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BCG Daily Friday 22nd December 2023

News

Melt It: The Film Of The Iceman. Image shows left to right: Anthony Irvine, Mark Cartwright, Robert Wringham People

The Iceman to be celebrated in documentary film

Alternative comedy performer Anthony Irvine, AKA The Iceman, is to be the subject of a new documentary.

BBC Audio Drama Awards Radio

BBC Audio Awards 2024 nominees

Call Jonathan Pie, Kat Sadler's Screen Time, Michael Spicer: Before Next Door, Mockery Manor, She Stoops To Conquer and Where To, Mate? are amongst the nominees for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2024.

FYI

Rachel Fairburn Radio

POV on Radio 4

Comedians Rachel Fairburn, Daniel Foxx, Matt Green, Rosie Holt, Emma Jones, Kelechi Okafor and Vinny Thomas will be showcased in Radio 4 sketch show pilot POV.

Eric Rushton Online

Eric Rushton YouTube special

Sean Lock Comedy Award winner Eric Rushton's stand-up special, Not That Deep, is now available to watch for free via YouTube.

Features

Not Going Out. Image shows left to right: Toby (Hugh Dennis), Anna (Abigail Cruttenden), Molly (Francesca Newman), Lee (Lee Mack), Benji (Max Pattison), Lucy (Sally Bretton), Wendy (Deborah Grant), Charlie (Finley Southby), Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead) TV

Not Going Out's cast talk about hitting 100 episodes

The cast of Not Going Out talk about the 2023 Christmas special, the 100th episode of the sitcom.

Kate Hammer Live

First Gig, Worst Gig: Kate Hammer

It's a special year-end report from Monkey Barrel's Hogmanay star Kate Hammer - but which set was like pulling teeth?

BCG Pro

The Comedy Doctor. Credit: BCG Pro

The Comedy Doctor on rejection

The Comedy Doctor answers a member's question about rejection.

Press clippings

The Office. Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman). Copyright: BBC

Love was British comedy's punchline. Tim and Dawn's Office kiss changed that

Twenty years ago, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant made one of the best Christmas specials in TV history. And its will-they-won't-they romance heralded a new era for British sitcoms - in which love wasn't played for laughs.

Tom Nicholson, i Newspaper, 22nd December 2023
Russell Brand

Russell Brand's fortune grows by £800,000

Newly-filed accounts at Companies House show that the assets in his firm, Pablo Diablo's Legitimate Business Firm Ltd, grew from £4.07million to £4.88million in 12 months.

Chortle, 22nd December 2023
Ghosts. Thomas (Mathew Baynton). Copyright: Monumental Pictures

Mathew Baynton on Ghosts, Wonka and wicked villains

He is about to say goodbye to his role in beloved spectral sitcom Ghosts. But dastardly turns in Wonka and the a festive Agatha Christie drama suggest the actor's future is bright - if somewhat nefarious.

Fiona Sturges, The Guardian, 22nd December 2023
Crackanory. Bob Mortimer. Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Bob Mortimer: 'I wanted to write like Murakami but soon realised I didn't have the talent'

The comedian and author on defacing Rudyard Kipling, being inspired by Spike Milligan and cherishing Jerome K Jerome.

Bob Mortimer, The Guardian, 22nd December 2023
Little Britain. Image shows from L to R: David Walliams, Matt Lucas, The Prime Minister (Anthony Head)

Matt Lucas shuts down Little Britain reboot rumours

"We're working on a different idea."

Iona Rowan, Digital Spy, 22nd December 2023
Shaun The Sheep. Copyright: Aardman Animations / BBC

Shaun The Sheep co-creator reveals the series almost didn't happen

Aardman co-founder Peter Lord revealed that not everyone was sure about the mischievous mute sheep at the beginning.

Sabastian Astley, Radio Times, 22nd December 2023
Here We Go. Image shows from L to R: Sam (Jude Collie), Sue (Alison Steadman), Amy (Freya Parks), Paul (Jim Howick), Rachel (Katherine Parkinson)

Here We Go review

Boredom, bickering, a few laughs - it's just like your own Christmas Day.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 22nd December 2023
Mind Mangler: Member Of The Magic Circle. Image shows left to right: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer

Mind Mangler to open in the West End

Mischief's Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle will open in the West End early next year.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 22nd December 2023
Eric Morecambe. Copyright: BBC

19 rare retro pictures show comedy legend Eric Morecambe visiting Lancaster

Eric Morecambe took his famous name from the town of his birth and achieved nationwide adoration.

Debbie Butler, Lancaster Guardian, 22nd December 2023

Sweet Sue review

Losers and plonkers in a comedy of life's let-downs.

