BCG Daily Friday 28th March 2014

Ricky Gervais: 'Muppets inspired my comedy career'

"The Muppets were very important part of my childhood," reminisces Ricky Gervais.

Man U fans send comedy club worker abusive tweets

Angry Manchester United fans have bombarded Sarah Moyles, a press and marketing worker at The Stand in Edinburgh, on Twitter with hundreds of irate messages after mistaking her for the daughter of manager David Moyes.

Review: Glasgow Comedy Festival - Fred MacAulay

MacAulay's sometimes outrageous observations ("Have you ever seen a non-obese lottery winner? That's why the cheques are so huge...") are coupled with the fact he remains eminently likeable. With friends and family in for this show, wife Aileen did not escape unscathed, although she supplied one of the best punchlines of the night.

Radio Times review

We have to end on a birth or a wedding. The birth was a few weeks ago, so Luke and Zoe's wedding it is. After the arguments about how big the party will be - everyone round at Stella's, bring a plate of food, and no, Daddy Simpson will not be dressed as a bullfighter - it's time for the stag and hen dos, with the lads' standard lager and curry effort blown away by the ladies, for whom hippie Verv has made some special cakes.

There are many laughs lurking behind the main business of the episode, which is whether Michael will make a huge error and leave our Stella behind. We know where it's going, but the journey has the right balance of sweet and bitter.

Stella's been recommissioned for a Christmas special and a fourth series. That's one of the easiest decisions any channel boss will take this year.

Russell Howard, Wembley Arena - comedy review

Russell Howard was funny but fairly obvious for much of his Wonderbox show, which was dominated by trademark feelgood anecdotes about his crazy family plus a leitmotif of mucky humour.

Fake Stafford mayor is unmasked as Midland comic

The man who is masquerading as the Mayor of Stafford - and even posed in a picture of him 'opening' Alton Towers for its 2014 season - today can be unmasked by the Express & Star as James Billington, a comedian from Nottingham.

QI: what is the link between perfume and bottoms?

A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI scents an opportunity.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Jonny & The Baptists, Simon Evans and Ben Target.

Review: I Can't Sing!, Palladium

Well, as one of the songs nearly goes, blow me, it's fabulous.

Ricky Gervais: I want to do more Derek

The writer and star of the Channel 4 comedy reveals he will do "a special, at least" to follow the second series set to air from 23 April.

Paul Kerensa: Does God have a sense of humour?

Paul Kerensa has been on the comedy circuit for some time, and has written extensively for sitcoms such as Miranda and Not Going Out. He's also a Christian, and shared with Christian Today about how his faith impacts his work.

Alan Carr Chatty Man: 11 drink-fuelled clips

Alan's globe full of booze has been the cause and the subject of many a conversation.

Theoretically Funny

I was explaining sitcom plots and actually plotted a few graphs to represent them. It sounds crazy.

Rich Hall brings his comedy Hoedown back to Scotland

Deadpan comic Rich Hall is heading to Scotland this weekend with a rag tag band of musicians in tow for a right good Hoedown.

Don't write Michael McIntyre off as a host just yet

The comedian may not have stormed the ratings with his first show, but he gets big guests and is improving fast - a recipe for success.

Sandi Toksvig on renewing her vows

To mark gay marriage in England and Wales finally being legalised, Sandi Toksvig is renewing her vows with her civil partner. But along the way she has faced objections, prejudice - even death threats.