British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Friday 12th March 2021

News

Flatmates. Copyright: Zodiak Media Company Online

Flatmates to return to BBC iPlayer for Series 2

BBC teen comedy Flatmates is returning for a second series. Eight new episodes of the Manchester-based coming-of-age comedy drama will land on iPlayer in April.

Staged. Image shows from L to R: David (David Tennant), Michael (Michael Sheen) TV

Staged and Gone Fishing win Broadcasting Press Guild Awards

Staged and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing have won prizes in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2021. Additionally, Elis James and John Robins were the winners in the podcast category.

The Exploding Heads - Gophers. Image shows from L to R: Anthony Richardson, Mark Davison Shop

Exploding Heads launch sitcom that only one person will hear

Comedy duo The Exploding Heads have launched Gophers, an audio sitcom. Notably, only one person will ever hear it though. They are selling it as a non-fungible token (NFT) - a technology that only allows for one buyer.

The Mash Report. Image shows from L to R: Newsreader Tom (Steve N Allen), Nish Kumar, Rachel / Emma (Rachel Parris), Newsreader Susan (Ellie Taylor). Copyright: Princess Productions TV

The Mash Report axed after four series

The Mash Report will not return for any further series. A spokesperson said BBC Two was making room for new comedy shows.

BCG Pro

Leah Henry Pro

My Comedy Career: Leah Henry

TV producer Leah Henry talks about creating BBC Three comedy PRU and working for the forward-thinking Fully Focused Productions. She has some really interesting advice to share about how to start working in TV, and opinions on what the industry needs to do to be better.

Press clippings

Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard: 'I've had boob envy since my teens'

The actor and comic on making her female pronouns permanent, shouting down abuse, enduring a marathon-a-day - and running for Labour.

Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, 12th March 2021
Billy Connolly

Review: Billy Connolly - Tall Tales And Wee Stories

It has been a long time since I genuinely laughed out loud while reading a book - quite uncontrollably, I might add - and I should have known it would come from this hero of Scottish comedy.

Rosie Morton, Scottish Field, 12th March 2021
The Mash Report. Nish Kumar. Copyright: Princess Productions

Seven hilarious Mash Report moments that went viral

The Mash Report has been responsible for numerous viral moments over the years, and here are 7 of the best.

John Plunkett, The Poke, 12th March 2021
Bryony Kimmings

Bryony Kimmings interview

The award-winning live artist and writer on the things that make her laugh the most.

The Guardian, 12th March 2021
The Mash Report. Nish Kumar. Copyright: Princess Productions

Why they canned The Mash Report - it's unfunny

It wasn't too 'left-wing' - just painfully unfunny.

Spiked, 12th March 2021
This Time With Alan Partridge. Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan). Copyright: Baby Cow Productions

Petition started to have Alan Partridge host GMB

"There is no-one better to replace that moribund Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain".

Will Lavin, NME, 12th March 2021
The Mash Report. Image shows from L to R: Newsreader Tom (Steve N Allen), Nish Kumar, Rachel / Emma (Rachel Parris), Newsreader Susan (Ellie Taylor). Copyright: Princess Productions

BBC comedies told to book more right-wing guests

The director general has signalled that shows must feature 'a broader range of voices' to counter perceived bias in comedy output.

Bill Gardner, The Telegraph, 12th March 2021
Locked Down. Linda (Anne Hathaway). Copyright: Warner

Locked Down review

Delirious enough to capture the mood of the moment.

Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent, 12th March 2021
Locked Down. Linda (Anne Hathaway). Copyright: Warner

Locked Down, review

Two hours in Anne Hathaway's personal pandemic hell.

Tim Robey, The Telegraph, 12th March 2021
Locked Down. Linda (Anne Hathaway). Copyright: Warner

Locked Down review

It's not unreasonable to sit down to Locked Down with high expectations, and all the more disappointing when they are shattered within moments, which is as long as it takes to realise that Paxton and Linda, whose marriage is crumbling, are similarly insufferable (though the former might just edge it).

Brian Viner, Daily Mail, 12th March 2021
Locked Down. Linda (Anne Hathaway). Copyright: Warner

Locked Down review

Just like lockdown itself this is mostly tedious, and feels never-ending.

