BCG Daily Thursday 14th August 2014

Andy de la Tour: Rik Mayall & anarchic Fringe days

Rik Mayall wasn't supposed to be on the bill. Ben Elton and I had planned to come to the Edinburgh Festival to do some stand-up comedy and with luck entice a hundred or so punters a night to come to see us.

Radio Times review

Beleaguered Ken goes away for the weekend, leaving the family to run riot and the show to soldier on without Greg Davies. It plays safe with a standard frat-house/Inbetweeners story: bluntly randy Dylan (Tyger Drew-Honey) is told by his cold, beautiful classmate Zoe (Holly Earl) that she'll take his virginity if he throws a house party while Dad's absent. The influx of hungry ravers gives mystic Dale his chance to show he can run his late father's baked potato van.

Cuckoo's telegraphed plots and wild implausibles make it an uneven watch, but the good bits are great. As the cartoonish Dale, Twilight heart-throb Taylor Lautner shows he's got fine comic timing as well as beauty, the swine.

Radio Times review

Hannah is distraught to discover her best friend has fallen for a charming, highly successful veterinarian. Her brother is smitten, too, especially after the interloper offers him a job. The only sensible thing to do, Hannah decides, is go into battle with Mr Right. Cue an entertaining engagement party where she's wrong-footed by a clique of simpering yummy mummies.

The gags come thick and fast - and yet, can there be much mileage in a sitcom where the main characters are relentlessly, unapologetically obnoxious? Even Peep Show's hapless twosome stirred our sympathy from time to time.

Review: Russell Howard at the Bristol Hippodrome

It was the venue he dreamed about headlining in his early days on the Bristol comedy club circuit.

Rob Brydon: 'Michael Caine loves my impression'

Rob Brydon has said that Sir Michael Caine enjoyed being impersonated by the Welsh comedian and Steve Coogan in The Trip.

David Brent Movie - Can it possibly work?

I can't guarantee that it'll hit the six-laugh Mark Kermode quotient that makes for a good comedy but I'd rather give The Office a proper chance than have to endure any of that tosh.

Luxury Comedy gets funnier the more it apologises

The Mighty Boosh star's first solo series was a flop, but self-awareness (and a hammer) are saving series two from sinking under the weight of its surrealism.

Best audience-participation comedy shows at the Fringe

Whether you want to overcome your fear of the front row or just feel more invested in the action, these are the acts to catch.

Edinburgh festival 2014: 10 questions for Tim Vine

A decade since winning the Perrier best newcomer award, Britain's top punny man reflects on his latest Edinburgh show.

Giant mural of Rik Mayall displayed in his hometown

Residents of Harlow, Essex, will never forget the success of local boy Rik Mayall - who died suddenly this June aged 56 - thanks to a huge mural of the comic actor's face.

Sophie Willan: Meet the novice detective

Stand-up Sophie Willan becomes the Novice Detective for Fringe audiences this year as she retells the true story of how she and her "slightly psychic" gran once set out to find her missing father.

How to talk dirty and influence people

"She looks for jokes in places where Frankie Boyle fears to tread" said The Skinny of Abigoliah Schamaun. But if you think shock comedy is the easy way out, think again. Schamaun reckons "dirty" is far from easy...

Tom Stade's top 5 unusual Fringe haunts

Tom Stade is appearing at the Assembly Rooms on George Street, and here he lists his haunts during the Fringe.

On the Fringe: Jamie MacDonald

Jamie MacDonald is at home in the Capital these days. The stand-up, currently appearing at Assembly at George Square, approaches blindness the same way as he does life; with optimism, irony and filthy humour. Here, Scotland's hottest visually impaired stand-up comedian gives us an inkling of his world.

How female comics took over the Fringe

At this year's Edinburgh Fringe there are almost as many jokes about feminism as there are about cats on the internet. Which is to say, lots of them. Bridget Christie, fresh from winning the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award (formerly the Perrier) last year, is back with an hour that tackles female circumcision and the ridiculous sexualisation present even in yoghurt adverts. Sara Pascoe's tour of women in history includes a delightfully sharp debunking of Page 3. Luisa Omielan is packing out a ballroom each night with Am I Right Ladies?!, a raucous celebration in which she sticks her fingers up at issues such as body fascism.

Jim Davidson (C word is a Scottish term of affection)

At the increasingly prestigious Grouchy Club yesterday afternoon, conversation between me, my co-host Kate Copstick - doyenne of comedy reviewers - and comedians in the audience turned to comic Jim Davidson.

Nancy Dell'Olio interview

Sven described her as 'too demanding'. Paxman couldn't understand a word she she was saying. What on earth will the Edinburgh crowd make of Nancy Dell'Olio?

Sara Pascoe: anxious about love, but bang up for a swim

Inbetween lengths, Sara Pascoe off of the telly will be performing her show about history, free will and romantic love.

Fringe Q&As: Mark Dolan

Mark Dolan talks to HeraldScotland about fun-sized Mars bars, Caledonian 80 and avoiding blood on his hands.

Fringe Q&As: Alistair Green

Alistair Green talks to HeraldScotland about being hit by a griddle pan, sex addiction and the Western Isles.

Law firm finds Inbetweeners CVs

Flicking through hoards of CV's looking for potential job candidates can be a very mundane and boring task. But when workers at In Automotive were going through a pile of applicant's profiles, they found these hilarious CV's from The Inbetweeners.

Comedy and tragedy

It's August 14th - just over half way through the Edinburgh Festival. My show, Lucy Frederick and the Claw of Anxiety is ticking along nicely. Thanks for asking.

Fringe Q&As: Laurence Clark

Laurence Clark talks to HeraldScotland about Doctor Who, Timmy from South Park, and moments of instant regret.

Audio: John Lloyd chats with Mark Radcliffe

Mark Radcliffe is joined by QI's John Lloyd. John's up in Edinburgh, where he's at the Fringe performing a live version of his Radio 4 show The Museum of Curiosity.

Abi Roberts' Musical CID invites comics to talk music

Guests at 2014 Edinburgh Fringe show include Luisa Omielan, Nathan Caton, Romesh Ranganathan and Al Murray.

Mel and Sue to get daytime chat show

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will host their first chat show for 16 years.

ITV Daytime has commissioned a new show hosted by the pair, who have gained popularity recently thanks to their amusing on-screen patter on BBC One's Great British Bake Off.

The show, which is yet to be titled, will air daily and see Giedroyc and Perkins joined by British celebrities and members of the public.

Fay Ripley: Cold Feet reunion out

"I would do it but only if they paid for a face lift and a tummy tuck," she laughs.

Jonathan Ross to briefly return to Radio 2

Jonathan Ross will provide holiday cover for Steve Wright in his weekday afternoon show at the end of August.

Surprise! A critic's in...

Gareth Morinan wants free Fringe shows to be treated like any other.

How I do the Edinburgh Fringe: Miguel Mantovani

Member of The Cuban Brothers on bringing night of music, dance, comedy and 'historical fact' to 2014 Edinburgh Fringe.