BCG Daily Tuesday 16th September 2014

Pics: David Jason & Johnny Vegas filming Open All Hours

Sir David Jason and Johnny Vegas larked around on set as they began filming a new series of Still Open All Hours, the sequel to the much-loved BBC sitcom Open All Hours.

Gino D'Acampo is Celebrity Juice maternity leave cover

This Morning chef Gino D'Acampo is joining Celebrity Juice as a replacement for Holly Willoughby when she goes on maternity leave for her third baby.

BBC angers Yes camp with ill-timed Dad's Army episode

"A total of 80 episodes of Dad's Army were made by the corporation - and which one does it choose to show on the Saturday ahead of the vote?" a Yes campaigner [for Scottish Independence] wails. "The one in which Frazer - played by John Laurie - tells Mainwaring that he can run the platoon better than him, is put in charge and then makes a total mess of things. Thank you very much, Auntie Beeb."

Laurel & Hardy letter up for auction in Newcastle

A letter from one half of legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy that was sent to a family friend goes under the hammer today in Newcastle.

Bad Education: 10 reasons Whitehall is top of the class

As Bad Education, the sitcom both written by and starring the 'comedy king', returns to BBC Three for its third series, here's why we think Jack Whitehall has become such a popular performer.

Radio Times review

Back for a new term at school, the third series of the super-childish Bad Education has some new faces in the classroom... and one of them is Harry Enfield.

The comedy legend has made occasional appearances as the dad of Jack Whitehall's idiotic and needy teacher Alfie Wickers but is now the headmaster. And as well as making puerile jokes about his son's sexuality, budget cuts mean that he has to sack a member of staff, with Alfie the most obvious candidate.

This is a comedy that requires a bit of patience. It is idiotic, perhaps even offensive at times, and Whitehall's character does not seem enormously different from the posh buffoon he plays in Channel 4's Fresh Meat. But there's something engaging about this ensemble, it's skilfully directed and sometimes the gags do hit home. Will we ever look at Whitehall again without thinking of him as "a Topshop Peter Sutcliffe"? I think not, Sir.

Radio Times review

Impressionist Lewis Macleod, the latest recruit to Dead Ringers, now gets his own show. Duncan Wisbey and Julian Dutton have contrived some fairly wacky situations to exploit their mate's best voices.

Morgan Freeman plays Fletcher in Porridge; Gregg Wallace sings a filthy love song to Mary Berry (Kate O'Sullivan); and a running gag has Benedict Cumberbatch turning up inopportunely to spout purple prose in the manner of Sherlock Holmes.

The show claims that Macleod has been hired to impersonate movie stars who refuse to re-record their inaudible lines. We want more details.

Douglas Adams: New biography sheds light on his genius

In the 13 years since he died, Douglas Adams' fictional universe has lost none of its appeal. His biographer Jem Roberts explains how he came to tell his story - and the treasures he found.

Pride sets sights on West End musical

British comedy drama Pride looks set to be turned into a musical.

Pride: The most up-and-coming cast of 2014

If you're looking for the hot acting talent of the next few years, then you don't have to look any further than Pride.

5 reasons why you should watch Bad Education

Here's 5 reasons why you should get involved with Bad Education.

Steve Best hopes to get laughs out of the Kosovo War

"You are a hyphenate," I told comedian Steve Best in the Soho Theatre Bar.

Harry Enfield on starring in Bad Education

As the veteran comic returns to the BBC Three series he explains that taking on the role of the Dad to Jack Whitehall's Alfie Wickers is the worst thing he could do to his own children... and that was rather the point.

Jack Whitehall on new series of Bad Education

Jack Whitehall's secondary school-set sitcom Bad Education is back on BBC Three tonight for its third - and potentially final - series. We sat down with the 26-year-old comedy star before the show returns to our telly screens to find out where he stands on...

Bad Education, BBC Three, review: 'puerile'

Bad Education is so-so comedy, a puerile teenage rampage written by adults who should know better.

New to stand-up comedy? Here are six beginner's tips

Now, I by no means think that I am the Dalai Llama of comedy; sitting on a mountain and dishing out comedy wisdom but I thought this might help anyone thinking of stepping into the intimidating world of standing up. I have been acting funny for five years and doing funnies with my sketch group Vinegar (formerly Vinegar Knickers) for three years although when it comes to stand up comedy I am a newbie! So why am I writing tips? Well, over the last 10 months of newbiedom I have found out some useful tit-bits that might help anyone starting out or might just be amusing reading. So here goes...