BCG Daily Wednesday 13th April 2022

Hullraisers review

Female-led Channel 4 comedy is irreverent, but flawed.

Derry Girls review

You have to be wide awake to catch even half the jokes in the wonderful Derry Girls, a sitcom that flings gags at us from every angle.

Sophie Duker interview

Having defeated impostor syndrome, the stand-up is taking on Taskmaster and returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with 'sexy and chaotic' new show Hag.

Acaster, Adefope and Ranganathan to narrate Roald Dahl audiobooks

James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan and Lolly Adefope are to narrate three audio editions of Roald Dahl's James And The Giant Peach, George's Marvellous Medicine and The Witches for Puffin.

Hard Cell review

Hard Cell seems to be from another time.

Katherine Parkinson interview

"Writing is just vomiting on the page. And then picking through your vomit'. Ahead of her new BBC sitcom, Here We Go, the actor talks about catastrophising, domestic chaos and tearing down the trope of the 'moany wife."

Kick start your sitcom script

You've got some characters. And you've got a situation. You've even thought of some jokes. What now? I really want to show you with a practical, hands-on session that should feel a bit like being in a writers' room.

Review: Hard Cell, Netflix

Hard Cell certainly showcases her gift for characterisation - with some caveats - but it does feel terribly dated.

Bridget Jones's Diary costume designer shares Renée Zellweger's bunny outfit demands

Fashion designer Esme Young created the iconic costume for Renée Zellweger for the 2001 romantic comedy Bridget Jones's Diary and how it was so tight the actress couldn't sit down.

Hard Cell review

Sure, Catherine Tate's Netflix debut is arriving in the aftermath of The Nan Movie (0% on Rotten Tomatoes; nobody credited as the director, reportedly because nobody wanted to be), but there's a tremendous amount of goodwill for Tate. Its critic-baiting title aside, the comedian's pedigree means that Hard Cell isn't an especially hard sell. But some buyer's remorse is quite likely.

Brighton Comedy Garden announces 2022 line-up

Brighton's Comedy Garden is to return this summer with headliners Simon Amstell, Stewart Lee, Adam Buxton, Dylan Moran, Sara Pascoe and Phil Wang.

Emily Atack & Ruby Wax film new US show in Wild West

Emily Atack has teamed up with none other than Scary Spice Mel B and comedian Ruby Wax for a brand-new show. BBC Two's Trailblazers will see the three famous ladies retrace the steps of 19th century traveller Isabella Bird across America.

Jason Manford: I was shaken by Will Smith's Oscars slap

Comic Jason Manford has admitted he was left "shaken" by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.

The 40-year-old has today been announced he'll present the UK's biggest street party by The National Lottery after a string of successful hosting stints.

Brittas Empire leisure centre made out of Lego

Residents on social media have been unanimous in their praise for a Lego creation from artist Rob Smith which depicts Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre.

Nathan Foad on Newark, Newark's hometown glory

Foad likens his wistful adolescence in rural England to being marooned 'on an island in the middle of the ocean'.

Fifty Years of Love Thy Neighbour: Out of Order, Overlooked?

Love Thy Neighbour (Thames, 1972-76) is now often cited as one of Britain's worst sitcoms. Lazy, poor quality, racist - all these labels, and many more, have been attributed to it in the last couple of decades. But, having run for eight series over five years, spawned a feature film and an Australian sequel, does that really ring true?