BCG Daily Monday 7th July 2014

Review: Rich Hall at Bristol Comedy Garden

TV watchers will know him from QI, and no one could forget his alter ego Otis Lee Crenshaw, the musical white trash old lag getting wholesome laughs out of jail rape, amongst other things.

T in the Park comedy preview

This year's T in the Park will boast the biggest comedy line-up in its history. Jay Richardson talks to some of the acts.

Review: Al Murray at Bristol Comedy Garden

For the front row, there was beer spilled, and some suspected cider borrowed from a member of the audience and drunk - all in the name of the great British traditions, of course.

Monty Python: Absurdity for the ages

Much of this legacy is down to the influence the Pythons have had on other performers and writers.

We've all been Inbetweeners, says Jay

Actors James Buckley and Blake Harrison say viewers faced the same awkward moments as the four friends.

Edinburgh Fringe preview: Shappi Khorsandi

I've been intrigued by Shappi Khorsandi ever since she first made waves on the stand-up circuit around a decade ago.

Tedfest London: Down with this sort of thing!

Careful now. Craggy Island's celebration of all things Father Ted is crashing into London for a one-day shindig. We ask Tedfest co-founder and organiser Peter Phillips what's the craic.

Adrian Mole musical to premiere in Leicester next year

A new musical based on Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ will receive its world premiere at Curve in Leicester, following a workshop last year.

The Darren Walsh Three Minute Interview

UK Pun Championships winner Darren Walsh debuted his thirty minute show I am a Giant at last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe to rave reviews. This year he brings a show of new jokes and daft nonsense where the ultimate question will be answered: Chicken or Meow? Martin Walker converses by email.

The Inder Manocha three minute interview

Not sure what colour you are? Think you might be a latent racist? Relax. Cultural identity, political correctness and causing offence are given an original and hilarious spin by the award-winning comedian Inder Manocha in his Edinburgh Festival Fringe show.

The Laurence Owen three minute interview

This year's Musical Comedy Awards finalist, Laurence Owen, sings troublesome songs of lust and bad manners in his new Edinburgh Festival Fringe show. Boundaries will be pushed. Preconceptions will be challenged. Will anyone emerge unscathed? Martin Walker finds out.

The Steve Bugeja three minute interview

The soon to be famous Steve Bugeja won the prestigious BBC New Comedy Award last year. Not bad for someone who has only been performing stand-up comedy September 2010. At this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he's hosting The Comedy Zone every night in the Pleasance Courtyard.

The Ivvonna three minute interview

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art school is an alternative drawing movement in which artists draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality. Martin Walker talks to performer and model, Ivvonna about their debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Richard Carnaby three minute interview

Richard Carnaby has been gathering a collection of darkly comic characters over the last four years. They are presented in A Work of Art, his solo debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Matt Cosgrove three minute interview

At this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, character comedian Matt Cosgrove has got himself involved in a madcap musical German comedy. It follows the story of Jan Pfefferling, a German singer/songwriter from Hamburg.

The Dan Nicholas three minute interview

Alternative comedian Dan Nicholas is bringing two shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. Martin Walker exchanges emails with the talented up-and-coming stand-up and starts by asking what they are about.

The Jules Maxine three minute interview

This Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jules Maxine shares her unique comic take on relationships, sex, reality TV, social media, winning the lottery, payday loans and more. She talks about the things we all share - saying what we all think - but wish we had said.

The Mark Thomas extended interview

For his 250th interview for Broadway Baby, Martin Walker talks to stand-up comedian, journalist and activist, Mark Thomas. They discuss friendship, corporate spying, Mark's ultimate version of audience participation and the theatre piece that he's bringing to this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Ben Farrell to join BBC In-house Comedy

Ben Farrell, currently Head of Comedy at Objective Productions, is to join the BBC's In-house comedy department as an executive producer.

Lindsay Sharman interview

Do you want one last chat with your dear, dead granny? Are you profoundly lonely? Do you smell? Psychic, medium, whyte wytch and celebrated author Madame Magenta says can help you (terms and conditions apply).

Laurence Owen interview

Equally at home on music, comedy, poetry and cabaret bills, Laurence Owen has been a staple of the London circuit since 2006, and made his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2012.

Interview: Lost Voice Guy

Newcastle-based comedian Lee Ridley has cerebral palsy and uses a communication aid to perform stand-up. Under the stage name Lost Voice Guy, Ridley is quickly establishing himself as one of the circuit's unique acts.

Armed with his iPad, Ridley wins over audiences with dark and self-deprecating stories about growing up without a voice. Here Ridley talks about his move into stand-up, his comedy heroes, the taboos surrounding disability, and his new show, Laughter Is The Worst Medicine.

University honours Hebburn creator Jason Cook

The creator of North East TV sitcom Hebburn has been honoured by his former university. Jason Cook received an Honorary Fellowship from Sunderland University today.

Last Tango in Halifax filming gets underway

Just days after the Tour de France zoomed through Yorkshire, the area has another event to be proud of... Last Tango in Halifax has begun shooting.

Edinburgh Fringe preview: Spencer Jones - The Herbert

Describing himself as an actor, clown and writer, Spencer Jones is a busy man; as well as preparing for the Fringe, he is also developing a character sketch show for NBC Universal. We managed to grab five minutes with the multi-talented performer before he heads north. Fringe comedy festival.

John Lloyd's "blood runs cold" over Rolf Harris sketch

The writer and TV producer John Lloyd has said it "makes his blood run cold" to look back on a comedy sketch from 1980 that shows young children being abducted and put in a BBC van bound for a children's TV show hosted by Rolf Harris.

Fringe fresh: Catriona Knox

The stand-up comic pauses en route to Edinburgh to share the grossest joke ever.