BCG Daily Monday 21st April 2014

Bill Bailey brings Qualmpeddler to Prague

The Black Books comedian will perform a one-man show in English, in the Czech capital.

Six famous faces celebrate Tommy Cooper

Why are we still laughing at Tommy Cooper 30 years after he died on stage? Barry Cryer, Paul Daniels, Johnny Vegas, Tim Vine, Brian Conley and Jason Manford explain.

Amanda Redman on playing Tommy Cooper's wife

"It's about his double life - the stress, boozing and the hard work - all of which ultimately killed him"

Radio Times review

David Threlfall delivers a tour de force as Tommy Cooper, undergoing a transformation that's much deeper than just the donning of a fez.

Cooper's studied incompetence with magic tricks made him a star, but Simon Nye's script centres on Cooper's relationships with two women, his volatile and long-suffering wife Dove (Amanda Redman) and his mistress Mary Kay (Helen McCrory).

Cooper is hard to like - he drinks too much, he's tight with money and he's physically abusive - and by the end of two hours your patience may have run dry.

But Threlfall and Nye work hard to show why Cooper inspired abiding loyalty in both women, and in his friends and fellow comedians, right until that final show when he collapses on stage in front of a TV audience, an extraordinary 15 minutes from Threlfall who does the act note for note.

Radio Times review

Oh my! Watching Rev. week after week is increasingly traumatic, as Adam Smallbone, buffeted by the vicissitudes of life and his own weaknesses (namely, comely head teacher Ellie) begins to unravel.

He's sent to see the Bishop of London (Ralph Fiennes) who subjects him to a draconian punishment after the kiss-in-the-vestry incident. Soon Adam's world is shredded as he loses all grip on his beloved and doomed St Saviour's Church. He's even let down by the decrepit Colin (the marvellous Steve Evets) whose faithlessness puts Adam at the centre of a parish-wide scandal.

But in the midst of a meltdown, he meets a kindly stranger on a green hill far away...

Radio Times review

Written by and starring the siblings Rebecca and Jeremy Front, this astute satirical comedy returns for a new run. Each of the five spoof documentaries has Jeremy, as a Radio 4 reporter, spending 24 hours in the company of one of the "incredible women" of the title, all played by Rebecca.

Today we encounter Danielle, a reality TV star whose concept of "normal life" has been weirdly warped by having her every move scripted for her - it's a cross between TOWIE and What Katie Did Next. Various famous voices pop up as themselves - Eamonn Holmes, Joanna Lumley, Clare Balding and Dame Stella Rimmington included - and my favourite is Barbara Windsor, who makes a knowing return to her Carry On days as a sexually predatory 87-year-old singer.

Clever, funny, quality writing - this is just what we've come to expect from the Fronts.

30 Tommy Cooper jokes to remind you of his genius

Here are 30 of our favourite Tommy Cooper jokes to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the comic's death.

The rise of the writer-performer sitcom: Part 2

It's worth noting most shows of serious of quality that have stood the test of time, and born much repeat viewing are written by writers.

Tommy Cooper: 25 of the comedian's funniest moments

As ITV airs biopic Not Like That, Like This, we take a look at some of his greatest gags.

Frank Sidebottom: The man behind the papier mâché

Working for the comedian and singer Frank Sidebottom was an education and an oddly profound experience, recalls a one-time member of his backing band.

Shaun of the Dead quiz

Do you know what their local pub is called and what dogs can't do?

David Threlfall excels in this well-written biopic

I thoroughly enjoyed Not Like That, Like This from its engaging opening scene to its heartbreaking conclusion.

Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This review

Simon Nye's script didn't shy away from the darker elements of Cooper's personality but it was balanced nicely with his incessant need to perform.

5 reasons Tommy Cooper biopic is best in a long time

We've had Hattie Jacques, Eric Morecambe and Kenneth Williams to name but a few. However ITV's two-hour-long film dedication to the life of Tommy Cooper, Not Like That, Like This, is the best biopic there's been for a while.

Tommy Cooper - Not Like That, Like This review

What this script successfully did was show just how fitting it was that Tommy's final hurrah was on stage, making everyone laugh as the be-fezzed fool that was so beloved, and not off it where life had become far more complicated, and ultimately unsolvable.

Not Like That, Like This - 'a so-so biopic'

David Threlfall's portrayal of comedian Tommy Cooper saved a mediocre biopic.

The Susan Calman extended interview

Susan Calman is a comic genius. She's regular on BBC Radio 4, but in the last couple of years she's made the break on to television. Now it's only a matter of time before she heads her own TV show. Martin Walker talks to the rising Scottish star.