BCG Daily Thursday 21st August 2014

Lee Mack interview

"In television, making a sitcom, you have a team of people around you, and there's a bit of structure in your life," Lee Mack admits. "Touring live means you're driving round eating a pasty at four in the morning at a service station. It's a little bit less conducive to family life."

Black Mirror to return for a Christmas special

Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror to return for a Christmas special on Channel 4
The one-off special, called Yuletide, is billed as "the most mind-bending Black Mirror yet".

Did you hear the one about the blind comedian?

Blind comedian Jamie MacDonald tells BBC Ouch how he makes jokes about losing his sight and the sticky situations he finds himself in.

Females of the Fringe

Photo gallery of women at the Fringe.

Radio Times review

The gruesome twosome take a trip down memory lane when Hannah is invited back to her old school for careers day. Inevitably, her inspirational speech doesn't go entirely to plan and she succeeds in gravely insulting teacher and pupils alike. More likely to make 20-somethings cringe with recognition is the drudgery endured by an earnest sixth-former desperate for work experience.

Meanwhile, her brother Tom has finally found like-minded individuals who laugh at his jokes and swallow his macho boasts: nerdy first years.

Racism, farting, McIntyre, the Daily Mail & the Fringe

Flyering is an overlooked vital art at the Fringe.

Cuckoo: why swapping one star for another doesn't work

The BBC3 sitcom replaced Andy Samberg with Taylor Lautner, but as Two and a Half Men and Midsomer Murders have proven, TV shows rarely survive a serious personnel change.

Siblings review

It's always a great feeling to discover a new sitcom on a popular television channel that surprises you with its innovation and originality. Siblings is one of those programmes for me.

Never trust a comedian who says 'the other day ...'

The comedian and writer explains how a routine on carrots is meticulously premeditated by his comic assassin side.

Edinburgh shows to make a comical dash for

Edinburgh festival fringe ends on Sunday, so our comedy critic reveals where to go for last-minute fun, from debut comics to wacky standups.

The Foster's Awards - the ones that got away

You can't please everyone. That's the conclusion I come to almost every year when the Foster's Award nominations are announced. This year's shortlist is no exception. Despite choosing seven of the best acts in Edinburgh there are a number of unfortunate omissions. I should imagine that everybody who has taken the trouble to read this far has got one favourite that the panel missed. Just plucked at random from Facebook, here's someone's top ten that bears little relation to the Foster's choices.

Rayguns Look Real Enough: Heading for the Hall Of Fame?

Rayguns Look Real Enough are back in Edinburgh with their unique blend of mash-up rock and tiger suits (well, just the one tiger suit in fact). And this time they're heading to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Maybe. Well, they've definitely named their show 'Hall Of Fame'. ThreeWeeks found the band's stars Ray Gun and Luke Reel at the bar and asked them some quick questions.

Alfie Moore: Scottish law

Former police sergeant and star of Radio 4's It's A Fair Cop, Alfie Moore, always likes to give some time, while at the Fringe, to explore the whims and ways of Scottish law and law enforcement. And after a few more weeks entertaining the local law enforcers (amongst others) he now shares some thoughts on how legal matters differ North and South of the border.

Jason Cook: Celebrating broken flyerers

Veteran Edinburgh type Jason Cook - Clatterschenkfieternmaus alumnus and creator of TV's Hebburn - back this year with his latest show Broken, surveys the desolate Fringe landscape for one particular type of downtrodden participant.

Fringe Q&As: Will Franken

Will Franken speaks to the HeraldScotland about a fried Mars bar, self-esteem issues and his love for Scotland.

Fringe Q&As: Pierre Novelle

Pierre Novellie discusses becoming British, bagpipes and the Scottish sense of humour with the HeraldScotland.

Fringe Q&As: John Hastings

John Hastings joins HeraldScotland to talk about soup, being heckled and David Cameron's Internal Policies.

Fringe Q&As: Four Screws Loose

Four Screws Loose speak to HeraldScotland about wigs, the weather and whiskey.

Fringe Q&As: Hennessy & Friends

Hennessy & Friends discuss Harry Enfield and haggis, neeps and tatties with HeraldScotland.

Fringe Q&As: Lloyd Langford

Lloyd Langford speaks to HeraldScotland about his frustrations with the modern world, the Edinburgh cobbles and having grapefuit thrown at him.

Fringe Q&As: Julian McCullough

HeraldScotland talks to Julian McCullough about fighting Londoners, Russian jokes and Billy Connolly.

Fringe Q&As: Stuart Black

HeraldScotland taks to Stuart Black about Tories, giant spiders, and lemsips.

Fringe Q&As: Wild Card Kitty

Wild Card Kitty talks to HeraldScotland about striptease, replying to heckles in character, and why she's happy for her mum and dad not to see her show.

Fringe Q&As: Ian Smith

Ian Smith talks to HeraldScotland about stage diving, cage fighting and peppermint squares.

Fringe Q&As: Shirley & Shirley

Shirley & Shirley discuss boozing, underwear and fake moustaches with HeraldScotland.

Fringe Q&As: Anna Morris

Anna Morris speaks to HeraldScotland about never trying Haggis, getting heckled by her own Dad and Putin.

Fringe Q&As: Short & Curly

Short & Curly talk to HeraldScotland about stag dos, Irn Bru for breakfast and filthy jokes.

Fringe Q&As: Paul F Taylor

Paul F Taylor speaks to HeraldScotland about cats, trashy TV and unhealthy eating.

Stewart Lee interview

Known for his acerbic wit, 46-year-old writer, comedian, director, producer and musician Stewart Lee lives in London with his wife, fellow comedian Bridget Christie, and their two children.

CBS buys Friday Night Dinner as put pilot

CBS is looking to expand its footprint in the family comedy genre with Friday Night Dinner. Based on the Channel 4 series created by Robert Popper, the project, from Warner Bros. TV and 3 Arts Entertainment, has received a put pilot.

The show must go on... and on

The insane roller coaster of laughter and disappointment that is the Edinburgh Fringe is drawing to a close.

Introducing the nominees

The results are announced on Saturday. Before that, I'm off to watch them all again. Even at three weeks and 89 shows in, I can't wait.

Michael Palin to form part of Liverpool Comedy Festival

The Monty Python star is one of the highlights of this year's comedy festival line-up.

Video: Dave Spikey interview

Comedian and Phoenix Nights co-creator Dave Spikey joins Good Morning Britainto talk about his upcoming tour, Punchlines.