BCG Daily Thursday 13th August 2020
Press clippings
Amazon Prime donates to Fleabag stars' theatre fund
A fund set up by two stars of Fleabag to support theatre workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic is to receive £500,000 from Amazon Prime Video.
BBC, 13th August 2020
Keith Lemon hits back at Melanie Sykes
Mel Sykes said Keith Lemon had a "limited vocabulary". Now he's hit back, saying it hasn't stopped him winning "two BAFTAs and two NTAs".
Simon Boyle, The Sun, 13th August 2020
Tim Minchin album release date revealed
Tim Minchin announced the release of his long-awaited debut album, Apart Together, on The Late Late Show with James Corden last night. Recorded over the past two years since moving back to Sydney, Minchin confirmed his debut album will be released on Friday 20 November, via BMG.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 13th August 2020
Top comics gig to save historic London building
Dara O Briain, Tom Allen and Joel Dommett are among the comics announced to play a new festival raising funds to save the historic Chiswick House And Gardens in West London.
Chortle, 13th August 2020
Adil Ray to host new ITV game show
Word-based show Lingo seeks contestants.
Chortle, 13th August 2020
Interview: Steve N Allen and Erich McElroy
The Edinburgh Festival is of course sadly not taking place this year, but at least some new comedy shows are still being produced thanks to The Online Free Fringe Fest, which is where Steve and Erich have joined forces to produce Comics Solving Problems.
Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 13th August 2020
Why class snobbery is leaving audiences alienated
If it wasn't for Scotland I wouldn't have a career, so why am I being asked to take my Scottish comedy credits off my CV, asks Joe Hullait.
Joe Hullait, Radio Times, 13th August 2020
Russell Howard storms out of Bristol gig
The comedian cut his performance short after noticing a phone being pointed at him.
The Bristol Post, 13th August 2020
Oldham uses James Buckley to give Covid-19 guidance
James Buckley is fronting Oldham Council's 'serious message' as the borough faces local lockdown.
Katie Fitzpatrick, Manchester Evening News, 13th August 2020
Book extract: Bluebottle Goes To War
From The Goons to Pink Panther and much more besides, Peter Sellers was one of the biggest comedy stars of the 1960s and 1970s. But before he found fame he served in the Royal Air Force Entertainment Units, known as gang shows, for more than three years. A new book published today, Bluebottle Goes To War, tells this story about how he found and honed his talents during the Second World War with the aid of previously unknown film footage, photos, performances, broadcasts and recordings. In this exclusive extract, author PJ Browsword sets out the background to his book, and to Sellers' remarkable career...
PJ Browsword, Chortle, 13th August 2020
Review: Mandy
She's made her name on TV as Philomena Cunk and as Liz in Motherland, saying the words of some very talented writers. But Mandy is all Diane Morgan's own work, as writer, star and director - and very funny it is, too.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 13th August 2020
Quarantine questions: Steve N Allen and Erich McElroy
Interview with Steve N Allen and Erich McElroy.
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 13th August 2020
French remake of Finding Your Feet underway
Filming got underway this week in Paris on Alors, On Danse, the French remake of 2017 UK feature Finding Your Feet.
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13th August 2020
Sixty seconds with Harry Hill
The comedian, 55, on having a row with EastEnders, being asked to work as a doctor again and his idea for a TV pet show.
Paul Simper, Metro, 13th August 2020
Mandy review: new comedy is fine in small doses
A mordant stare from Morgan can do the work of 20 pages of script, so a show of her own has been long overdue.
Fiona Sturges, The Independent, 13th August 2020
Mandy review
Diane Morgan is the writer and star of this new comedy about a hapless, jobless heroine whose daft adventures always end in calamity - if not arson.
Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 13th August 2020
Mandy, episode 1 and 2 review
Diane Morgan's sitcom is simply enjoyably escapist comedy.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 13th August 2020
Misfits seasons 1-5 announced for Netflix UK next month
Fans of sci-fi comedy/dramaMisfits will be able to relive all five series of the classic E4 show as they will all be dropping on Netflix UK next month.
Sam Warner, Digital Spy, 13th August 2020Videos
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Podcasts
TV & radio
5pm30 min
So Awkward
Series 6, Episode 3 - Travel BugLily and Jas go to extreme lengths to avoid admitting they don't want to travel together.
6:30pm30 min
ReincarNathan
Series 2, Episode 6 - MaxIn this final episode, Nathan has sacked Jenny and now has a brand new spiritual advisor, Max (Daniel Lawrence Taylor), who promises to get him straight up the reincarnation ladder and back up to human again. And sure enough, Nathan races from dung beetle to pig to penguin in no time. But it soon becomes clear that Max's methods are morally dubious, and Nathan must reunite with Jenny if he is to save himself. And the world!
9pm60 min
Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years
Episode 2 - In Studio Space No One Can Hear You ScreamA look at the challenging logistics of the most celebrated and successful sci-fi comedy ever, told by cast and perhaps most importantly the key crew who made it happen.
9pm30 min
QI
Series R, Highlights SpecialA compilation of some of the best bits from Series R, with Sandi Toksvig and Alan Davies.
9:30pm15 min
Mandy
Series 1, Episode 1 - JobseekerShe was looking for a job, and then she found a job, and heaven knows she's miserable now.
9:45pm15 min
Mandy
Series 1, Episode 2 - Susan Bloody BlowerThey say revenge is a dish best served cold. But they also say that about gazpacho, and that is disgusting, so what do they know?
10pm30 min
In The Long Run
Series 3, Episode 4Valentine gets a DJ gig through Dawn's friend Andy, which goes hugely well until he realises it's a gay nightclub.
10pm25 min
Semi-Detached
Episode 2Financially stretched Stuart is late for a much-needed DJ-ing job, having lost the device with his playlists on. During his search, Stuart stumbles upon an angry daughter, a poorly cat and a dead body.
10:30pm15 min
Squeamish About
Episode 2 - RelationshipsSqueamish offers his unique take on Relationships - exploring dating rituals, love and modern romance. From what to order on a first date to how to alert someone to the fact that you fancy them, Squeamish offers advice and guidance based on research, and his own opinions.