BCG Daily Friday 25th September 2015

'Boy Meets Girl' episode 4 review

While not one of the strongest episodes, Episode 4 is one of the more important.

Why I ❤ Fawlty Towers

It's 40 years since Basil and Sybil first checked us in at Fawlty Towers. Pippa Evans has loved it since childhood and has no intention of stopping. Why would she? It's the best.

Josh Widdicombe in 'Josh' - starts in November

Josh Widdicombe's new sitcom is set to air on BBC Three this November. A pilot of flatshare comedy Josh went out as part of the Comedy Feeds online series in 2014.

10 of the best The Graham Norton Show moments

Red Chair antics, headstands and funky dancing, Norton's guests sure know how to put on a show.

Developing a sitcom From scratch

On this blog - and my book - I've written a lot about set-up, characters, story and plot. Whilst I try to provide examples from both my own work and existing shows on TV and Radio, it's hard not to be wise after the event. So, for the next series of blog posts, that may go on for weeks or months, I'm going to start a sitcom from scratch here on the blog. As I do so, I'll talk about the decisions that I'm making all along the way, and what's in my mind as I make them.

John Finnemore: how to create a comedy idiot

"There have been many great idiots in sitcoms," says John Finnemore, "Manuel from Fawlty Towers, Alice in The Vicar of Dibley and Baldrick from Blackadder spring to mind. And there are many different types of idiot. I'm not sure I'd describe Arthur [Shappey] as a true idiot though. His defining characteristic is his utterly optimistic outlook and that he's resolutely cheerful."

Review: we don't understand how Sam Simmons won Fringe

A hearty portion of Sam Simmons's shtick is acting out the things that 'shit him'. Charging around a stage festooned with props, the screwball comedian demonstrates how shop assistants who make point of looking away when you type in your pin shit him; how twisted extension cords shits him; how books of cute cats which are now all dead shit him.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Doug Stanhope, Tom Parry and Frisky & Mannish.

Michael Brunström likes to do things he is not good at

The annual Malcolm Hardee Awards are given to individuals. At the Edinburgh Fringe last month, Michael Brunström won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality. His show was titled The Golden Age of Steam and, this week, he performed it at the Museum of Comedy in London - which was arranged after he won the award.

Shazia Mirza, comedy review: nothing if not brave

Shazia Mirza evoked Rivers in this confrontational set, says Bruce Dessau.

Review: Josh Widdicombe, Cheltenham Comedy Festival

With it nearing the last leg of the Cheltenham Comedy Festival, Thursday night's entertainment was provided by Josh Widdicombe. Famed for his appearances on Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and, most recently, The Last Leg, it was no great surprise to find out that the event was a complete sell-out. The packed audience was eagerly anticipating laugh-out comedy and once the warm-up act, Tom Crane, had left the stage, we got just that.

Five For Friday: Favourite Graham Norton Moments

The 18th series of The Graham Norton Show will be premiering tonight on BBC One in the UK and on October 3rd on BBC America.

So in observance of the return of this perennial favorite, I am featuring five of the most memorable moments I can recall from past shows...

Interview: Graham Norton

The presenter doesn't believe in guilty pleasures, cries over Long Lost Family and gets ready while watching Strictly...

Fifa stunt: Simon Brodkin on Sepp Blatter prank

British comedian Simon Brodkin says he is waiting to hear whether he will face charges over his headline-grabbing prank with Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

Sam Simmons: Spaghetti for Breakfast review

In a richly strange set, this year's Edinburgh award-winner snorts cereal, obsesses over the audience's legwear and acts out everyday annoyances.

Theatre Review: Future Conditional

Future Conditional is not as funny as the last thing I saw at the Old Vic, but it does tap into many important contemporary concerns.

David Baddiel interview

Heard the one about my mother's affair? Comedian David Baddiel has never been afraid to shock and his new show may be his most controversial yet.

Radio review: Shush!

Quite a lot of Radio 4's comedies should be disqualified under the Trade Descriptions Act, but this isn't one of them. Shush! is filthy, daft, and I love it.