BCG Daily Thursday 31st March 2022

Robin Ince: hurricanes and hangovers

On Robin Ince's 100-bookshop tour, the choice of breakfast confuses, and the bad weather confounds.

Beverley Callard interview

Having played one of Coronation Street's most beloved characters for more than 30 years, Beverley Callard said she adored being a "hideous, vicious" matriarch in new comedy series Newark, Newark.

Peter Kay's Dance For Life returns

Peter Kay's Dance For Life has rescheduled the shows from 2020 and they will now go ahead this April, with extra tickets just released for Manchester and Liverpool dates.

Stephen K Amos to star in My Fair Lady

Stephen K Amos will play the role of Alfred P. Doolittle in the forthcoming West End production of My Fair Lady.

On this day in 1952: birth of Dermot Morgan

On 31st March 1952, one of Ireland's greatest comedians and actors, Dermot Morgan, was born. Best known for his role as Father Ted Crilly on the hit Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, Morgan was born in Dublin to Hilda (née Stokes) and artist and sculptor Donnchadh Morgan.

How Russell Brand reinvented himself as a clickbait conspiracy theorist

Having seen his Hollywood career flop and TV work dry up, Russell Brand has seemingly reinvented himself as a YouTube conspiracy theorist.

The stand-up comedian's controversial views on the world's biggest news events have pulled in 5.4million subscribers to his channels - and drawn comparisons to outspoken former footballer David Icke, who believed Earth had been hijacked by shape-shifting reptilians.

Comics on that Oscars slap

Four seasoned stand-ups - Ed Byrne, Zoe Lyons, Dane Baptiste and Shaparak Khorsandi - all with the comic's dread of hosting awards shows, on what to do when a gig goes very wrong - and how they might have reacted.

Phil Wang admits helping Amy Schumer write Will Smith joke for Oscars

Amy Schumer can blame comedian Phil Wang for one of her jokes at the Oscars 2022 as he helped her write one about Will Smith (and it was a pretty good one).

Skateboarders damaging Blackpool's iconic Comedy Carpet

Skateboarders are damaging Blackpool's £2.6m Comedy Carpet by using the public artwork as a backdrop to their tricks and turns.

Review: The Alter Comedy Club at The Hub at St Mary's

Featuring performances from Tez Ilyas, Callum Oakley and Jessica Fostekew.

Too mild? Chris Rock should learn from Jerry Sadowitz and/or Malcolm Hardee

On Twitter, British comedian and writer David Baddiel observed: "As a comedy moment it's still not up there with a member of the audience at Montreal's Just For Laughs 1991 punching Jerry Sadowitz out cold for opening with 'Hello moose-fuckers!'"

How Rose Matafeo shaped the romance in Starstruck

The comedian drew on her love of classic Hollywood, anime and funny women to create her show.

Tom Mayhew voices concerns over accessibility of Edinburgh Fringe

There are concerns the Festival Fringe has become too expensive for working class performers which will have a knock on effect on representation in the arts industry.

The Outlaws TV review

If the narrative of The Outlaws can feel too tidy - to the point of making Bristol, a city of over 400,000 people, seem as insular as a small town - its tone tends toward messiness.