BCG Daily Friday 3rd October 2014

Scrotal Recall; Detectorists - review

Not just a good pun, but an apt one too, as Scrotal Recall's chlamydia-stricken Dylan tries to contact all the people he's ever slept with.

Scrotal Recall, Channel 4 - TV review

Too much about this show simply doesn't make sense. Most pressingly: why that terrible, terrible title?

Radio Times review

It's certainly a big night for comedy panel shows with Have I Got News for You joining Would I Lie to You? on BBC1 and, testing our knowledge of the baffling and the obscure, the wonderful QI on BBC Two.

We're on to the letter L - although that hardly matters - and it takes less than five minutes for it to get lewd despite the headmasterly efforts of Stephen Fry. He asks an innocent question about the sound a lonely whale makes and the ensuing banter suddenly spirals off into filth. Hilarious filth, mind you. Fry, whose obsession with gadgetry matches his love of language, also gets to demonstrate how a fish can drive a tank.

Joining QI regulars Ross Noble and Sarah Millican is the quick-witted Australian comic Colin Lane, but even he is no match for Alan Davies who, for once, isn't there simply to play the fool. "What has 32 brains and sucks," the panel is asked. "The front row" is his speedy response.

Radio Times review

Miles Jupp joins David Mitchell's team tonight. Yes, Jupp and Mitchell, side by side at last - it's like a posh-comic supergroup. At one stage, as Mitchell is in the midst of a typically heated interrogation of an opponent, Jupp turns to him and murmurs, "David, even if you don't believe him, you don't need to be angry about it." At which Mitchell yells, "I'm trying to break him!"

Jupp also tells a brilliant story about having to tell neighbours that their cat had died, while he himself happened to have his face painted as a kitten. But in the end, it's one of those episodes that Lee Mack carries almost single-handed. When he's on this form, there's no one quicker.

Radio Times review

Where were the court jesters when we needed them? Through the heavy developments of the past few months, we could have done with a few satirical sideswipes from the Have I Got News for You panel to lighten the load. There's nothing like a barb from Ian Hislop or a childish quip from Paul Merton to put recent events in perspective.

Now at least, they're back for a new run, and in the hot seat once again is the unflappable Jennifer Saunders as guest host. Even better, the great Armando Iannucci joins one of the teams, not least to offer a Scottish point of view, while excellent actress and stand-up Sara Pascoe makes her debut.

Radio Times review

The last time we saw young Jack Carroll he was on the Britain's Got Talent stage delivering a sharply comic routine (he was runner-up to Attraction). Here he plays Dean who has been enrolled at Greybridge School because of bullying at his last school, which makes Miss Postern very excited indeed because, as she's quick to point out, she's especially good with troubled kids and bullying is her specialist subject.

It leads to Catherine Tate doing a very good impression of a stroppy teen being ousted from the classroom, while Last of the Summer Wine fans will also enjoy a sequence that's faintly reminiscent of the famous runaway bathtub scene.

Radio Times review

He's not actually made a romcom since 2009, but it's still impossible to imagine Hugh Grant starring in any other kind of film. Tonight he talks to Graham Norton about The Rewrite, in which he plays an anti-heroic cad akin to his roles in About a Boy and Bridget Jones's Diary.

Joining him on the sofa is Emma Thompson, who was persuaded to write a sequel to Beatrix Potter's story about Peter Rabbit when the publishers cleverly sent her a package containing a half-eaten radish and a letter from Peter himself. She couldn't refuse, she said, because "it was such a witty invitation".

QI supremo John Lloyd: We've forgotten how to remember

As QI returns to BBC Two, the show's creator takes a look at our relationship with facts.

Revolutionary Russell Brand makes 'filthy' profit

After Russell Brand said 'profit is a filthy word,' the comedian has made £427,000 from one of the companies he owns.

Detectorists, BBC Four, review: 'first-rate writing'

Mackenzie Crook's BBC Four comedy has all the makings of a classic sitcom.

