BCG Daily Tuesday 29th April 2014

Frank Skinner returns to Fringe after 7 years away

Skinner will perform his show Man in a Suit at the fringe while Russell Kane and Richard Herring present dramatic works as well as comedy sets.

Radio Times review

Hugh Dennis is Bill, a hangdog weatherman who is sacked from the BBC and replaced by a stunning young woman. Infuriated, bitter Bill sets out to find another job, this time with C4. It's not much of a premise for a comedy, but then Over to Bill isn't much of a comedy.

It's supposed to be a comedy (written by Red Dwarf's Doug Naylor) because it's part of a brief revival of the much-loved Comedy Playhouse strand, which produced abiding hits Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part and The Liver Birds.

But Over to Bill won't trouble the comedy stratosphere like those classics. There are jokes about the accidental drinking of breast-milk, emergency present-buying from a garage and a particularly tasteless routine about bone marrow transplants. Neil Morrissey and Call the Midwife's Helen George co-star as Bill's shallow friends.

Greg McHugh takes leading role in Peter Pan panto

Karen Dunbar and Des Clarke have been dropped for the 2014 production of Peter Pan at the King's Theatre. Instead TV favourite Greg McHugh will take the leading role. He will be joined by King's theatre stalwart and Still Game star Gavin Mitchell, who will take on the role of Captain Hook.

Tracy-Ann Oberman interview

Tracy-Ann Oberman has revealed she enjoyed playing a "nice woman" on Over To Bill.

The Horne Section review

This frivolously funny mash-up of music and mirth was a try-out for their Edinburgh Fringe return.

Billy Connolly told about Parkinson's & cancer same day

Billy Connolly: I found out I had Parkinson's and cancer on the same day. The comedian and actor says illness has not dented his sense of humour - he has even incorporated his shaking hand into his act.

Dad's Army: A box office battle?

Dad's Army looks set to invade the big screen - for the second time. How much of a challenge does the TV comedy classic face finding a modern audience?

Can Comedy Playhouse save the British sitcom?

As the BBC revives its Comedy Playhouse strand, Michael Hogan wonders if it can replicate the success of Steptoe & Son and Porridge.

Andrew Burrell: My obsession with plastic people

Now the production of series 2 is drawing to a close and our hard work is about to hit the telly and meet the best and most demanding audience in the world CHILDREN! This'll be the real test of whether we honestly did reconnect with the imagination that all kids innately possess.

Coogan & Brydon send Alanis Morissette up the charts

One of the more surprising new entries in the UK albums chart on Sunday was Morissette's debut album, Jagged Little Pill, which appeared at No 40. It seems reasonable to assume this is the result of her music appearing in The Trip to Italy, playing on the car stereo as Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan drive from nice restaurant to nice restaurant.

Stephen Fry wins first Tony nomination

Stephen Fry has notched up his first Tony nomination for his Broadway debut in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Glasgow Kids Comedy Club to feature 10-year-old comic

Adam Weir set for slot at comedy event at The Stand aimed at children.

Podcast review: No Such Thing As A Fish

All it lacks is the likes of Alan Davies and co chipping in with their comedic quips, but there are still plenty of laughs to be had.

Frank Skinner: Man In A Suit /Philharmonic Hall

He might have been away from the circuit for a while, but you wouldn't have known it. Skinner's a genuine comedy superstar in an ocean of full of lightweight imposters.

Comedy spotlight: Rachel Fairburn

It's a good job that Rachel Fairburn is very funny, because she'd make one heck of a murderer. Her obsession with those darker souls among us may not come across upon first impression, but don't judge a book by its cover. Instead judge her by the colouring book she lovingly created. The one on serial killers.

London Sketchfest 2014: In Cahoots

Describe In Cahoots without using any adjectives: The Milky Bar Kid meets Dev Patel in The Home Counties.

London Sketchfest 2014: Heffernan and Fletcher

Heffernan and Fletcher talk about Sketchfest...

London Sketchfest 2014: Charles Booth

Charles Booth talks about sketches.

Komedia celebrates its 20th birthday

After years of struggle and recession things are looking up for Brighton arts and entertainment institution Komedia.