BCG Daily Friday 25th April 2014

Radio Times review

The relentless, competitive maleness of The Trip to Italy is leavened by the arrival of Coogan's chirpy PA Emma and Spanish photographer Yolanda, who are in Rome to do a photoshoot with the boys.

The quartet have romantic history, as anyone who saw the first series will know, and there are some tender flirtations. But the group are easy with one another as they explore the lives of doomed poets Keats and Shelley.

Of course, impressions are never far away and when someone mentions Sicily, Brydon launches into his Marlon Brando/Godfather in a riff that turns into an extraordinary little scene about Jimmy Savile.

Of all the episodes so far, this feels closest to self-indulgence, but it's hard to sniff at anything that features Steve Coogan doing Robert de Niro as a foul-mouthed Frankenstein's monster.

Radio Times review

It's men-only on Graham's guest list this evening as Joey from Friends (aka Matt LeBlanc) cosies up alongside Seth Rogen and Zac Efron who are in the UK to promote their new film Bad Neighbours.

Coincidentally, Le Blanc and Efron appeared on the show together in 2012 when there was much joshing about the High School Musical star's schmaltzy film choices. However, with reports suggesting that Efron has some issues with sobriety, it will be interesting to see whether Norton broaches the subject and explores the now commonplace transition from wholesome Disney star to troubled adult actor.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Pappy's Flatshare Meltdown, Glenn Wool and Justin Moorhouse].

News: Frankie Boyle pulls out of London shows

It was a surprise earlier this year to hear that Frankie Boyle would be returning to the stage, but this time taking second billing.

News: London Club goes free

London comedy promoters We Love Comedy have decided to turn their clubs into free nights.

Review: Channel 4's Derek - series 2

Derek's a bad, ham-fisted, mawkish mess of a comedy; but it's created from the man who launched a thousand TV mockumentaries with The Office.

Alan Carr did his best, but Lindsay Lohan's a nightmare

My advice to bookers of chat shows for future reference is to avoid Lindsay Lohan, say Mark Jefferies.

Mark Strong joins Sacha Baron Cohen in upcoming film

Mark Strong is set to star alongside Sacha Baron Cohen in the upcoming film Grimsby.

We Are The Freaks: Modest & likeable British comedy

A charasmatic cast makes all the difference to We Are The Freaks, a modest but likeable British teen comedy set in November 1990.

Video - Frank: Mark Kermonde's first reaction

There's an extraordinary new film out based on the cult character Frank Sidebottom. Here's my first reaction to it.

Big Mouth Comedy Club: Fun way to start the month

Comedy fans throughout Teesside and east Cleveland can look forward to a flying start to next month with Big Mouth bringing more top comics to Redcar, Guisborough, Saltburn and Middlesbrough on the first weekend in May.

Junior Simpson to headline Benn Hall comedy night

Junior Simpson is to make his debut at the Benn Hall's Comedy Night.

Have you been watching ... The Trip to Italy?

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan's mockumentary sees the comedians impersonating Michael Caine and Roger Moore to humorous effect - but it's their take on their own personas that is most compulsive viewing.

Brighton Fringe preview

McNeil and Pamphilon are among the many, many sketch acts on offer at the Brighton Fringe.

Matthew Perry interview

The post-Friends decade has seen Matthew Perry battle addiction, star in flops, get clean and rediscover his funny side. Here, he talks about his British TV debut, chucking dogs around.

Jon Ronson interview

We talk to the journalist and documentary filmmaker about his (fictional) directorial debut, The Dog Thrower.

How to survive Red Bastard's show

Devilish comedy monster Red Bastard amuses, thrills, utterly terrifies and could even change your life. We talk to Eric Davis, the man behind the make-up, about being bastardised.

One to watch: Tim Renkow

Read our comedy profile of Tim Renkow and see him live.