Chris Ramsey: My life in travel

'I always carry baby wipes. It's like having a shower in your plane seat'

Noel Fielding on how 'Scousers get comedy'

"They seem to get good comedy in Liverpool. They understand, they know it," he offers. "And the crowd there is always pretty funny."

Scrotal Recall lived up to its fantastic name

Let's face it. Expectations were always going to be high with a name like Scrotal Recall.

Richard Herring: success changes people for the worse

He may not play to big audiences any more, but comedian Richard Herring, who performs here on Sunday, is quite happy with the level of fame he's enjoying, he tells Edwin Gilson.

Meet the contestants: Heat Four - Cardiff, 2014

This week's New Comedy Award heat was recorded in Cardiff and hosted by Pete Otway. You can catch it on Radio 4 Extra at 10.30pm on Friday 3rd October 2014.

'Detectorists' review

Never mind the detectoring that's given the show its title, this series is a glorious, unhurried celebration of comradeship in nerdsville, of sharing the burden of not daring to say the answers out loud on University Challenge - even when you're watching on your own (admit it, who's not been there?) - on being relieved when QI comes on, of mistaking the Google Earth watermark for a Saxon stone circle.

W1A series two: what we know so far

Wimbledon could go to Sky, Prince Charles will visit the BBC, and, yes... there will be trouble ahead!

Video: Sir Michael Caine talks about being on The Trip

Michael Caine mimics his many impersonators and talks about how his voice has changed over the years.

A day in the life of a QI Elf

The real star of Series L will be Alan the QI goldfish, who will be making his television debut in the L-Animals episode to wow the audience with his driving skills.

Scrotal Recall: An infectiously sweet comedy

This is a comedy, after all; albeit one where the ridiculous title could have some people upset it's not a venereal American Pie, but actually something sweeter.

Dapper Laughs is unpleasant sexism dressed as 'banter'

One thing the Dapper Laughs team certainly have not worked out is whether they are making a spoof comedy dating show around the concept of a fictional prick, or making an actual dating show for unpleasant males who think like Dapper.

6 reasons linking Scrotal Recall to The Inbetweeners

6 reasons why Scrotal Recall is what The Inbetweeners did next.

Reece Shearsmith returns to House of Fools

The League of Gentlemen star is to reprise his role as Martin in series two of Vic and Bob's offbeat sitcom.

Interview: Cassetteboy

f you have a broadband connection you will have surely already seen this clip in which David Cameron's speeches are exquisitely edited to fit into the melody of Eminem's Lose Yourself. Last night it had had a million YouTube hits. I woke up this morning and the number had almost doubled. Cassetteboy - two publicity-shy comedians who want to hide their faces - have totally gone overground with this sample of spot-on satire. Beyond The Joke asked for an interview and while they were not prepared to meet face-to-face, half of the team, "Mike", did answer some questions via email.

Jason Byrne offers cash prize for best show title

Each year Jason is asked for the name of his touring show and each year Jason has to think up a title. This year he is handing the power back to the people and is asking his audience to name the show for him. Hence the provisional title of You Name The Show. The best name will win £500. There will be a leader board on stage each night and by the end of the tour the show will have a name.

Alan Davies, Indigo at The O2 - comedy review

Alan Davies's latest show, Little Victories, features shameless nostalgia, fart jokes and a moving portrait of British eccentricity.

After 47 seasons of HIGNFY, how has satire changed?

Have I Got News for You has run for 47 seasons - can satire in Britain survive for its 48th?

Review: Lee Mack

Lee Mack is not just fast though, he is high-energy and high-tempo, easily excited and suddenly aggressive.

Unseen Smith & Jones footage at Slapstick Festival

Unseen footage of Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith will be shown at the Bristol Slapstick Festival 2015.

Sarah Millican's happy place

Sarah Millican reveals what puts a smile on her face - and what gets her goat. Turns out her goat's hard to get, but she loves a good tut.