BCG Daily Friday 27th June 2014

Edinburgh Fringe preview: Richard Herring

What more can one say about Richard Herring that hasn't already been said?

Radio Times review

A lovely, simple, madly eccentric premise for this episode sets the dominoes toppling across the Goodman family get-together. The thing is, it would be a shame to say exactly what the McGuffin is that dad Martin has hidden in the garage freezer, unbeknown to Jackie, because the reveal is such a great moment.

So imagine the perverse predilections of Martin and let your imagination run wild - writer Robert Popper certainly did. Having narrowly avoided Jackie discovering his secret, Martin then has to rope in his sons, sorry "bambinos", to help him shift it around - and mad neighbour Jim becomes collateral damage. Slick direction and plausible acting means we believe the farce that follows just enough for it to be stupidly, splutteringly funny.

Is there anything Rob Brydon can't do?

Sometimes it seems like Rob Brydon is everywhere in the comedy world. And that's a good thing.

Ronnie Corbett's daughter to open boutique in Brighton

Comedy legend Ronnie Corbett is to help launch his daughter Sophie's new shop in Brighton after one of his comedy sketches inspired its name. Sophie Corbett has named her new Brighton boutique in Victoria Street after one of her father's most famous sketches of wordplay - Four Candles.

When it comes to laughs, honesty can be the best policy

For stand-ups appearing at It Might Get Ugly, London's darkest new comedy night, there is just one rule: they must be honest "to the point of regret." No whimsy, no cosy old anecdotes. Comedians must expose themselves mercilessly - even more so than usual.

Glastonbury 2014: 10 questions for Arthur Smith

We caught up with the comedian on Thursday night and talked festival audiences, Edinburgh festival arrests and an unexpected encounter with Dizzee Rascal.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Tim FitzHigham, Mark Watson and Monty Python Live (Mostly).

Billy Connolly to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

Billy Connollly, Brendan O'Carroll, Julie Walters and Brain Blessed are amongst those who will appear on the next series of family tree show Who Do You Think You Are?

Celebrating 50 years of Joe Orton & Mr Sloane

"I hope I've never written anything as bad as some of the early Shakespeare's," Joe Orton said shortly before he was murdered by his lover, Kenneth Halliwell, in 1967. It's a clip from an archive interview with the BBC, which I included in a piece for The Today Programme, marking the 50th anniversary of Orton's first stage play, Entertaining Mr Sloane.

Monty Python at the O2 is what I call a dead parrot

The Pythons' sellout gig will deliver everything fans are expecting. But they still won't be funny - they never were.

Watford Palace Theatre to stage Marks & Gran play

Watford Palace Theare's autumn season will include a new play from Goodnight Sweetheart and Birds of a Feather creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.

Edinburgh Fringe 2014 interview: Beth Vyse

Beth Vyse has emerged as one of the country's most exciting and experimental character comics, culminating in her 2013 Edinburgh Fringe show Going Dark, which stood out as one of the most bonkers Festival encounters we have witnessed.

Mirth-in-progress: Edinburgh previews in London

Get one jump ahead of the Fringe, without leaving town.

The top ten comedy shows this month

There's an overwhelming number of comedy shows to choose from in London. Our advice? Buy tickets to any of the ten shows we recommend and you'll have a cracking time.

One to watch: Mark Silcox

Read our comedy profile of Mark Silcox and see him live.

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie - 'flatly indifferent cash-in'

Brendan O'Carroll's Mrs Brown's Boys has reached the big screen spin-off, and may well become as successful as The Inbetweeners Movie - but on this evidence, it doesn't deserve to.

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie, review: 'anti-funny'

The big-screen outing of Brendan O'Carroll's popular sitcom lacks the charm, warmth and ambition of its source material.

Review: Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie

For the first hour, raw energy and brazen goodwill holds the rickety construction aloft. But even the series' most ardent fans may find the closing chase sequences absurdly overextended and exhaustingly pointless.

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie - 'D'Plorable'

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie feels like a bad ITV sitcom from the early '70s and the only time I actually laughed was during a mawkish courtroom scene.

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie review

Funny accents and falling over are only good for a few cheap laughs. O'Carroll's greatest trick is being able to roll around in the gutter and come out looking squeaky clean, because after all, he's just a little old lady, isn't he?

Review - Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie

Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie isn't dreadful. It's not good and it certainly isn't funny, but it's not dreadful.

My Lovely Horse rejected as Ireland Eurovision song

Father Ted fans have attempted to bring 'My Lovely Horse' to the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, however the Irish parliament has rejected the petition.

Glastonbury 2014: 10 questions for Kevin Eldon

We grabbed the actor and comedian for brisk interrogation just after his Friday afternoon set in the Cabaret tent.

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie will be a D'Light for fans

The critics may sneer but millions of TV viewers can't be wrong. Mrs Brown is comedy gold and the only thing better than half an hour of her on the box is 94 minutes of her on the big screen.

Comedy first for the Isles of Scilly

One of the UK's top stand-up comedians, Russell Kane, will venture where few professional funny men have set foot before when he performs on the Isles of Scilly at the beginning of September.