British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Wednesday 24th March 2021

News

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

Staged to arrive on BritBox with extended length episodes

The second series Staged is due to be published on streaming platform BritBox on 1st April with additional material included.

Trying. Image shows from L to R: Nikki Newman (Esther Smith), Jason Ross (Rafe Spall) Online

Trying to return to Apple TV+ for Series 3

Trying, the Apple TV+ comedy series starring Rafe Spall and Esther Smith as a couple planning to adopt a baby, is to return for a third series. Meanwhile, the second series will be available to stream from 14th May.

The Ken Dodd Laughter Show. Ken Dodd. Copyright: Thames Television TV

Ken Dodd comedy drama in the works for ITV

Doddy, a comedy drama centred around Ken Dodd's 1989 trial for tax evasion, is in development for ITV.

Worzel Gummidge. Worzel (Mackenzie Crook). Copyright: Leopard Pictures TV

Worzel Gummidge episodes filming this summer

Mackenzie Crook's Worzel Gummidge is resuming filming this summer.

James McNicholas Shop

James McNicholas to publish The Champ & The Chump book

Comedian James McNicholas is to publish The Champ & The Chump. Based on his hit live show, the book tells the real-life story of what happened when he retraced the footsteps of his boxing champion grandfather.

Bob Mortimer Shop

Bob Mortimer is to publish his autobiography

Bob Mortimer will publish his memoirs in September. And Away... is described as "warm, profound, and irrepressibly funny."

Features

'Allo 'Allo!. Image shows from L to R: Edith Melba Artois (Carmen Silvera), René François Artois (Gorden Kaye), Yvette Carte-Blanche (Vicki Michelle). Copyright: BBC Quiz

British Comedy Quiz #146

We predict you're going to get a score of 6 out of 10 this week? Let's see if we're right...

BCG Pro

Image shows from L to R: Ed Amsden, Tom Coles Pro

In Defence Of The First-Draft Freewrite

"Write first, apologise later"... comedy writers Ed Amsden and Tom Coles deliver an impassioned plea in defence of a first-draft freewrite.

Press clippings

Tom Mayhew

Arts Q&A: Tom Mayhew

"You can put anything on a pancake, even a Creme Egg".

Jenny Lee, The Irish News, 24th March 2021
Jason Manford

Jason Manford to star in new murder mystery musical

Manford is one of the stars of A Killer Party.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 24th March 2021
Sameena Zehra

The Home Safe Collective: a recipe for radical change

Sometimes, making radical change just needs a determined person, a good idea and the solidarity of your peers. In 2018, that person was Angela Barnes, comedian extraordinaire, the idea was the Get Home Safe Collective, and solidarity came from every layer of the comedy world.

Sameena Zehra, Funny Women, 24th March 2021
The Royle Family. Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson)

Ricky Tomlinson would face jail again 'in a heartbeat'

Ricky Tomlinson has said he would face prison again "in a heartbeat" to stand up for workers' rights. The Liverpool star was one of the trade unionists known as the Shrewsbury 24 who had their 1970s convictions for conspiracy overturned on Tuesday.

BBC, 24th March 2021
Mark Watson

Mark Watson: Wish You Were Here review

A review of a virtual gig at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, plus reviews of other shows from the fest.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th March 2021
Mission: Accessible. Rosie Jones. Copyright: tomgphoto

Rosie Jones joins #FeelLikeCrap emoji campaign

Rosie Jones has teamed up with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) in their bid to introduce a new 'Unhappy Pile of Poo' emoji, to be used when people just cannot find the words to explain how are why they feel low.

Charlie Herbert, JOE, 24th March 2021

Podcasts

Sitcom Geeks

Sitcom Geeks: Episode 162 - Fun With Father Ted - Lissa Evans

56 minutes

Writer, producer and acclaimed comic novelist Lissa Evans tells us what it was like directing and producing Father Ted - and what makes a funny script.

RHLSTP with Richard Herring. Image shows from L to R: Jeremy Paxman, Richard Herring

RHLSTP with Richard Herring: RHLSTP 320 - Jeremy Paxman

78 minutes

#320 Packalackadackdack - Richard is one week into convalescence after surgery, but was his interviewing skill housed in his lost part? He's worried about some bonus gifts he got in...

TV & radio

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal. Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle's The Absence Of Normal

Series 2, Episode 3 - The Nameless Park

In Liverpool there's a nameless park near St Michael's Hamlet. It's a beautiful if jagged place, filled with strangely exotic plants. Jason's sister has a strong affinity with the park and takes her wheelchair user brother for regular trips around its paths. But when Jason falls critically ill, the true nature of their parents emerges.

YouTube 6pm
9 min
Wragg And Wragg. Image shows from L to R: Tom (Tom Wragg), Calum (Calum Wragg-Smith)

Wragg And Wragg

Series 2, Episode 8 - Singing and Dancing

Tom and Calum sing and dance.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Empire-ical Evidence. Image shows from L to R: Anuvab Pal, Andy Zaltzman. Copyright: Somethin' Else

Future Empire-fect

Episode 1

Andy Zaltzman and Anuvab Pal take a light-hearted look at the future of the relationship between Britain and India in fields such as politics, medicine, culture, trade, hospitality and, of course, cricket. They begin by asking how the two nations plan to work together in business, trade and politics - or not.

U&Dave channel logo 10pm
60 min
Hypothetical. Phil Wang. Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Hypothetical

Series 3, Episode 7

Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster are joined by Jo Brand, Jess Fostekew, Phil Wang and Ellie Taylor.

Radio 4 11pm
15 min
Tom Mayhew

Tom Mayhew Is Benefit Scum

Series 1, Episode 4 - Fit To Work

In the final episode of the series Tom talks about growing up in a working class family.

Radio 4 11:15pm
15 min
The Skewer

The Skewer

Series 3, Episode 11

This week, the Line Of Duty coppers investigate vaccine corruption, "is it safe?", and waving the flag for flags.

Share this page

Subscribe to our newsletters