James Saynor, The Arts Desk, 22nd December 2023

Leo Leigh on Sweet Sue

"I like the ugly side of life - bad behaviour and people always interest me"

Tilley Bennett, The Upcoming, 22nd December 2023

Videos

Larry Budd Online

Santa Under Fire - Broken News

2 mins, 59 secs

Questions have been raised over whether the methods of Father Christmas are ethical in the modern age.

TV & radio

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Disordered

Disordered

Episode 3 - Haddock and Charlette with an E

Hector is stung into action, with help from William, when Susan finds herself an online admirer who she thinks might be "the one". Can Hector find his "one"?

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

Breaking The News

Series 26, Out-takes - The Best of Unbroadcast

Some of the best bits of Breaking The News that failed to make the cut first time around.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Dead Ringers. Image shows from L to R: Lewis Macleod, Debra Stephenson, Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey. Copyright: BBC

Dead Ringers

2023 Christmas Specials, Episode 2

Baroness Bone and her husband get their just deserts, Rishi Sunak and King Charles give their end of year speeches, and there is a surprise guest on Naked Attraction.

Radio 4 7:15pm
45 min
Screenshot: Latitude Festival 2023. Image shows left to right: Mark Kermode, Ellen E Jones. Credit: BBC

Screenshot: Double Acts

Ellen E Jones & Mark Kermode explore the origins, legacy, and evolution of the double act across film and TV, both in front of and behind the camera, with guests including Stephen Fry.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 8pm
30 min
Would I Lie To You?. Image shows left to right: Naga Munchetty, David Mitchell, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Rob Brydon, Alex Brooker, Lee Mack, Melvyn Hayes

Would I Lie To You?

Christmas Special - Would I Lie To You? At Christmas

David Mitchell is joined by Victoria Coren Mitchell and Naga Munchetty, while Lee Mack is joined by Alex Brooker and Melvyn Hayes.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 8:30pm
30 min
Here We Go. Image shows left to right: Robin (Tom Basden), Sam (Jude Morgan-Collie), Amy (Freya Parks), Sue (Alison Steadman), Paul (Jim Howick), Rachel (Katherine Parkinson)

Here We Go

Christmas Special - Mum's Classic Family Christmas

Amy is home again for the holidays, so Rachel is determined to engineer an absolutely classic Jessop Family Christmas: Stockings, presents, church, turkey, King's speech, charades. Then everyone sings Hey Mr Christmas by Showaddywaddy and watches Shrek. Should be great, so long as everyone sticks PRECISELY to the schedule. It's never that easy.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 9pm
60 min
The Last Leg. Image shows from L to R: Josh Widdicombe, Adam Hills, Alex Brooker

The Last Leg

Series 29, Christmas Special

Guests Tom Davis and Alison Hammond join Adam, Josh and Alex for this festive special.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9pm
30 min
Have I Got News For You. Image shows left to right: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton. Credit: Matt Crockett

Have I Got News For You

Series 66, Highlights Special - Have I Got 2023 For You

Team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by a variety of guest hosts and panellists in this compilation edition revisiting the big news stories of 2023.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9:30pm
30 min
Two Doors Down. Image shows left to right: Alan (Graeme Stevely), Michelle (Joy McAvoy), Beth (Arabella Weir), Cathy (Doon Mackichan)

Two Doors Down

Series 7, Episode 5 - Takeaway

It's payday, so Michelle invites the neighbours round for a Chinese takeaway. As they wait for their food to arrive, Eric shares his love of Billy Connolly.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
65 min
I Literally Just Told You. Image shows left to right: Sarah Millican, Bill Bailey, AJ Odudu, Ben Shephard

I Literally Just Told You

Series 3, Christmas Special - Celebrity I Literally Just Told You

Jimmy Carr presents a brand new festive celebrity special of the game show with a unique twist. AJ Odudu, Ben Shephard, Bill Bailey and Sarah Millican play to win up to £25,000 for their chosen charities. All they need to do is remember the answers that Jimmy, his team of question writers and some surprise guests have literally just told them.

TNT Sports 1 logo 10pm
30 min
Andrew Mensah's Stand-Up Kickabout. Andrew Mensah

Andrew Mensah's Stand-Up Kickabout

Episode 3 - Llantwit Major AFC - South Wales

Andrew meets members of the club committee to find out why this small club in the second division of the Welsh League has a massive social media following and a fan base in Argentina. Mensah also ditches the white Air Force trainers for a new pair of wellies as he steps foot on a farm for the first time to meet former player and fan Jimbo.

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