British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Friday 21st April 2023

News

Blackadder. Image shows left to right: Percy (Tim McInnerny), Baldrick (Tony Robinson), Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (Rowan Atkinson) TV

Blackadder pilot to be broadcast for the first time

TV channel Gold will celebrate Blackadder's 40th anniversary in June with two new documentaries, Blackadder: The Lost Pilot and Blackadder: A Cunning Story. It will include a special screening of the never-before-broadcast pilot.

Bath Comedy Festival 2023. Image shows left to right: Julian Clary, Nick Steel, Ian Shaw, Jem Roberts Live

Julian Clary receives Bath Plug Award

Bath Comedy Festival has awarded Julian Clary its Bath Plug Award for outstanding services to comedy. Meanwhile jazz pianist and singer Ian Shaw was presented with the inaugural OBP (Order of the Bath Plug) medal.

The Family Pile. Image shows from L to R: Yvette (Clare Calbraith), Nicole (Amanda Abbington), Stuart (Kieran O'Brien), Gaynor (Alexandra Mardell), Greg (James Nelson-Joyce), Ursula (Claire Keelan) TV

The Family Pile axed by ITV after one series

ITV has said there are no plans for a second series of The Family Pile, its sitcom about four sisters who are packing up the family home to sell after their parents have died.

FYI

Stuart Laws Online

Stuart Laws stand-up special

Stuart Laws has a new stand-up special out. Stuart Laws Is All In can be watched for free on YouTube.

Features

Image shows left to right: Holly Walsh, Lisa McGee, Nancy Harris, Jack Rooke TV

BAFTA Awards 2023: Comedy writers interview

We talk to Jack Rooke, Lisa McGee, Nancy Harris and Holly Walsh, who have been nominated in the comedy writing category in this Sunday's BAFTA Television Craft Awards.

Sharlin Jahan Live

First Gig, Worst Gig: Sharlin Jahan

She's Brown Sauce's founder and host, but which condiment does Sharlin Jahan love the most?

Press clippings

Zoe Lyons

Zoe Lyons: Bald Ambition review

The stand-up's new show takes a while to get going, but squares up to hitting 50 with material finely balanced between the thoughtful and the uproarious.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 21st April 2023
Stuart Laws. Copyright: Ed Moore

Stuart Laws and the gig that never was...

Comedian recalls his most memorable gigs as his new special is released.

Stuart Laws, Chortle, 21st April 2023
Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries is 'stable and responsive' after hospital dash

Doctors treating comedian Barry Humphries have issued a hopeful health update on his condition days after he was rushed back to hospital.

Anthony Blair, The Sun, 21st April 2023
Stage Door

Full cast for A Midsummer Night's Dream with Kerry Ellis announced

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre has revealed the full cast for its upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which runs from 23rd June to 9th July.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 21st April 2023
This Is Going To Hurt. Adam (Ben Whishaw)

This Is Going To Hurt creator Adam Kay downplays chances of Series 2

Adam Kay has downplayed the chances of a second series of medical drama This Is Going To Hurt, revealing that a return for the series is unlikely in the near future.

Patrick Cremona & Abby Robinson, Radio Times, 21st April 2023
Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Greg Davies, Alex Horne. Copyright: Avalon Television

Taskmaster's biggest controversies: Potatoes, hula-hoops and was it a throw?

Taskmaster Twitter had some big opinions about whether Mae Martin threw that ball, but Series 15 is far from the first time Greg's judging has caused mayhem.

Laura Vickers-Green, Den Of Geek, 21st April 2023

Soundtrack Of My Life: Greg Davies

Find him singing Barbra Streisand in his dreams...

Toby Earle, NME, 21st April 2023

Operation Mincemeat extends West End run

Operation Mincemeat has extended its run in the West End following three weeks of sold-out previews.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 21st April 2023

Videos

Larry Budd Online

Jesus Christ - Broken News

1 mins, 39 secs

An update on when the Prince of Peace delighted crowds in a sleepy English village, before it all turned to carnage.

Black Ops. Image shows left to right: Dominique 'Dom' Archibald (Gbemisola Ikumelo), Kayode 'Kay' Ogundare (Hammed Animashaun). Credit: BBC Studios TV

Black Ops - Trailer

32 secs

Who said infiltrating a criminal gang was going to be easy...

Podcasts

Steve Agee

The Comedian's Comedian Podcast with Stuart Goldsmith: 425 - Steve Agee (Live)

82 minutes

Hilarious comic Steve Agee is known to many as John Economos in The Suicide Squad, and Steve from The Sarah Silverman Programme, as well as being the bearer of the...

Ally and Herring's Twitch of Fun. Richard Herring

Richard Herring: Ally and Herring's Twitch of Fun: Episode 84 - Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly

71 minutes

Richard continues to be edged out of his own show by his own sentient gametes and is also unable to keep up with the thought processes of a 131 year...

TV & radio

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Ability. Matt (Lee Ridley). Copyright: BBC

Ability

Series 4, Episode 4 - Till Death Do Us Part

Matt, Bob and Jess re-asses their life choices while gatecrashing Bob's ex girlfriend's wedding.

BBC Radio Scotland 1:30pm
45 min
Breaking The News. Des Clarke. Copyright: BBC Studios

Breaking The News

Series 24, Episode 11

Des Clarke is joined by Janey Godley, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Esther Manito and Scott Agnew for the 250th episode of Breaking The News.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
The Now Show. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt. Copyright: BBC

The Now Show

Series 62, Episode 6

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They're joined by Andrew Doyle, Laura Smyth, Jazz Emu, Daniel Barker & Chiara Goldsmith.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9pm
30 min
Have I Got News For You. Lucy Beaumont. Credit: Hat Trick Productions

Have I Got News For You

Series 65, Episode 2

David Tennant guest hosts, his 8th time. Joining him on the panel is presenter and author Richard Osman, making his 15th appearance on the show, as well as comedian Lucy Beaumont, making her first appearance on the show.

Channel 5 logo 9pm
90 min
One Foot In The Grave. Image shows from L to R: Pippa Trench (Janine Duvitski), Patrick Trench (Angus Deayton), Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson), Margaret Meldrew (Annette Crosbie)

One Foot In The Grave: 30 Years Of Laughs

Classic clips and interviews celebrating the much loved sitcom. Featuring cast, crew and celebrity fans, and grumpy Victor Meldrew himself: comedy legend Richard Wilson.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9:30pm
30 min
The Cleaner. Lucille (Zoë Wanamaker)

The Cleaner

Series 2, Episode 5 - The Statue

Wicky is called to a quiet town where a row has broken out over a statue. Tempers in the town are running high, and it looks like things might turn nasty.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
60 min
Late Night Lycett. Joe Lycett

Late Night Lycett

Series 1, Episode 4

Joining Joe in Digbeth this week are presenter Jonathan Ross, actor and comedian Rob Delaney, comedian Judi Love, and Katherine Ryan attempts to appear on the show again.

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