BCG Daily Friday 18th April 2014

Review: Alan Davies, Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow

His on-stage persona is markedly different from his on-screen comedy foil on QI and the introspective Jonathan Creek.

Damn the Torpedoes! is a unique kind of war comedy

There is a long tradition of stand-ups going to bases to entertain the troops, but this is the first time they have attempted to do it over the airwaves. So far a sketch about tensions between US and UK troops has proved a favourite with listeners.

Comedy night aims to boost charities

A South Tyneside club is hoping a comedy night will deliver a belly-full of laughs to help boost a charity fund.

Cringe-worthy comedy more suited to the 1970s

Even if you really love Emma Thompson or Pierce Brosnan, and who doesn't, you will be hard pressed to squeeze much fun from The Love Punch, a witless, idiotic comedy that makes you cringe.

Review: Witless film that can only be blamed on writer

At no stage did I believe for a second in these characters or their story, and since that can't be the fault of four such beloved actors, the culprit can only be the writer-director, Joel Hopkins.

The Love Punch (12A) - review

Thompson and Brosnan are an attractive pairing and they bring a veneer of class to proceedings, which is otherwise lacking in the writing and direction.

Festival of the Unspoken Nerd, Udderbelly, review

The threesome perform with gusto and you can learn lots of fun stuff.

The Love Punch: stars reveal their first kisses

Romantic advice and stories of young love from the stars of the latest British romcom.

Radio Times review

The comic riffs and bickering are lower-key this week. We start with Rob Brydon waking up in bed next to the blonde girl from the last episode, the one on the yacht, and we gather from the expletives he's not best pleased with himself. Perhaps that helps things take a mournful turn, as he and travelling companion Steve Coogan reflect on Shelley's funeral pyre and death generally.

In one of his extended flights of fancy, Rob imagines Steve on his deathbed, so incapacitated he can't even grope his attractive nurse. As if to retaliate (and there's a lot of that) Steve later reflects on his "semi-justified reputation for being something of a lothario".

But over and above the nicely observed riffs on ageing and celebrity there are, of course, the impressions: this week Steve reads the guide book as first James Mason and then, brilliantly, Neil Kinnock. Plus, "Roger Moore sings the very best of Alanis Morissette".

News: Further Daniel Kitson finds

When I wrote my story about uncovering some early Daniel Kitson footage recently I was contacted by Karel Beer, who has been putting on comedy nights in Paris at his Laughing Matters club for nearly twenty years. "We have hours of Daniel on video performing here in Paris," he told me. And so yesterday I headed over to Paris and met up with Karel in a bar just off the Bastille before retiring to his flat to enjoy some prime cuts of Kitson.

Joel Hopkins guides us around The Lover Punch's setting

Discover the beautiful filming locations of Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan's new rom-com.

Ross Noble webchat: quiz the stand-up

The freewheeling comedian will be answering your questions live on Tuesday 22 April - get your questions in now.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Katherine Ryan, Jason Manford's comedy club and Sadwave.

Tommy Cooper drama preview

Your opinion of Tommy Cooper may not change but you will have a greater understanding of what life may have been like for him.

Simon Amstell finds humour in a show full of angst

English comedian Simon Amstell made a name for himself in the United Kingdom skewering celebrities on shows like Popworld and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. But he's no easier on himself.

Alan Davies likes to be up close and personal

"I do like to talk about myself, obviously."

The rise of the writer-performer sitcom

There has undoubtedly been a swing towards sitcoms by writer-performers recently.

The Alternative Comedy Experience

I am looking forward to Series 2 of this show but in the meantime, I will be looking out for names like David Kay, Alun Cochrane and Bridget Christie in particular, as these new names stood out for me.

No more encores, please

How to end a comedy show? When you have taken your audience on what you hope is a roller-coaster ride of giggles and belly laughs, where do you stop?