BCG Daily Saturday 9th August 2014

How do you score a job on QI? QI Elf reveals all...

An audio interview with QI elf Molly Oldfield.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Nick Helm, Henry Paker and the free fringe.

Edinburgh festival 2014: 10 questions for Ellie Taylor

Comedian and TV presenter Ellie Taylor on bodily members, milkshakes and why her dad's the funniest person at the fringe.

Marcel Lucont & Yacine Belhousse: act to act

Paris-based stand-up Yacine Belhousse, who supported Eddie Izzard on a recent French tour, is in Edinburgh this month to perform an all-English show for the very first time. Though, of course, he's not the only French comedian to make Edinburgh his summer home, oh no. A certain Marcel Lucont has been long flying the flag for La France in these parts for quite some time. So we asked Lucont to interview his fellow countryman as he headed towards the Festival City.

Edinburgh Fringe 2014: Bec Hill

It's going to take something special to top last year's Edinburgh Fringe for Bec Hill. Not only did she put on a great show, but during one of them, her boyfriend proposed to her onstage (she said yes). We're expecting nothing short of a live birthing ceremony during this year's show.

Walter: a comedy-drama that's neither comic or dramatic

ITV boss Kevin Lygo wrote this aimless, unfunny cop drama under a pseudonym. Don't give up the day job, Kevin.

Boomers' Stephanie Beacham: "I'm thrilled to be back"

At last, television has woken up to the so-called "silver brigade". The popularity of shows such as Last Tango In Halifax and New Tricks are proof that today's senior citizens are anything but doddery old-timers. This week, a new comedy-drama joins the growing list of programmes starring actors over the age of 60. BBC One's six-part series Boomers charts the ups and downs of three fictional couples who have recently retired to the Norfolk seaside.

Alexander Armstrong: How to succeed in television

"I've heard horror stories in which people I've known and loved have gone over to the dark side and turned into monsters"

Radio Times review

There are two distinct camps of thought in this famous 1972 episode. As bombs rain down outside their bunker, Mainwaring and Jones rather impractically want to get to grips with the enemy; Frazer and cynics anonymous are quite content to stay safe. But when there's a direct hit on the pumping station where Walker and Godfrey are patrolling, direct action is needed.

There's plenty of jeopardy from falling masonry and possible drowning, plus an ingenious set and water tank all in one - in fact, you can see the edge of the tank, accidentally, when Hodges falls out of his one-man boat. And whatever else you might think of him, don't ever question Mainwaring's heroism; one moving little aside is proof of that...

Radio Times review

A third outing for Charlie Brooker's Naked Gun-style cop spoof, although the comparison's becoming fainter and fainter. This is the strongest instalment yet, because the show's built up its own armoury of bad puns, ridiculous direction and smashed fourth walls. It no longer needs to bother about specifically spoofing individual crime dramas, either.

The story, as if that's important, concerns a serial killer who seems to be linked to a sinister therapy spa. Adrian Dunbar plays its powerful owner, doing a particularly good maniacal laugh that goes on for much too long. Karen Gillan is a bit underused as the squad's naive new flibbertigibbet, but that's fine because regular stars John Hannah and Suranne Jones are better than ever at straight-faced, dignity-shredding baloney. Keep looking out for the signs on the wall behind them.

Networking with media + comic is threatened with rape

"Performers at the Edinburgh Fringe get worried about the number of bums on seats and I don't think performers should come to the Fringe thinking about audiences; they should come thinking about the media. If you get a full house, the word-of-mouth from that is not going to let you fill the O2 Arena. But, if you get a review in the Guardian or spotted by a TV producer that might get you part of the way. It's all about self-promotion, not bums-on-seats."

Joke Thieves: cover-version comedy

Edinburgh festival comedians perform their own material, then swap with a counterpart in this appallingly funny innovation.

Wendy Wason chooses her comedy favourites

"I discovered that beautiful women could be funny!"

Arts Award Voice: reviews website or Nazi child abuse?

A comic look at a poorly written 1* review of Marcel Lucont.

Absent laughter on the at the Fringe

There is only one thing worse at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe than no audience and that is an audience of two. With almost 50,000 shows in a month it is no surprise to read that many are struggling to fill the seats. Years ago I played a comedy called Shevelled and Gruntled in Edinburgh. With a minute to go on the first night, nobody had turned up. Then, seconds before we retired to the pub, something terrible happened. Two people walked in, a tiny man and a vast woman, and sat in the middle of the front row.

Edinburgh Fringe: the best shows so far

Includes Bridget Christie, Tim Vine, Alex Horne and Josie Long.

When standups follow in the family funny business

What happens when a comic inspires their child to take up the mic? We talk to Edinburgh fringe performers Katie Mulgrew, Milo and Mike McCabe and Camilla Cleese, daughter of John, about what it's like to share the stage.

There's still nowhere funnier than the Edinburgh Fringe

Every year, some naysayer pipes up to claim that the Edinburgh Fringe isn't what it used to be. Well, I wasn't around when it started in 1947 - but for the comedy industry, this is still the month when discoveries are made and careers forged.

Alfie Brown addresses his critics

'Dear reviewers, this is how much I care about what you think'

Review: BBC1's Walter - a loose charm, but zero laughs

Walter won't be back next week, as this was a pilot the BBC have aired to test the water. For me, it was a resounding flop, but a Friday night BBC audience at 9pm may think otherwise. If a series is forthcoming, maybe employing some comedy writers would help wrestle the basic idea into something fun for a Sunday evening. But if we never hear another peep from DI Walter Gambon, I won't lose any sleep over it.

BBC3's Thursday night comedy double: Cuckoo & Siblings

Reviews of new sitocm Siblings and the return of Cuckoo.

Opinion: how to cover the Fringe and stay sane

There are 647 shows on the Fringe eligible for the Foster's Award (Foster's these days employs a veritable platoon of advance scouts to sort the initial potential wheat from the chaff as judges can never get to all the shows, but that's another story...). If I'm in Edinburgh for 20 days and I see five shows a day I'll only see 100 shows - which means 547 shows go unseen.

Benny Boot talks to Edfestmag TV

Video interview with Benny Boot.

Hilarious signs in A Touch Of Cloth

Hilarious signs and Karen Gillan's patted bottom: did you spot all these gags from A Touch of Cloth?

Amy Hoggart and Ed Gamble interview

Amy Hoggart and Ed Gamble talk about Almost Royal.