British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Wednesday 7th July 2021

News

Features

Press clippings

Birds Of A Feather. Image shows from L to R: Sharon Theodopolopodous (Pauline Quirke), Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph), Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Retort

Lesley Joseph says Birds Of A Feather end is a 'relief'

Lesley Joseph says: "I don't think it's going to happen again to be absolutely honest. I think after 32 years, I need to do other things. Keeping your weight down to play Dorien is not easy."

The Mirror, 7th July 2021
Still Game. Isa Drennan (Jane McCarry). Copyright: The Comedy Unit

Life according to... Still Game star Jane McCarry

The Still Game star talks about returning to work, special times with her family, her rock star moment and why it's never a good idea to wear tights on your head.

The Sunday Post, 7th July 2021
Please Help. Milly (Lucy Pearman). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Review: Please Help, BBC Three/iPlayer

This is one of those comedies that can be read on at least two levels. It's daft fun, certainly, but it also seems to be making a serious comment about the pressure put on the mental health of individuals by the inadequacy of the NHS care system, which can place a heavy burden on family members.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th July 2021
The Thick Of It. Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Copyright: BBC

Armando Iannucci thinks people liking Tucker "sad"

Speaking exclusively at last week's RadioTimes.com Script to Screen event, writer Armando Iannucci admits it actually saddens him that the rude director of communications became such a beloved figure in British comedy.

Emma Bullimore, Radio Times, 7th July 2021
Please Help. Milly (Lucy Pearman). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Please Help review

The BBC really ought to pounce on this imaginative, hilarious premise and sign Pearman up for a series immediately.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th July 2021
Michael Palin's Memory Palaces. Copyright: Essential Film And Television Productions

Michael Palin's Memory Palaces review

Many of these tales might be familiar to fans, but it's good to hear them told, most engagingly, from the Python's mouth. So don't expect great insights into the working of Gilliam's eccentric mind, but an array of entertaining anecdotes that unfold with a little more space that they would get on the usual chat-show circuit.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th July 2021
Johnny English. Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson). Copyright: Working Title Films / STUDIOCANAL

Johnny English revisited

He might not be the smartest, but he gets the job done... eventually.

Melissa, Female First, 7th July 2021
Porridge. Image shows from L to R: Mr. Mackay (Fulton Mackay), Fletcher (Ronnie Barker), Godber (Richard Beckinsale). Copyright: BBC

The re-evaluation game: Porridge - A Night In

The whole thing is shot through with melancholy in a manner which we rarely see in sitcoms these days, and while I can't say it's a series that I'm any more passionate about given its questionable elements, having rewatched this episode it's certainly given me more respect for it.

Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 7th July 2021
Assembly Festival

Assembly announces Fringe comedy on demand

Edinburgh Fringe venue Assembly has announced the first comedy shows to be streamed on its Showcatcher video player for this year's festival.

Chortle, 7th July 2021
The Office. David Brent (Ricky Gervais)

The Office: Remembering first scathing review

Writing in the Evening Standard, Victor Lewis-Smith hated the show saying: "How this dross ever got beyond the pilot stage is a mystery".

Clémence Michallon, The Independent, 7th July 2021
Please Help. Milly (Lucy Pearman). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Please Help, BBC3, review

This surreal sitcom pilot about a carer with superpowers left me wanting more.

Barbara Speed, i Newspaper, 7th July 2021
Alexis Dubus

Marcel Lucont: the 'French comic' the UK love to hate

"When I was growing up, I always found so many aspects of British culture odd, when no one else did... the repression of the English, the xenophobia, the beige food..." explains Alexis Dubus, the British comedian better known by his stage name, Marcel Lucont.

Catherine Rickman, Frenchly, 7th July 2021
Stephen Merchant. Copyright: RDF Television

Stephen Merchant on 20 years of The Office

'Would it get made today? I don't know'.

Michael Idato, The Age, 7th July 2021

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

BBC Three 6am
Please Help. Milly (Lucy Pearman). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Please Help

A normal girl, trapped in a mundane and claustrophobic life as her grandmother's only carer, starts to develop mysterious and unexplainable powers.

BBC Radio 5 Live 11am
45 min
Rick Edwards. Credit: BBC

Fighting Talk

Series 18, Special - Euros Special

Gabby Logan hosts a special episode prior to England's semi-final against Denmark in Euro 2020. She is joined by comedians Justin Moorhouse and Ivo Graham, football commentator and sports journalist Vicki Sparks, and sports broadcaster David Alroka.

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Michael Palin's Memory Palaces. Copyright: Essential Film And Television Productions

Michael Palin's Memory Palaces

Michael Palin invents fantastical new interview technology to fire James Peak deep inside Terry Gilliam's memory palace.

CBBC logo. Credit: BBC 5pm
15 min
Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories

Series 9, Special - Gruesome Guide To Growing Up: Animated Special

Life wasn't always fun for children in the past. Horrible Histories delves into the not-so-easy lives of children throughout history, from the strict parenting of ancient civilisations, to the terrible fights the young King Louis XIV had with his little brother - even weeing on each others beds! And find out just why Henry VIII was so keen for his son Edward VI to stay inside.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Unite. Image shows from L to R: Gideon (Ivo Graham), Tony (Mark Steel), Imogen (Claire Skinner), Ashley (Elliot Steel)

Unite

Series 1, Episode 3 - Chicken Man

Ashley starts a new job promoting a local fried chicken restaurant, and after inadvertently stopping a jewellery heist, he becomes a national hero. Meanwhile, Gideon and Rebecca open up a vegan pop up cafe, Imogen holds a Jiu Jitsu class and Tony catches up with one of his old comrades from The Revolutionary Party for Working Workers (Marxist-Leninist).

BBC Radio 3 10:45pm
15 min
Adrian Edmondson

Adrian Edmondson - Signs Of Life

Series 1, Episode 3 - Fegato Per Due

Adrian remembers the glorious feeling of belonging in the early days of working in Soho at The Comic Strip and eating at the Italian restaurant where the waiters know his name, and his favourite dish.

Radio 4 11pm
15 min
Heidi Regan

Heidi Regan: No Worries

Episode 2

Heidi realises that repressing worries could actually lead to them bubbling up uninvited.

Radio 4 11:15pm
15 min
The Skewer

The Skewer

Series 4, Episode 6

This week - Freedom Day, Wacky Space Races, and William and Harry take on The Krays.

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