville) is trying to scotch the idea that the BBC has an institutional bias against the West Country (and that it's institutionally sexist and ageist), but his encounter with Jenni Murray slides steadily into farce.

Meanwhile, back in London, there's a crisis meeting over the double-booking of Carol Vorderman and Clare Balding to present Britain's Tastiest Village. Step forward dim intern Will ("Yah, cool") to save the day.

Inside No. 9 review

It remains unpredictable and surprising throughout, delivering delicious little twists on standard formulas and narratives without settling into any sort of format.

Nick Frost to star in Fox comedy pilot Sober Companion

Nick Frost has signed on to star in a new Fox comedy pilot called Sober Companion.

Marcus du Sautoy interview

You might think advanced mathematics is a rather joyless and serious subject, but one Oxford University professor is looking to the funny side.

Patrick Kielty - From stand-pp to shiny floor and back

Patrick Kielty is a regular TV face but I can't remember the last time I saw him do stand-up. As I arrived in SW7 I thought to myself, this is going to be interesting...

Comedy Snapshot book published

Did you know that Jack Whitehall was related to David Dickinson? No, me neither. That is just one of the little gems in Steve Best's new book Comedy Snapshot.

Ricky Gervais: Female characters often treated as props

The creator of Derek says Hollywood portrays women as air heads or so ambitious they "need to be taught a lesson".

W1A, episode two, review

After last week's breathless and slightly smug opener, Beeb-satirising mockumentary W1A (BBC Two) got into its stride.

Mid-life matters: Steve Coogan interview

With Alan Partridge he created one of the most memorable characters in the history of British comedy, but armed with a new-found sincerity and a determination to put his cynicism to one side, Steve Coogan has put himself on the frontline in the battle over press regulation. He tells Sam Macrory why he is on the right side of the argument, and why the fight is far from over.

I Can't Sing: The X Factor Musical - review

Well, it's not as bad as you might have feared, or hoped, depending on your relationship with Simon Cowell. Nor is it as good as the mighty machinery of advance praise would have had you believe. If this sounds like damnation with faint praise, that's possibly because it is.

I Can't Sing: five star review

Harry Hill's brilliant X Factor lampoon backed by Simon Cowell himself cleverly engages with popular culture without taking the audience for fools.

Interview with Jonny Pelham

I am not sure how I would describe it, it is mainly just me on stage talking about stuff, mainly myself.

The W1A way

It's water-cooler TV: a darkly comic examination of office life as it is lived in the capital, revealing an environment of corporate fear, open-plan loathing and Kafka-esque manoeuvring that is both tragic and banal.

Add Frank to your summer cinema list

It's worth the ticket price alone to hear Michael Fassbender deadpan his facial expressions from inside his mad mask: "Lips pushed together as if to say, 'Enough frivolity'."

The Kate Smurthwaite three minute interview

To regular consumers of comedy on the UK circuit, Kate Smurthwaite is known for her series of topical, satirical stand up shows, The News at Kate. But that's just part of the story. Martin Walker interrupted her busy tour of TV, radio and comedy venues to talk about what she's been up to.

The Robin Ince three minute interview

Stand-Up comic Robin Ince isn't a name dropper. So Martin Walker will do some for him. In a 25 year long career he's worked with the likes of Chris Addison, Richard Dawkins, Ricky Gervais, Stewart Lee, Josie Long, Natalie Haynes, and (gulp) Brian Cox. He's currently touring his show, Robin Ince: In and Out of His mind.