BCG Daily Thursday 3rd April 2014

James Corden backs BBC Three move

Gavin and Stacey star James Corden has said he supports the closure of BBC Three as an on-air channel.

W1A, episode 3, BBC Two, review

As well as being funny, the third episode of the BBC-based satire, W1A, represents a quietly angry fightback against the forces of darkness, says James Walton.

Sex, rape and role models - how women in comedy perform

Two performance artists in this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) - the UK's Bryony Kimmings and American Adrienne Truscott - have a certain flavour of humour: it's the knowing, self-deprecating humour of the culturally dispossessed, of survivors and victims. And yes, they're both women.

Comedy review: Sarah Kendall

Kendall is an excellent storyteller and by the time things take a more serious turn towards the end, it doesn't matter that the pace of jokes slows - by this point the audience is completely wrapped up in the story.

Radio Times review

The post-Flying Circus break-up is a bit like the Beatles' story. After the Pythons initially "disbanded", there was a flowering of individual creativity: Cleese went on to Fawlty Towers, Idle to the underrated Rutland Weekend Television, Gilliam to Time Bandits and beyond, and Palin and Jones to their majestic upending of the Boy's Own universe...

Ripping Yarns ran for just nine episodes from 1976-9 but is fondly remembered by those who enjoyed its arcane world of bullying cups, crusty colonials and crossing the Andes by frog. It was a very different kind of comedy, expensive, all made on film after the pilot and with top-notch guest stars.

Alexander Armstrong briefly takes off his Pointless hat to explore the preoccupations that the Yarns found ripe for ridicule - the rituals of boarding school, aggressive imperialism, and scarcely credible sporting heroics.

Michael Palin and Terry Jones themselves chip in with genial observation. While not shirking the more indigestible ingredients of Boy's Own Paper - the xenophobia in particular - it also celebrates their more laudable aspects in these risk-averse times. A spiffing wheeze indeed.

The cast of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace: 10 years on

What have Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade, Alice Lowe and Matt Berry been up to in the decade since Garth Marenghi's Darkplace?

Radio Times review

"Paddy walks into a chemist and says, 'I want some deodorant please.' The assistant says, 'Ball, aerosol..?' 'No,' says Paddy, 'for under me arms'." Some gags just sound better in an Irish accent, so this is the obvious follow-up to previous episodes showcasing Jewish and Liverpudlian humour. And Irish comedy shares some vital characteristics with those other groups: a rich heritage of storytelling, a gift for self-satire and a prominent target in the shape of the Church.

The older generation's jokes are especially enjoyable. You can easily imagine them being shouted across dining tables at family gatherings, or told in the pub over a bag of Tayto and pint of the black stuff.

Silent Betty Balfour film found in Holland

A lost masterpiece of British silent cinema has been discovered in the Netherlands. Love, Life And Laughter, written and directed by George Pearson, was made in 1923 and had been one of the British Film Institute's 75 Most Wanted films.

Russell Brand to present BBC3 addiction documentary

Russell Brand will present a film about addiction treatment around the world for BBC Three.

Mo Gilligan interview

An interview with Mo Gilligan, who has been gigging since 2009.

Tim Vine retakes 'most jokes in an hour' record

Tim Vine has regained the record for the most number of jokes told in an hour - without doing a thing. Guinness World Record officials have stripped former holder Lehmo of the title, and reverted the official record to Vine.

Video: Still Game cast do The Slosh

Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and the rest of the Craiglang gang treated stunned punters in a city centre boozer to a hilarious performance of the cheesy dance.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 'entertains' critics

New West End musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has won over many of the nation's critics, with one branding it "entertaining and slickly staged".

Des Bishop tries to make the locals laugh in China

When Des Bishop decided to move to Beijing for a year, everyone he spoke to would go "on and on about how the Chinese wouldn't get the Western sense of humour. They all said that stand-up comedy as a form wouldn't work because the Chinese are so different. The hilarious thing was that nobody had tried."

Coogan & Brydon's ego trip makes a big impression

What's your general impression of Steve Coogan? Oscar-nominated screenwriter and comedy genius? Chippy crusader against tabloid press intrusion? Or simply, 'Aha, it's Alan Partridge!'? Tune it to the second series of The Trip To Italy on BBC Two this evening and you'll be reminded of Coogan's other impressions - his Roger Moore, his Morrissey and - most uncanny of all - his self-regarding British comedian called Steve Coogan.

Comedy review: Simon Munnery - Fylm (The Stand)

The delivery is unique, though the content isn't a million miles away from Munnery's more traditional comedy shows.

Richard Herring - extended interview

Richard Herring is one of the most prolific comedians in the UK. He's an author of several successful books, a regular columnist for The Metro newspaper, a prolific and award winning podcaster, a radio DJ and touring stand-up comic. Here he discusses death, life and DVDs.

Nina Conti interview

With a new live show, theatre piece, sitcom and documentary all in the making, Nina Conti is on a pretty tight schedule.

Stephen Fry thanks fans for support after hospital trip

Stephen Fry has thanked fans for their support after he was hospitalised yesterday. The star was admitted to hospital after suffering with a swollen ankle, and was later diagnosed with cellulitis - a painful and potentially dangerous skin condition.

Infidel The Musical - Kickstarters v. Investors

There's been much debate in the press recently about whether Kickstarter crowd funding campaigns offer backers a raw deal.

South Wales comedy club hopes to make its mark

Comedy Cow has been hit in Milton Keynes and now it's launching a club in South Wales.

Charlie Chaplin: is he still funny?

As a new biography of Charlie Chaplin is published, comedian Robin Ince asks if his humour has lasted.

The Richard Herring extended interview

Richard Herring is one of the most prolific comedians in the UK. He's an author of several successful books, a regular columnist for the Metro newspaper, a prolific and award winning pod-caster, a radio DJ and touring stand-up comic. In Martin Walker's first full length interview for Broadway Baby, Richard discusses death, life and DVDs.