BCG Daily Thursday 12th June 2014

Alan Carr to present singing game show

Alan Carr is to host a new singing competition on Channel 4.

Mock The Week's 20 best jokes

TV's self-styled "most notorious topical quiz show" Mock the Week returns tonight for a 13th season.

Preview: Matt Reed, Gincredible, The Stand, Newcastle

After a frankly tip-top performance at Stockton ARC in March, stand-up Matt Reed is bringing his solo show to Tyneside later this month.

Radio Times review

We're now a mighty 13 series into the topical panel show, and Dara O'Briain remains adept at shepherding his guests' reactions to the news - part effective quickfire puns, part Radio 4-friendly cleverness and, yes, part borderline offensive nonsense - into a cohesive whole.

For the comedians who stand in front of Mock the Week's lonely microphone, this isn't a bad summer in which to start a new series. As expectant silence falls around them, the World Cup, immigration rows and the build-up to the Commonwealth Games and Scottish referendum are all there to be clutched at. Tonight, regulars Andy Parsons, Hugh Dennis and our cerebral host are joined by Milton Jones, Ed Byrne and Romesh Ranganathan. Katherine Ryan is the solitary woman.

Radio Times review

Jo Brand applies her mordant wit to the fraught world of child protection as she typecasts herself as "the fat, bad-tempered one", Rose, in an office of social workers. She and her fellow socials, Al (Alan Davies) and Nitin (Romesh Ranganathan), are a fairly disarrayed bunch, as likely to be arguing over who should answer the phones as taking kids into care - Rose herself is a harassed single mum, trying desperately to arrange childcare before she leaves for work in the morning.

It all plays disturbingly naturally, with excellent support from Kevin Eldon, Pulling's Rebekah Staton and Brand's Getting On co-star Ricky Grover. The dark humour fizzes along - with a delicious kick at the end.

London Irish Comedy Festival preview: Chris Kent

This Saturday night sees the fantastic Chris Kent take to the stage as part of the London Irish Comedy Festival.

Rik Mayall 'suffered cardiac event'

Rik Mayall's wife says the comedian "suffered an acute cardiac event" before his death at their home on Monday.

Kayvan Novak: I plan to do more prank stuff on the TV

Kayvan Novak, the creator of Fonejacker and Facejacker, has said he hasn't finished doing pranks.

US re-make of Sirens renewed for second season

Sirens has been renewed for a second season by the USA Network.

Miles Jupp interview

"I really like being on stage in front of an audience and I particularly like other people being there with me."

Review: Lucy Beaumont's To Hull And Back, Radio 2

Moments of genuine warmth are blended into the script expertly, and I defy your heart not to bleed when Sophie reveals she finally feels clever enough to meet her absent father.

Jo Brand on why she's written a social worker comedy

It's a grim old life as a social worker. I've always felt rather sorry for them because of the awful reputation they seem to have.

Radio Times review

If you compiled a top ten of people who like lists, no less a person than novelist Umberto Eco would be right up there for saying: "the list is the origin of culture... it's part of the history of art and literature". BBC Radio 2 hopes that the list will also be the origin of comedy for about half an hour every week on this new panel show [pilot] about the "to do" list, the bucket list and everything in between.

Comedian, writer and actor Susan Calman is the host and you can check out her website at susancalman.com where among other things you can keep track of her upcoming performances - on her mailing list.

Limmy's Show wins at Scotland Programme Awards

Surreal comedy Limmy's Show picked up a Royal TV Society gong in the first ever Scotland Programme Awards.

News: Simon Amstell announces tour

Simon Amstell has announced London dates as part of the forthcoming UK tour of his new show, entitled To Be Free.

Elf Lyons interview

Elf - real name Emily-Ann - is well on her way to conquering the comedy world with her sidesplittingly honest stories of break-ups, over-enthusiastic parents, and finding herself in a school library rap-battle.

Lucy Beaumont blog

Winning the BBC New Comedy Award really helped me get ahead. I always saw myself as a bit of an oddball comedy act but the night of the final, in Blackpool, made me think I might be able to appeal to a mainstream audience. I knew I wanted to write sitcom and I knew I wanted to do it on radio.

The James Bone Three Minute Interview

For a good old comedy knees-up, brother and sister duo Becky and James Bone, have Got It Covered. Martin Walker talks to James about how they got started in performing and promoting comedy.

Rosie Wilby interview

Comedian and radio presenter, Rosie Wilby discusses her revamped Edinburgh show, The Science of Sex with Martin Walker, Broadway Baby Comedy Editor. They talk comedy, sex and being Out in South London.