British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Thursday 21st October 2021

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Press clippings

The Lenny Henry Birthday Show. Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry joins row over blocked BBC executive

Sir Lenny Henry and other influential black figures have written to the chairman of the BBC about reports that a black executive was blocked from a senior newsroom job after campaigning for more diversity in broadcasting.

Peter Chappell, The Times, 21st October 2021
The Larkins. Image shows from L to R: Pop Larkin (Bradley Walsh), Ma Larkin (Joanna Scanlan)

The Larkins review

I'm sure the 1950s Kent countryside was lovely but I'm willing to bet it wasn't the multicultural liberal utopia as depicted in The Larkins, what with a carousel of Black and Asian characters circling the family. Not a hint of racism in this nostalgic wonderland; I wonder what changed in the subsequent decades?

Stevie Gallacher, The Sunday Post, 21st October 2021
Patrick Kielty

Patrick Kielty announces tour dates

Patrick Kielty will embark on his brand-new stand-up tour Borderline from 11th May 2022, kicking off in Nottingham. In his first UK dates since his critically acclaimed 2015 live show Help, he will play 30 dates across the country.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st October 2021
Frankie Howerd On Campus. Frankie Howerd. Copyright: London Weekend Television / Rex

Ooh-er! Frankie Howerd's archive is revealed

Titter ye not - Frankie Howerd was cut out of a Beatles film, planned to appear in a "gaudy" American version of Up Pompeii! and rejected an opportunity to front a game show.

David Sanderson, The Times, 21st October 2021
Roy Chubby Brown

Calls to cancel Roy Chubby Brown show at Wolverhampton

Calls have been made to cancel a Bilston show by controversial comic Roy Chubby Brown, which falls in the middle of Black History Month.

Gurdip Thandi, The Express and Star, 21st October 2021
David Baddiel

David Baddiel condemns anti-vaxxers for Nazi comparison

David Baddiel has condemned anti-vaxxers for comparing the coronavirus vaccine to medical experiments that were carried out under the Nazi regime.

Ellie Harrison, The Independent, 21st October 2021
After Life. Tony (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: Derek Productions

After Life helps Hemel Hempstead earn £100,000

A council has received about £100,000 in the past six months as a result of a town being used for the filming of major TV series. Hemel Hempstead has been the setting for shows including ITV's Grantchester and two Netflix series - Ricky Gervais' After Life and Masters Of The Air.

BBC, 21st October 2021
The Outlaws. Image shows from L to R: John (Darren Boyd), Frank (Christopher Walken), Myrna (Clare Perkins), Rani Rekowski (Rhianne Barreto), Christian (Gamba Cole), Gabby (Eleanor Tomlinson), Greg (Stephen Merchant)

The Outlaws lorry plunges into Bristol harbour

A costume trailer for Stephen Merchant's TV series The Outlaws has plunged into a city centre harbour.

BBC, 21st October 2021
Lasties. Image shows from L to R: Ray (Tim Key), Boo (John Kearns)

Lasties review

Lasties offers a congenial slice of only slightly exaggerated realism, with delightfully surreal touches, all emerging from loving character portraits of simple men with simple pleasures. It's a pleasure drinking with them...

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 21st October 2021
Judi Love

Judi Love to miss Strictly after positive Covid test

Judi Love has tested positive for Covid-19, the BBC show has announced.

The Guardian, 21st October 2021
Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Greg Davies, Alex Horne. Copyright: Avalon Television

Google joins forces with Taskmaster

Channel 4 today announces a new six week partnership with Google that sees the technology company join forces with Avalon produced, BAFTA-winning show Taskmaster, launching on Thursday 21st October 2021.

Channel 4, 21st October 2021
Ghosts. Image shows from L to R: Robin (Laurence Rickard), Humphrey (Laurence Rickard), Mary (Katy Wix), Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Kitty (Lolly Adefope), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), Captain (Ben Willbond), Pat (Jim Howick), Lady Button (Martha Howe-Douglas), Julian (Simon Farnaby). Copyright: Monumental Pictures

America gets more Ghosts

America's CBS network has ordered more episodes of its Ghosts remake.

