BCG Daily Thursday 24th April 2014

Gervais is just a sniggering playground bully

This show is the most rancid dollop of insincere gloop ever served up on telly.

'Derek' review, series 2 episode 1

Would this have been recommissioned if it had been anybody but Ricky Gervais behind it? Probably not. Is the TV schedule better for it being included? Definitely.

Radio Times review

Chris Addison and Jo Joyner leave behind The Thick of It and EastEnders respectively and make a left turn. They come together to star in a romcom about a young-ish couple in Kendal, who are bearing up after her recent affair and attempting to rebuild their relationship.

The premise is meant to make Trying Again edgier and more emotional than comedy dramas like Stella and Mount Pleasant, which it resembles on the surface. This doesn't come through much in these first two episodes, since they're too busy being funny: writer Simon Blackwell fills them with strong gags and neat plotting (the callback pay off at the end of episode one is a killer), while Alun Cochrane, Elizabeth Berrington and Alex MacQueen are all on form as cartoonish, traditional-sitcom supporting characters.

The show's identity problem scarcely matters. In particular, Joyner is a revelation as the funny, energetic foil to Addison's nervous, cowardly weed. A new comedy star is born.

Frank Sidebottom and the man behind the mask

Cult comic character Frank Sidebottom has inspired a film starring Michael Fassbender, while a documentary and biography are also in the works. Four years after his creator Chris Sievey died, why is Frank's legend growing and who was the man behind the mask?

Derek; GameFace - TV review

Ricky Gervais is out of his depth playing a character that isn't based on his own worst foibles, and things are not helped by a script that is not funny or smart enough.

Journey South & Roy 'Chubby' Brown unveil contribution

Journey South. A Roy 'Chubby' Brown lookalike. A stage in a Tesco car park in Thirsk. A World Cup looming. What else could it mean other than a new song for the England football team in the run-up to Brazil?

Josie Long: finding the funny in a tour of Tate Modern

Josie Long has never been one for comedy clubs - her latest gig takes audiences on a whistlestop tour of Tate Modern. Art always inspires her sets, but she may be an unreliable guide...

Preview: Is it comedy or art or both?

I've always been partial to a bit of art, I've always been partial to a bit of comedy and I've always been partial to a freebie, so Fancy Meeting You Here is right up my street. This is a free roving comedy show, hosted by Americans Dave Hill (not the one from Slade) and Carl Arnheiter, which takes audiences on idiosyncratic tours of cultural landmarks.

Interview: Simon Blackwell

Screenwriter reveals what it was like to tackle more personal and emotive subject matter in Sky Living's Trying Again - and how the process became even more intense when he was doubly bereaved.

Trying Again: 'warm, witty and winningly old-fashioned'

The excellent cast, including Jo Joyner and Chris Addison, and the fizzing script of Sky's new cosy sitcom made it a winner, says Michael Hogan.

Derek: season 2

Overall Derek has come back on the strengths with which it first succeeded and continues to be a highly entertaining show that treads between genre boundaries. Personally, the removal of Dougie takes an edge off of the show for me as he was by far my favourite character, yet admittedly I am a huge Karl Pilkington fan.

Could Warren United be the UK's answer to The Simpsons?

The first episode of Warren United was promising enough but with only six in the series, it will have to work very hard over the next few weeks to make itself as familiar, and unmissable, for audiences as Bart and co.

Trying Again, TV review

Jo Joyner impresses, but countryside romcom is no breath of fresh air.

Lee Evans set to hit the stage and perform once more

His manic, high-energy performances have earned him a massive following, and he now regularly sells out some of the biggest venues in the country. But comedy fans in the Lowestoft area are in for a real treat this summer when Lee Evans returns to the town for a one-off appearance at the Marina Theatre.

Katherine Ryan, Soho Theatre

In her latest show, Glam Role Model, Katherine Ryan skilfully tackles a number of hot potatoes, from celebrity obsession to the over-sexualisation of society.

The Thick of It definitely not returning says writer

The BBC satire - which showcased Peter Capaldi's world-famous swearing as Malcolm Tucker - was put to bed even before Capaldi was cast in Doctor Who, says Simon Blackwell.

Neil Mullarkey on 1980s alternative comedy

"In the old Comedy Store in Leicester Square," said Neil, "there was no toilet in the dressing room. There was a sink you could pee in. Sometimes a woman would say: I'm going to have a pee; do you mind leaving the room? And we did. Otherwise they'd have had to go all round and queue up with the punters. But now we have a toilet."

Best shows to see at Machynlleth Comedy Festival

Despite being almost unpronounceable to anyone without a GCSE in Welsh Machynlleth Comedy Festival has emerged a highlight of the summer comedy calendar.

Tom Hollander on Rev end

Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live's Richard Bacon, Holland admitted that he is unsure about the prospect of a fourth run any time soon.

Film-makers win Sundance competition with short comedy

A director who has been making films with his best friend since they were at school has won a Sundance competition with the first one they have ever completed.

GameFace review

I really can't wait for a series to be made of GameFace as I love Roisin Conaty, the scripting was excellent, and there were many unique aspects to the programme.

Chris Addison interview

Chris Addison on US politics, romcoms and working with Gandolfini...

Derek remains a mawkish mess

The mockumentary format is moribund. The ethics are muddy. The tone is all over the place in everything but its consistent condescension.

Jamie MacDonald interview

Jamie MacDonald is a gigging stand-up comedian, writer and voice over artist who happens to be blind.

The Jamie MacDonald three minute interview

Jamie MacDonald is a gigging stand-up comedian, writer and voice over artist who happens to be blind. Jamie started losing his sight at the age of 16 when he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive degenerative retinal disease which will eventually leave him totally blind. Martin Walker asks about the sequel to last year's Fringe hit, That Funny Blind Guy.

The Madame Magenta three minute interview

Want to know what the supernatural is all about? Martin Waker exchanges emails with bonkers mystic Madame Magenta, who is bringing her show to Edinburgh this August.