British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Wednesday 8th May 2024

News

Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains. Rhod Gilbert TV

Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains to return for Series 6

Comedy Central has ordered another eight episodes of Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains. Filmed in the autumn, the series - which will include a Christmas and New Year special - will air later in 2024.

Anisha, Accidental Detective TV

'Anisha, Accidental Detective' children's books to become TV series

The BBC Studios Kids & Family department are making Anisha, Accidental Detective, a comedic mystery TV series based on Serena Patel's books of the same name. Archie Panjabi has signed up as an executive producer.

Harry Hill Live

Harry Hill to embark on greatest hits tour

Harry Hill: New Bits & Greatest Hits will tour the UK between February and September 2025.

W1A. Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville). Copyright: BBC TV

W1A characters set to return in FIFA spin-off

Hugh Bonneville is reportedly returning to his character Ian Fletcher for a spin-off of W1A set around football governing body FIFA.

Laura Smyth Radio

Laura Smyth wins gold at Radio Academy Awards 2024

Radio 4 stand-up show Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say took the gold prize in the Comedy Award at the ARIAS 2024. The Skewer took silver, with Kathy Burke's podcast getting bronze. John Robins revealing his struggles with alcohol was named Moment of the Year.

FYI

Amy Matthews. Amy Matthews Online

NextUp stand-up specials

Specials from Alistair Barrie, Jo Griffin, Ollie Horn, Charlie Baker, Amy Matthews, Jason Byrne and Lulu Popplewell are now available on streaming platform NextUp.

Image shows left to right: Dustin Gee, Les Dennis People

Les Dennis recalls Dustin Gee

Les Dennis has opened up about the death of his late comedy partner Dustin Gee - lamenting what could have been for the beloved double act, while also revealing the heart-breaking final moments between the pair.

8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Jimmy Carr. Copyright: Zeppotron TV

Cats Does Countdown paused

Channel 4 reportedly has no plans to film any more episodes of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown in 2024, but it does still have one already-recorded series to show later this year.

Features

Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller competition Competitions

Win a free table at Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest

The Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest is currently taking place, with the next heat on the afternoon of Sunday 19th May. Enter your name and email here if you'd like to win a table for up to 8 people.

Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life. Image shows left to right: Terry Jones, John Cleese Quiz

British Comedy Quiz #305

Can you remember what Mr Creosote ate in Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life? That's one of the questions this week.

Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith TV

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton on the end of Inside No. 9

Inside No. 9 creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton give us some clues as to what we can expect from the final series of the hit anthology show.

BCG Pro

The Secret Reviewer Pro

The Secret Reviewer #62: Call yourself a comedian?

Every month our clandestine critic reveals the murky truths behind that infamous trade, and live comedy generally. This month: Switching genres can make sense, but with complications.

Press clippings

Scot Squad. Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson (Jack Docherty)

More shows added to Gilded Balloon Edinburgh Fringe schedule

The Gilded Balloon have revealed their full line-up for 2024's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th May 2024
Craig Hill

Comedy management and production company MZA confirms Edinburgh Fringe line-up

Edinburgh-based boutique Comedy Management and Production company MZA is celebrating 35 years of participation at the world's biggest arts festival with new shows from Jimeoin, Craig Hill, Connor Burns and Kai Humphries.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th May 2024
Kingdom. Peter Kingdom (Stephen Fry). Copyright: Sprout Pictures / Parallel Film & Television Productions

Garrick Club to accept women for first time in history after Stephen Fry votes in favour

Speakers in favour of the change to allow women into the club for the first time in its 193-year-old history included Stephen Fry, James Naughtie, Jonathan Sumption and Nigel Havers.

Tom Murray, The Independent, 8th May 2024
Big Banana Feet. Billy Connolly

Dawn of the Big Yin: rediscovered film shows Billy Connolly on the road to comedy glory

The 1975 tour documentary Big Banana Feet captures a comic growing into his extraordinary talents - and adjusting to unprecedented fame.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 8th May 2024
Shameless. Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall). Copyright: Company Pictures

Shameless: five secret facts about the cast that always stun fans

A Shameless star has revealed five secrets from the hit comedy that will stun fans.

Alex Doyle, The Sun, 8th May 2024
The (Ish) Edinburgh Comedy Awards

ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award lands a sponsor

Jones Bootmaker is putting £15,000 into this year's initiative, with £5,000 going to each of the winners of Best Show, Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize.

Chortle, 8th May 2024
Paul Sinha

Paul Sinha issues health update after Parkinson's diagnosis aged 49

Sinha is trying to prove to fans that being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease "is not the end of somebody's story" and credits ITV quiz show The Chase for helping him.

Ed Gleave, Daily Star, 8th May 2024
Janey. Janey Godley. Credit: Hopscotch Films

Janey Godley: "With cancer there are no winners or losers"

The Scottish comic talks about living with stage three ovarian cancer and surviving violence and sexual abuse.

Sean O'Neill, The Times, 8th May 2024
Anuvab Pal

Anuvab Pal: "A white comedian celebrating Britishness would be thought of as far-Right"

The Indian stand-up on the British Empire's legacy, toppling statues and why it's "tricky" making satire under Prime Minister Modi's "gentle fascism".

