BCG Daily Thursday 2nd October 2014

Stephen Fry: Drug use different to sexual abuse cases

Actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry has said there is a "huge moral difference" between historical drug use and cases of sexual abuse. He was responding to suggestions he should be arrested after admitting in his latest memoirs to taking cocaine in places such as Buckingham Palace.

Comedians do six-pack challenge

Richard Herring, Stephen K Amos, Milton Jones and Terry Alderton have taken the Men's Health six-pack challenge.

James Acaster: meet Kettering's second-biggest export

Ahead of his appearance in Aberdeen next week, Your Weekend chats with stand-up comic James Acaster - Weetabix, beat boxing and all.

Radio Times review

One of the funniest comedy titles in TV history, yes, but one which belies the warmth and gentleness of this wryly amusing story of young Dylan Witter (folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn) and his romantic adventures. He has just been diagnosed with an STD, and he has to track down all his sexual partners to warn them, a premise that is sweeter than it sounds.

It also allows us to take in various flashes back (and forwards) across his young life. No secret is made of the fact that the love of his life is best mate Evie (Misfits actress Antonia Thomas) and that best mate Luke (Daniel Ings) isn't as much of a prat as he seems. Rather the joy is in Dylan's hilarious encounters with women, whether it's the horrific girlfriend he takes to the first wedding or guessing which woman he will end up in bed with at the end...

Radio Times review

"Ringpull... '83... Tizer." It's another disappointing discovery for metal detectorists Andy and Lance. And yet this new six-parter proves that a sitcom needn't be about Big Issues to work its magic.

When they're not buzzing around ploughed fields, or listening to lectures on buttons, this Poundland Time Team is optimistically plotting the future unearthing of a Saxon hoard. They're like a more likeable version of The Fast Show's nerdy Offroaders. Andy (Mackenzie Crook, who also writes and directs) is a cleaner in a long-term relationship with tolerant Becky (Rachael Stirling); his friend Lance (Toby Jones) is a forklifter taken advantage of by his ex, Mags (Lucy Benjamin).

Into their provincial world wanders history student Sophie - destined, you feel, to shake things up a bit. She's played by Aimée-Ffion Edwards, unrecognisable from her turn in Sky1's Walking and Talking.

Detectorists is low-key and rambling, but warm, richly observed and gorgeously filmed. Already it feels like a glittering comedy find.

New act of the month: Micky Cochrane

Micky Cochrane is a 38-year-old stand-up comedian from Gateshead. After attending John Scott's comedy course at the Live Theatre in Newcastle, Cochrane caught the comedy bug and has gone on to perform his debut show at Jesterval and the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. The Geordie comedian, actor and musician is currently preparing the show for dates at The Customs House in South Shields and The Stand in Newcastle. He is our New Act Of The Month for October.

House Of Fools fans sent to wrong address

Fans of the Vic and Bob sitcom House of Fools got a fright when they read that the location of the filming they were hoping to see was nearly 200 miles further away than expected.

Scrotal Recall has the balls to tackle chlamydia

What would you think if I suddenly told you that you have Chlamydia? What would be the first thing to run through your mind? I'm hoping it's not: "What the hell is THAT?!' I'm guessing it'd be more like: "Who the hell GAVE me that?!" A perfectly reasonable response, but unfortunately, as with many things in life, it's never that straight forward... We shall return to this, but, to provide some context, the innovative team at Channel 4 have a new romantic comedy on at 10pm tonight called Scrotal Recall.

Comic Relief pledges £1 million in response to Ebola

It will be announced today (Thursday 2nd October) that Comic Relief has pledged £1million of funding to support organisations working directly to tackle the Ebola outbreak, with over £750,000 already allocated in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Book review: More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

More Fool Me isn't Fry at his gossipy, witty, powerful best - but it's a largely jaunty skip through a hard-partying celebrity life. Like the diary page of a mid-market newspaper, but seen from the inside.

Detectorists is bleeping good comedy

It's a slow burner of a series, but one where you'll slowly get to know the characters who are bound to get under your skin.

The Bob Blackman Appreciation Society

To be found infrequently in the back rooms of pubs, The Bob Blackman Appreciation Society's boundary-pushing variety act pays homage to a time gone by - but updates it with an indefinable weirdness.

Stephen Fry, Festival Hall - comedy review

A warm and lively testament to Fry's unique charm.

Interview: Paddy McGuinness

Thousands of people are joining the Government campaign Stoptober, which aims to get people quitting cigarettes for good by giving them up for the whole of October. Leading this year's campaign is funnyman Paddy McGuinness, who spoke to This Morning about the new campaign and the upcoming series of Take Me Out.

Funny Women Awards winner Jayde Adams interview

'People say you are what you eat but I don't remember eating a goddess,' Jayde Adams, this year's winner of the star-making Funny Women Awards, tells Bruce Dessau.

Introducing Scrotal Recall...

Ben Dowell finds much to enjoy in the new comedy exploring the sexual adventures of a young man played by folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn.

Mackenzie Crook interview

Mackenzie Crook talks coin collecting, highbrow comedy and why he won't be back for The Office spin-off, Life on the Road.

Scrotal Recall: an infectious and very clever concept

The new sitcom, in which a young man visits former lovers, alphabetically, to inform them that he has a venereal disease, uses its seemingly rigid structure to great comic effect.

Sarah Campbell: 5 ways to cause havoc at a hen do

Bad Bridesmaid continues over on ITV2 tonight with comedienne Sarah Campbell going undercover as ever cautious and straight-laced Bobbie - aka fake bridesmaid to bride-to-be Leanne.

Interview: Rarely asked questions - Marcel Lucont

Fresh from a smash hit Edinburgh Fringe 2014, and direct from filming his first BBC Three pilot, everyone's favourite French flâneur, raconteur and bon-viveur Marcel Lucont is currently on tour, mixing stand-up, songs and poetry with a dash of visual trickery. Beyond The Joke asked him to put down his vin rouge for a moment and answer some questions.

TV Pick of the Week: Channel 4's Scrotal Recall

At this point, all signs suggest Scrotal Recall is going to be as infectious as anything you'll catch from a grotty stranger.

The STI comedy that's not as gross as it sounds

As writer Tom Edge puts it, "the STIs are not the burning issue here."

COmment: The problem with panel shows

I fear the writing is on the wall for the panel show as we know and love it. Without Vic and Bob's bizarre Shooting Stars showing us how barmy the set-up was in the first place, these civilised yet ultimately pointless outings are at risk of taking themselves far too seriously.

Christopher Douglas interview

does that mean we're unlikely to see Reardon make the leap to television? His creator is dubious. "Ed is a bit of an attack on corporate activity and TV at the moment feels very corporate so I wonder if they'd feel a little bit 'got at'."