Chortle, 21st October 2021
The Outlaws. Greg (Stephen Merchant)

Stephen Merchant interview

Stephen Merchant on The Outlaws and the funny side of community service.

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 21st October 2021
Still Game. Image shows from L to R: Victor McDade (Greg Hemphill), Jack Jarvis (Ford Kiernan)

Still Game gains new fans as Squid Game viewers watch

Still Game actor Sanjeev Kohli claims the show has accidentally gained new fans after being mistaken for viral sensation Squid Game.

Daily Record, 21st October 2021
Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan goes jogging as he films Savile drama

Steve Coogan goes jogging as he portrays the early days of sex attacker Jimmy Savile.

Rod McPhee, The Sun, 21st October 2021

Podcasts

TV & radio

Radio 4 2:15pm
30 min
The Attendant. Image shows from L to R: Ella (Patricia Allison), Alex (Will Merrick), Keith and the 'How To' Tapes (Kenneth Collard)

The Attendant

Episode 3 - Zombies

Alex, Ella and a trucker named Jonny Tenaka are trapped in the petrol station shop by smooching - crazed zombies. Will they too become 'infected'?

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 9pm
60 min
Taskmaster. Victoria Coren Mitchell. Copyright: Avalon Television

Taskmaster

Series 12, Episode 5 - Croissants Is Croissants

In the 100th episode, Victoria celebrates with a flapjack, Morgana celebrates by slicing up some plastic balls, and Guz celebrates by barricading himself in the Taskmaster house.

Sky Max. Copyright: Sky 9pm
60 min
A League Of Their Own. Image shows from L to R: Jamie Redknapp, Romesh Ranganathan, Andrew Flintoff. Copyright: CPL Productions

A League Of Their Own

Series 16, Highlights Special - Best Of

The ALOTO look back at some of the highlights of Series 16.

BBC Two 10pm
30 min
QI. Zoe Lyons

QI

Series S, Episode 7 - Spooky

With David Mitchell, Richard Osman and Zoe Lyons.

U&Dave channel logo 10pm
60 min
Late Night Mash. Josh Jones. Copyright: Zeppotron

Late Night Mash

Series 1, Episode 8

The Delightful Sausage join Late Night Mash to offer a solution to declining birth rates, Olga Koch reports on Facebook, Josh Jones talks to Nish about moving from the north to the south, and the team look ahead to COP 26.

Union Jack 10pm
60 min
Union Jack Radio Comedy Club

Union Jack Radio Comedy Club

Episode 3

Tonight sees performances from Jack Gleadow, Rachel Jackson, Peter Brush and Gary Jennison.

Sky Max. Copyright: Sky 10pm
60 min
The Russell Howard Hour. Steven Pinker. Copyright: Avalon Television

The Russell Howard Hour

Series 5, Episode 7

Russell discusses William Shatner's trip to space, and chats to director Edgar Wright and psychologist Steven Pinker. Plus, stand-up by Fatiha El-Ghorri.

ITV2 logo. Credit: ITV 10pm
45 min
The Emily Atack Show. Emily Atack. Copyright: Monkey Kingdom

The Emily Atack Show

Series 2, Episode 3 - Relationships

Comedy sketches, stand-up and impressions on the theme of relationships, with Emily meeting a new partner's parents, pitching long-term relationship insurance and seeing an old schoolmate at the worst possible time.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
65 min
Complaints Welcome. Image shows from L to R: Tom Allen, Jessica Knappett, Munya Chawawa. Copyright: Rumpus Media

Complaints Welcome

Episode 2

Tom visits Midsomer and tries to not get murdered; Jess looks at Rachel Riley's cleavage; and Munya steps into a Naked Attraction pod.

Radio 4 11pm
30 min
Geoff Norcott

Geoff Norcott: I Would Never Be Friends With...

Geoff Norcott asks can you be friends with someone whose views are diametrically opposite to yours? He talks to his audience about their own experiences, to Tom Walker (Jonathan Pie) abot the criticism his comedy has had, and he's joined by special guest Athena Kugblenu.

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