Helen Brown, The Telegraph, 8th May 2024
Operation Mincemeat starring SpitLip. Image shows left to right: Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, David Cumming, Zoë Roberts, Jak Malone. Credit: Matt Crockett

Is Operation Mincemeat "too British" for Broadway? The show plots its course to New York

The show has reached out to its fandom as it explores its future life.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

Not quite all human life is encapsulated within the characters trapped in carriage C9 when the power fails, but quite a lot of it is.

Chortle, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have been making these ingenious, heartstopping chillers for a decade now - and the final series kicks off with perhaps the most meaningful episode yet.

Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

No one could predict that twist.

Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

The end is in sight for this delightful, twisted creation.

Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

Only a tiny bit weirder than your average night on the Tube.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

A five-star train ride into the macabre.

Carol Midgley, The Times, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

An alternately playful and chilling parable on the perils of authoritarianism, Boo To A Goose is one of the strongest ensemble pieces Inside No. 9 has accomplished.

Nick Bartlett, Critical Popcorn, 8th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

It's the end of an era and Inside No. 9 is going out all guns blazing.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 8th May 2024
Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening!. Image shows left to right: Ingrid Lacey, Jeff Rawle, Robert Duncan, Stephen Tompkinson, Susannah Doyle, Victoria Wicks, Neil Pearson

Drop The Dead Donkey: The Reawakening review

Whether for fans of the classic 1990s satirical comedy or for those new to it, this is a real treat - a fun, edgy, witty and upbeat treat.

Boo Wakefield, Fairy Powered Productions, 8th May 2024

On the Mic Picks: Alfie Packham

Our spies saw an early version of My Gift to You on the Free Fringe last year, and enjoyed the heck out of it.

On The Mic, 8th May 2024

Videos

Mr Bigstuff. Image shows left to right: Lee (Danny Dyer), Glen (Ryan Sampson) TV

Mr. Bigstuff - Trailer

1 mins, 15 secs

When two estranged brothers, Glen and Lee, find themselves under one roof in "idyllic" suburbia, their lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet.

Michael Spicer Online

Newsreaders in 2024

1 mins, 5 secs

The news is now basically just reading out social media posts.

Podcasts

RHLSTP with Richard Herring. Image shows left to right: Scott Bennett, Richard Herring, Jemma Bennett

RHLSTP with Richard Herring: RHLSTP 502 - Scott Bennett and Jemma Bennett

50 minutes

#502 Divorce House Dirty Protest. Richard returns to Nottingham with some mind blowing research to prove which is the oldest pub in the city. His guests are husband and wife...

TV & radio

Radio 4 2:15pm
45 min
Hold The Sunset. Edith (Alison Steadman). Copyright: BBC

The Missed Lives Of Max And Judy

Episode 1

How long can a young couple destined to be lovers evade their fate? A mind-bending, time-warping romcom narrated Alison Steadman.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Room 101. Paul Merton. Credit: BBC, Hat Trick Productions

Room 101

Series 2, Episode 6 - Gyles Brandreth

If you had to banish items to Room 101 what would you choose? Gyles Brandreth argues the case against bad phone etiquette and tattoos.

Sky Max. Copyright: Sky 9pm
60 min
Hold The Front Page. Image shows left to right: Nish Kumar, Josh Widdicombe

Hold The Front Page

Series 2, Episode 3 - Costa Blanca: Euro Weekly News

For the first time ever, Josh and Nish are reporting overseas. In Benidorm. Their demanding editors want ten stories a day. On a desperate hunt for news, the boys find a psychic date night, a belly-buster breakfast and are marooned in the mountains.

Sky Arts logo. Copyright: Sky 9pm
60 min
Painting Birds With Jim And Nancy Moir. Image shows left to right: Nancy Sorrell, Justin Hawkins, Vic Reeves

Painting Birds With Jim And Nancy Moir

Series 2, Episode 1 - London - Peregrine Falcon

The couple visit more places around Britain to create original pieces of art celebrating the unique species of bird native to that region. They beginning by seek out the peregrine falcon In London, with help from the Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins and photographer Mary McCartney.

BBC Two 10pm
30 min
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9

Series 9, Episode 1 - Boo To A Goose

Late-night passengers get stuck in a tunnel when their train breaks down. Patiently, they wait for the replacement service until a nurse gets her purse stolen and tempers start to fray.

Radio 4 11pm
15 min
Gary Little

Gary Little: At Large

Episode 2 - Killing Time... and Killer Tablet

As Gary comes to terms with his sentence, he puts pen to paper to help a cell-mate. He shows his caring side and tries to stay out of trouble.

BBC Radio 4 Extra 11pm
15 min
Machynlleth sign. Copyright: BBC

Comedy Club At Machynlleth

Series 3, Episode 5

Esyllt Sears hosts a Comedy Club special from Machynlleth Comedy Festival [/y]2024[/y]. There's music and chat from Flo & Joan and BBC Radio 4 Extra offers exclusive coverage of the Comedians Beer Mat Flipping Championship featuring Sikisa, Stuart Laws, Sean McLoughlin, Mike Wozniak and Rose Matafeo.

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