Dulcie Pearce, The Sun, 12th March 2021
Locked Down. Linda (Anne Hathaway). Copyright: Warner

Locked Down review

Though the film is far from good, Hathaway's cabin-fever-induced irrationality is weirdly involving.

The Scotsman, 12th March 2021

No, Nish Kumar's Mash Report hasn't been 'cancelled'

The BBC says The Mash Report's departure is going 'to make room for new comedy shows'. Here's hoping an actual comedy show, as opposed to whatever this was, replaces it.

Tom Slater, The Spectator, 12th March 2021

Videos

Nina And Monkey's Bedtime. Nina Conti Online

Nina And Monkey's Bedtime - The Song

8 mins, 48 secs

Nina and monkey decompress for the day and shoot the breeze.

Mother F**king Pep Talk. Jack Rooke. Copyright: Comedy Central Online

Mother F**king Pep Talk - Jack Rooke - How To Live, Laugh, Love

4 mins, 2 secs

Comedian Jack Rooke tells you how to live, laugh, love (without spending £15.99 on a decorative piece of driftwood).

The Treason TV Show. Mark Brailsford TV

The Treason TV Show - Episode Three

22 mins

Harry and Meghan, Salmond and Sturgeon and others appear in this topical gag fest featuring satire and songs from the long running Brighton-based show.

Katie Davison Online

High profile man who's being silenced

3 mins, 30 secs

Cancel culture has gone mad. The 'Woke Media' simply will not allow high profile white men to say whatever they want to the masses on television and in print media which is tantamount to being illegally silenced. In this interview, one man breaks his silence and shares his story.

TV & radio

CBBC logo. Credit: BBC 7:20am
15 min
Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed!. Copyright: Beano Studios

Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed!

Series 2, Episode 49 - Puppy Love

There's a new tripe hound in Beanotown, and Gnasher falls head over paws in love with her. Bertie is looking after the visiting dog Ginger, and is determined to keep her away from riff-raff like Gnasher.

YouTube 9am
23 min
No More Jockeys. Image shows from L to R: Mark Watson, Alex Horne, Tim Key

No More Jockeys

Set 3, Episode 8 - Set 3, Game 8

With the set's score 3-2-2 in favour of Watto, today's game sees appearances from cartoon dogs, chefs, and the son of God.

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Mark Bonnar

For The Love Of Leo

Series 3, Episode 2 - The Lear Jet Lady

Leo's Edinburgh home is besieged by unexpected visitors, some of whom have come a very long way in a very short time.

BBC Radio Scotland 1:30pm
30 min
Breaking The News. Des Clarke. Copyright: BBC Studios

Breaking The News

Series 18, Episode 5

Des Clarke is joined by Andy Zaltzman, Olga Koch, Susan Riddle & Jamie MacDonald.

CBeebies logo. Credit: BBC 5pm
15 min
GiggleQuiz. Justin Fletcher. Copyright: BBC

GiggleQuiz

Series 2, Episode 11 - Keith Fitt's Rumbly Tummy

Keith has missed breakfast and his rumbly tummy is putting him off the quiz.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
The Now Show. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt. Copyright: BBC

The Now Show

Series 58, Episode 3

Joining Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis this week are Ellie Taylor and Darren Harriott, with music from Huge Davies.

BBC Scotland channel. Copyright: BBC 10:30pm
30 min
Beep. Liz (Siobhan Redmond). Copyright: Happy Tramp Productions

Beep

Sitcom about a family's vigil at the bedside of their dad, Tommy, who lies helplessly in a coma.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 10:45pm
45 min
The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines

The Graham Norton Show

Series 28, Episode 22 - Amy Poehler, Rob Beckett, Nick Jonas, Leonie Elliott, Jennifer Garner, Tom Odell

Amy Poehler says we are all still trying to figure out who we are; Jennifer Garner talks about saying 'yes'; Nick Jonas says his approach to life is more mature now; Leonie Elliott reveals she runs her scripts past her granddad; Rob Beckett jokes about parenting; and Tom Odell performs live in the studio.

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