British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Wednesday 8th November 2023

News

Bob Servant Says Cheerio. Bob Servant (Brian Cox). Credit: Oliver Bowring Radio

Brian Cox returns as Bob Servant for two final Radio 4 specials

Succession star Brian Cox is returning to play Dundee burger van owner Bob Servant for two specials in which the character announces his retirement from public life.

FYI

Avoidance. Image shows left to right: Jonathan (Romesh Ranganathan), Claire (Jessica Knappett). Credit: Ranga Bee TV

Avoidance Series 2

Aisling Bea, Colin Hoult and Matthew Lewis are amongst the new cast joining Avoidance as filming begins on the second series of Romesh Ranganathan's sitcom.

Features

Esther Manito Live

Esther Manito, Simon Wozniak, Jamie Hutchinson - Bobby Carroll's Comedy Diary

This month Esther Manito makes Bobby's date night while Simon Wozniak and Jamie Hutchinson really excel at The Stand in Edinburgh.

Tom Allen Live

Tom Allen, Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett + new Soho venue Underbelly Boulevard - Mark Muldoon's Comedy Diary

There's a new venue in town: Underbelly Boulevard has opened in London's Soho district and the wild Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is the inaugural performance. Live comedy columnist Mark Muldoon reports back on both show and venue. Plus: hometown glory! Tom Allen returns to Bromley in order to discuss the fact he's finally moved out of his parent's house (also in Bromley).

A Matter Of Loaf And Death Quiz

British Comedy Quiz #279

Topics this time include To The Manor Born, Miranda, Old Mother Riley and Wallace & Gromit.

BCG Pro

Leah Brotherhead Pro

My Comedy Career: Leah Brotherhead

As Leah Brotherhead returns to our screens to play Toni in the second series of Channel 4 sitcom Hullraisers, we talk to her about the work/life balance of being an actor.

Press clippings

James Acaster

Wells Comedy Festival 2024 announces first shows

James Acaster, John Kearns and Jessica Fostekew are the first names announced for Somerset's weekend-long comedy festival.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th November 2023
Leicester Comedy Festival

DMU continues its long-running partnership with Leicester Comedy Festival

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has announced it is to continue to work in partnership with the 2024 Leicester Comedy Festival, bringing superb opportunities to students and staff to get involved.

De Montfort University, 8th November 2023
Dodger. Image shows left to right: Polly Crackitt (Ellie-May Sheridan), Tang (Mila Lieu), Fagin (Christopher Eccleston), Dodger (Billy Jenkins), Charley Bates (Aabay Ali)

Christopher Eccleston defends playing Fagin in Oliver Twist series as non-Jewish actor

The British actor played the villainous pickpocket group leader in Dodger, a prequel series made for the BBC's children's channel CBBC.

Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 8th November 2023
Simon Brodkin

Heckler fined for being drunk and disorderly

Punter arrested after disrupting Simon Brodkin stand-up show on the Isle of Man.

Chortle, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Penelope Wilton shines in a royal farce.

Rachel Halliburton, The Times, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Even if it can't pull everything together, it's still bubblingly witty

Sarah Hemming, The Financial Times, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Anodyne comedy about the Queen Mother and her servant.

Arifa Akbar, The Guardian, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans star in this unexpectedly hard-hitting comedy-drama about the Queen Mother and her long-term steward.

Tom Wicker, Time Out, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

This whimsical royal comedy makes The Crown look too careful.

Alice Saville, The Independent, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Starry and gently subversive, too.

Matt Wolf, The Arts Desk, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Penelope Wilton makes a marvellous Queen Mother in the best royal drama in a decade.

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

At times, this play about the relationship between the Queen Mother and her favourite servant doesn't quite know where to go.

Nick Curtis, Evening Standard, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

This lively new comedy about the Queen Mother is a right royal romp.

Marianka Swain, London Theatre, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Backstairs Billy, for all its humour, feels like a smudged snapshot rather than a fully realised portrait.

Sarah Crompton, What's On Stage, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

Flawless performances from Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans.

Sam Marlowe, The Stage, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

The shortcomings can be forgiven. Backstairs Billy is a right royal laugh, warm at heart and wittily acted, that will delight - especially if you're a monarchist.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 8th November 2023
Backstairs Billy. Image shows left to right: Penelope Wilton, Luke Evans

Backstairs Billy review

A royal romp you won't want to miss.

Laura Jones, Broadway World, 8th November 2023

Podcasts

Me1 versus Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring. Richard Herring

Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring: Frame 172

21 minutes

It's a crucial frame in the contest, with one player in extraordinarily poor recent form. Can they turn it around? Will Charles III experience the same fate as Charles I...

Stone Clearing with Richard Herring

Stone Clearing With Richard Herring: Chapter 153

25 minutes

Chapter 153: Frifky Bufineff. It's 5.24pm on 7th November 2023 and it's DARK. Too dark to see a stone, especially if your torch runs out of power. Richard is feeling...

RHLSTP with Richard Herring. Image shows left to right: Richard Herring, Matt Green

RHLSTP with Richard Herring: RHLSTP 474 - Matt Green

57 minutes

#474 Very Bad Lieutenant - Richard is back in Winchester for another week and they are having so much trouble with their clocks (I said clocks). His guest is stand-up...

TV & radio

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Laura Smyth. Credit: Jigsaw

Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say

An engaging, moving and funny stand up special about grief and people's responses to traumatic news, from award-winning comedian Laura Smyth.

Sky Max. Copyright: Sky 9pm
60 min
A League Of Their Own. Image shows left to right: Jill Scott, Mary Earps, Micah Richards, Romesh Ranganathan, Mo Gilligan, Guz Khan, Jamie Redknapp

A League Of Their Own

Series 18, Episode 3

Joining the ALOTO gang this week, Manchester United and Lioness goalkeeper Mary Earps and comedian Guz Khan. We'll see Jamie and Micah bare all in a strip cricket challenge. And Mary and Mo take on the scariest challenge ever seen on ALOTO.

U&Dave channel logo 10pm
60 min
Outsiders. Image shows left to right: Alan Davies, Roisin Conaty

Outsiders

Series 3, Episode 5

The teams are charged with upcycling cars, embarking on couples' therapy and further engineering their new society.

BBC Three 10pm
30 min
BBC New Comedy Awards. Image shows left to right: Sam Williams, Joe Kent-Walters, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Josh Pugh, Sikisa, Mike Bubbins, Alex Gibbon, Ben Pollard, Leah David

BBC New Comedy Awards

2023, Episode 6 - Bangor

The latest round is staged at the Pontio Theatre in Bangor. Taking part are Ben Pollard, Sam Williams, Alex Gibbon, Leah Davies and Frankie Monroe - aka Joe Kent-Walters. Comedian, writer and satirist Kiri Pritchard-McLean hosts, while head judge Josh Pugh is joined in his endeavours by writer and producer Sikisa and comedian and actor Mike Bubbins.

Radio 4 11pm
15 min
Delightful Sausage: Big Little Questions. Image shows left to right: Amy Gledhill, Chris Cantrill

Delightful Sausage: Big Little Questions

Episode 1 - Freddie Asks...

An inventive question from Freddie. Comedians Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill learn all about Thomas Edison and find out the consequences of eating way too many boiled eggs.

Radio 4 11:15pm
15 min
The Skewer. Credit: BBC, Unusual Productions

The Skewer

Series 10, Episode 5

This week - the HamM&S Christmas advert, Matt Hancock: Infinity War, and Ray Mears goes camping with Suella Braverman.

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