British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Wednesday 5th April 2023

News

Who Do You Think You Are?. Paul Merton. Credit: BBC Live

Paul Merton returns to stand-up

Paul Merton is performing an hour-long stand-up show for the first time in more than 25 years, with two work-in-progress gigs at the Museum of Comedy in London. "Many people have no idea I used to do stand-up and I'm one of them" he said. "I thought I would return to stand-up while I could still stand."

FYI

Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words. Joanna Lumley TV

Joanna Lumley C5 documentary

Joanna Lumley is the subject of a new two-hour Channel 5 documentary in which she reflects upon her acting career, and which also features Ruby Wax, Jane Horrocks, Helen Lederer and Roger Allam.

Features

Only Fools And Horses. Image shows left to right: Marlene (Sue Holderness), Boycie (John Challis). Credit: BBC Quiz

British Comedy Quiz #248

Godber, Pete & Dud, Tyres and Boycie & Marlene are amongst the characters to pop up in this week's quiz.

Press clippings

Catastrophe. Image shows from L to R: Rob (Rob Delaney), Sharon (Sharon Horgan). Copyright: Avalon Television

Rob Delaney says he'd rather 'starve to death' than reboot Catastrophe as a 'cash grab'

"We stopped doing it as we had done four series we were proud of and could smell that we were in danger of repeating ourselves and, frankly, we said a lot about marriage and parenting in there. Maybe Sharon might have ideas. I totally don't."

Roderick McPhee, The Sun, 5th April 2023
Taskmaster. Kiell Smith-Bynoe

I talk to Kiell Smith-Bynoe

I caught up with Kiell Smith-Bynoe to talk about filming in Margate for Dreamland, working with Freema Agyeman and Lily Allen, keeping the fact he was doing Taskmaster a secret for almost a year as well as what Ghosts fans can expect from what we now know will be the fifth and final series.

Elliot Gonzalez, I Talk Telly, 5th April 2023
Rain Dogs. Image shows left to right: Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper), Iris Jones (Fleur Tashjian)

Rain Dogs review

BBC comedy drama about homeless single mother has had rave reviews, so what am I missing?

Pat Stacey, The Independent (Ireland), 5th April 2023
Rain Dogs. Image shows left to right: Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper), Iris Jones (Fleur Tashjian)

Rain Dogs review

London's grim, grimy, highly watchable underbelly.

James Jackson, The Times, 5th April 2023
Blind Date. Paul O'Grady

More than 90,000 people sign petition for Paul O'Grady statue

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition to erect a statue of Paul O'Grady in his hometown of Birkenhead.

Charlie Herbert, JOE, 5th April 2023
Mark Thomas. Copyright: Steve Ullathorne

Review: The Laugharne Weekend

Although there was plenty of top rate comedy slotted in between the art, I have to be honest. The funniest set actually came from a musician.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th April 2023
Dreamland. Image shows from L to R: Trish (Freema Agyeman), Mel (Lily Allen)

Dreamland review

This Lily Allen comedy is a breath of fresh air.

Kate Rice, Evening Standard, 5th April 2023
Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee visits graves of comedians in new alternative online series

Stewart Lee's guide to the graves of comedians is one of the contributions to a new alternative online series launching this week.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th April 2023
Edinburgh Fringe 2021

A personal fringe view about the Fringe

I want that cash to go on performances and performers and not on support to sell more whilst venues charge over the odds, hotels make a killing and the rest of the supporters who make a lot out of it get a pass when it needs to be paid for.

Fringe Review, 5th April 2023
Last Of The Summer Wine. Image shows from L to R: Walter C. 'Foggy' Dewhurst (Brian Wilde), William 'Compo' Simmonite (Bill Owen), Norman Clegg (Peter Sallis). Copyright: BBC

We live in real Last Of The Summer Wine town

Residents in the town where Last Of The Summer Wine was filmed say the show's characters would hate what the quaint area has become.

Jon Rogers, The Sun, 5th April 2023
Mission: Accessible. Rosie Jones. Copyright: tomgphoto

Rosie Jones: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

From Tom Hanks on Saturday Night Live to goats singing Taylor Swift, the British comedian and big procrastinator is here to provide.

Rosie Jones, The Guardian, 5th April 2023
Kiri Pritchard-McLean

How comedy could help save the planet

Climate scientists are being paired with top comedians in a new initiative aiming to drive home the message about the climate crisis. Here's why it just might work, says Bill McGuire (with help from Kiri Pritchard-McLean).

Bill McGuire and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, New Scientist, 5th April 2023
Jack Whitehall

Jack Whitehall interview

Inside Jack Whitehall's new Settle Down tour that sees him target girlfriend Roxy Horner, his parents and a footballer pal.

Ellie Henman, The Sun, 5th April 2023
Dreamland. Image shows from L to R: Trish (Freema Agyeman), Mel (Lily Allen)

Dreamland review

Lily Allen's seaside comedy shines after rocky start.

David Craig, Radio Times, 5th April 2023
George Fouracres

Shakespeare's Globe reveals cast of The Comedy Of Errors

Shakespeare's Globe has announced casting for its forthcoming staging of The Comedy Of Errors.

Tom Millward, What's On Stage, 5th April 2023
Vic Reeves. Copyright: Sky

Jim Moir: 'I said goodbye to Vic Reeves years and years ago'

He shot to fame as one half of Reeves and Mortimer but, as his Sky series with wife Nancy suggests, he'd rather paint than do panel shows.

Ed Cumming, The Telegraph, 5th April 2023

Videos

screen time. Image shows left to right: Stevie Martin, Lola-Rose Maxwell Online

Stevie Martin: screen time

8 mins, 29 secs

screen time is a sketch show for people who can't get off their phones to watch on their phones so they can have a laugh about phones.

Meet The Richardsons. Image shows left to right: Jon (Jon Richardson), Ben Elton TV

Meet The Richardsons - Lucy Beaumont snubbed by Katherine Ryan

3 mins, 38 secs

Lucy Beaumont attends the British Comedy Awards and realises she needs a new baby to become best friends with Katherine Ryan.

Stuart Laws Online

Tourist who accidentally ran over John Wick

1 mins, 10 secs

Matt Swendon was in Paris when he accidently ran over a guy called John Wick.

Podcasts

RHLSTP with Richard Herring. Image shows left to right: Richard Herring, Eshaan Akbar

RHLSTP with Richard Herring: RHLSTP 435 - Eshaan Akbar

73 minutes

#435 Glisten With Mother. Richard has had to deal with a persistent heckler (aka his son) and surprised himself with the cliche that he responded with. His guest is banker...

TV & radio

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Ellie Taylor's Safe Space. Ellie Taylor

Ellie Taylor's Safe Space

Series 3, Episode 2 - Reality TV

Ellie argues that reality television is culturally significant. Joining her and regular sidekick Robin Morgan is star of The Traitors Amanda Lovett.

TNT Sports 1 logo 10:15pm
60 min
The Football's On. Copyright: BT Sport

The Football's On

Series 10, Episode 7

Ian Stone is joined for a live edition with guests Geoff Norcott, Lloyd Griffith and Josh Pugh.

Radio 4 11pm
15 min
Jessica Fostekew

Jessica Fostekew: Sturdy Girl Club

Series 1, Episode 2 - Powerlifting

Jessica Fostekew introduces us to powerlifting - squat, bench press and deadlift.

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