BCG Daily Monday 28th April 2014

Michael Palin interview

Michael Palin tells HuffPostUK why 'Monty Python has never really happened since'.

Is the sketch show dead - or resting?

Where is today's Monty Python, Fast Show, or Little Britain?

Keith Harris wins secret battle with cancer

Veteran ventriloquist Keith Harris has won a secret cancer battle. Doctors gave him just 12 months to live when the illness was diagnosed last year and he kept it quiet.

Sharon Rooney interview

The 25-year-old Glaswegian plays Jules, a no-nonsense barmaid in Miller's Mountain.

Rev, the brilliant TV comedy that undermines the church

The hit comedy about an Anglican vicar is a secular take on the sacred, and fails to say anything about belief.

Opinion: What went wrong 'With I Can't Sing!'

I have a huge amount of sympathy for all the people involved in I Can't Sing! They've put so much effort into it.

I Can't Sing: why X Factor musical was voted off

The popularity of Simon Cowell's TV talent shows peaked a couple of years ago. Harry Hill and Steve Brown's show was staged too late - and felt conflicted. We were asked to laugh at the vacuousness of it all yet also care about the characters.

Short and Curly interview

Paul F Taylor and Rebecca Shorrocks, aka Short and Curly.

What's next for Harry Hill?

A new idea would seem to be needed. However, it is not as simple as that.

Why London's tech workers are taking comedy classes

Tech workers are taking lessons in how to be spontaneous, and the comedy classes are causing quite a scene around Silicon Roundabout. Joshi Herrmann stands up just for laughs.

Radio Times review

If you thought tormented vicar Adam Smallbone couldn't fall any lower than he did in the last upsetting episode, think again. Adam (Tom Hollander) is debased to the point of hopelessness. He's listless and depressed, and pretends that he doesn't mind being suspended. Who wants to be a vicar anyway, he asks his forbearing wife, Alex, unconvincingly.

Adam feels cut off and alone. Even decrepit Colin has turned on him in the most vituperative way, and his verger, Nigel, the cause of all the trouble, is angry and unrepentant.

As Adam frantically gardens at night, it is clear, in the final episode of the series, that nothing can ever be the same again. It's too, too sad. Much too sad.

The Infidel musical to open at Theatre Royal Stratford

The Infidel - The Musical, written by comedian David Baddiel will be staged at Theatre Royal Stratford East this October after members of the public secured its production by pledging more than £55,000.

5 things you might not know about Mark Thomas

The 'angry and confused liberal' would like to be remembered as 'the man who poisoned Piers Morgan'.

Craig Campbell on why we shouldn't have comedy heroes

'Comedians are at best great opportunists, spinning private, excruciating emotional pains and hidden personal agonies into shared public ecstasies'.

Even up the odds to beat everyday sexism in comedy

I am still fighting fires and get reminded daily of all my 'mistakes' made in the quest to get great female comedy on the map. Plus, I am not a comedian, so there's no glory in all this.

The Jim Davidson interview

When he announced he was going to be at the Edinburgh Fringe, Twitter became a platform for knocking the man and his show. The Guardian published a piece saying Davidson should just stay home. As a reviewer, I tweeted that we shouldn't judge the man's Edinburgh show until we'd seen it.
And that lead to this interview.

Stephen Fry leads boycott against Dorchester Hotel

The Dorchester Hotel is facing a boycott by fashion and screen stars in a row over a law, passed by its owner in Brunei, which could lead to gay people being stoned to death. Stephen Fry, US comedian Ellen DeGeneres and leading designers have all vowed not to stay in any of the hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei in protest over the legislation.

Shoreditch church that inspired 'Rev' faces bankruptcy

St Leonard's Church, in Shoreditch, is the real life location used in the comedy but the desperate state of its finances caused by a dwindling congregation could mean closing its doors for good.

Why 'I Can't Sing!' was voted out of the West End

After a year of thunderous hype, Harry Hill's Simon Cowell-produced X Factor musical I Can't Sing! has been voted out of the West End by the ticket-buying public - despite decent reviews, it'll end its run on May 10, scarcely two months after it began previews.

Review: Glenn Wool

Wool delights in dredging up increasingly questionable material in order to try and shock his audience, but they are untouchable, and lap up his every warped aside.

Billy Connolly wants Scotland to stay with England

Billy Connolly wants Scotland to remain part of the UK rather than become independent.

Review: Frank Skinner

Not a lot of depth though, if we're being honest, despite the punctuation marks of home-spun haikus and a touch of Greek philosophising, and a talent for painting a colourful verbal picture.

How Rev went from sitcom heaven to bleak hell

Rev devotees don't want this; we watch Rev because of its kindness and its imperfect view of an imperfect world. We don't watch to feel despair and helplessness.

London Sketchfest 2014: Guilt & Shame

Right now we're hearing from the Guilt & Shame boys.

London Sketchfest 2014: Rat

Rat are Dave Newman, Camilla Whitehill and Al Donegan.

London Sketchfest 2014: Mugging Chickens

Mugging Chickens are back like Gary Barlow.

London Sketchfest 2014: Short and Curly

Rebecca Shorrocks and Paul F Taylor are Short and Curly.

Stand-up comedy festival set for Croydon

Laughter could be filling Croydon's streets next year as a series of stand-up comedy events hit the town centre.

Ricky Gervais's Derek takes aim at the elderly

Ricky Gervais wrote Derek, and he's decided it's not offensive - so it can't be, can it?

The Jim Davidson interview

In his most high profile interview for Broadway Baby to date, Martin Walker talks to controversial comedian, Jim Davidson. In a no holds barred extended interview they discuss Chalky White, Brian Dowling, Paul Sinha, the war in Iraq, Tony Blair, gay marriage, Davidson's favourite and least liked comedians and his forthcoming appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe. The interview is forthright and names are named. Contains repeated use of strong language.