British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Thursday 23rd May 2024

News

Funboys. Image shows left to right: Callum (Ryan Dylan), Lorcan (Lee R James), Jordan McCafferty (Rian Lennon) TV

Funboys coming to BBC Three

Funboys, one of the 2023 BBC Comedy Short Films, has been commissioned as a four part series.

Mammoth. Image shows left to right: Mel Jones (Sian Gibson), Barry (William Thomas), Tony Mammoth (Mike Bubbins), Roger Buck (Joseph Marcell), Theo (Joel Davison) TV

Mammoth gets Series 2 from BBC Wales

Mammoth, the new sitcom starring Mike Bubbins, has been recommissioned.

Undoing Martin Parker. Image shows from L to R: Diane (Rosie Cavaliero), Martin Parker (Conleth Hill), Kath (Sian Gibson) TV

The Power Of Parker to return for Series 2

The Power Of Parker is to return to BBC One for a second series.

Not Going Out. Image shows from L to R: Lucy (Sally Bretton), Lee (Lee Mack). Copyright: Avalon Television TV

Lee Mack's Not Going Out back for Series 14

The BBC has confirmed Lee Mack will return for a fourteenth series of mainstream sitcom hit Not Going Out.

Outnumbered. Image shows left to right: Pete (Hugh Dennis), Ben (Daniel Roche), Sue (Claire Skinner), Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), Karen (Ramona Marquez) TV

Outnumbered to return for 2024 Christmas special

After eight years off air, Outnumbered is to return this Christmas for a new special.

Jon Petrie Pro

BBC calls for more 'laugh out loud' sitcom ideas

BBC Director of Comedy, Jon Petrie, today called for the TV industry to "save our sitcoms" with a focus on protecting homegrown storytelling and creating the next generation of classics.

Smoggie Queens. Image shows left to right: Stewart (Elijah Young), Sal (Patsy Lowe), Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), Dickie (Phil Dunning), Mam (Mark Benton). Credit: Matt Crockett, Hat Trick Productions TV

LGBTQ+ chosen family sitcom Smoggie Queens coming to BBC Three

BBC Three has ordered Smoggie Queens, a "chosen family" sitcom from Phil Dunning starring the character comic, Mark Benton and Alexandra Mardell, as "a gang of friends who are fiercely proud of their North-Eastern town of Middlesbrough and their small pocket of the LGBTQ+ community."

BCG Pro

Jon Petrie Pro

Jon Petrie's BBC Comedy Festival 2024 speech

Jon Petrie, the BBC Director of Comedy, has been briefing producers in Glasgow in regards to what the BBC is looking to commission. You can read a full copy of his speech on BCG Pro.

Press clippings

Trying. Image shows from L to R: Nikki Newman (Esther Smith), Jason Ross (Rafe Spall)

Trying review

Hidden away on Apple TV, the best comedy drama you've never seen.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 23rd May 2024
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. Image shows from L to R: Paul Whitehouse, Bob Mortimer. Copyright: Owl Power

Paul Whitehouse: "Some of my best-known characters are inspired by people on fishing trips"

The comedian spills the secrets behind his hit TV show about "two old blokes fishing".

Kate Langrish, Country Living, 23rd May 2024
Shooting Stars. Angelos Epithemiou (Dan Skinner). Copyright: Channel X / Pett Productions

Dan Skinner to take on Three Peak Challenge

This Summer, actor, comedian, and writer Dan Skinner has set himself the mammoth challenge of climbing three mountains in just one day, to raise money for a charity very close to his heart, Harry's Pals.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 23rd May 2024
Armando Iannucci. Copyright: Linda Nylind

Armando Iannucci urges comedians to stop taking "path of least resistance" on political satire

"Comedy is not belittling a subject but if it chooses to look at that subject it is offering a way into it that might offer a surprising or fresh perspective."

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23rd May 2024
Simon Evans

Simon Evans: Woke comedy is nothing to laugh at

Cancel culture is being wielded as a weapon by newcomers hungry for fame.

Simon Evans, The Telegraph, 23rd May 2024
Joe Lycett

Joe Lycett: "I don't want to be writing jokes about my city falling apart"

Speaking from the Glee Club where he has been hosting weekly comedy nights, he said: "I have found it very easy to make jokes about Birmingham being a dump. Audiences used to love that. And then for about five minutes when the Commonwealth Games started, everyone stopped laughing at that because we had hope. And then we went bankrupt. And now all that old material is coming back into my set!"

ITV, 23rd May 2024

The Times view on TV comedy: Funny Business

Comics and commissioners need to take more risks if the British sitcom is to survive.

The Times, 23rd May 2024

Stephen Merchant regrets "early" endings for The Office and Extras

Stephen Merchant has said that he would "never" have ended his early television hits so early if he'd known the "thrill" that returning for multiple seasons can bring.

David Craig, Radio Times, 23rd May 2024

On the Mic Picks: Kyle Ayers

For some time, Kyle has been going through A LOT.

On The Mic, 23rd May 2024

Kinds Of Kindness review

The Greek freak is back with the kind of movie it feels perverse to say you "enjoy".

Farah Cheded, The AV Club, 23rd May 2024

Videos

Nerine Skinner Online

Liz Truss calls Claudia Winkleman for help

1 mins, 10 secs

Liz Truss calls Claudia Winkleman for some help.

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

Inside No. 9 - Final series pressures Q&A

4 mins, 20 secs

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton talk about writing the final series of Inside No. 9.

Alex Nash Online

Mess to impress

2 mins, 16 secs

Nobody wants to run into an ex, but if you do find yourself in this situation, you definitely want them to feel like they're missing out. It's important to look like you've got your life together.

TV & radio

BBC Radio Wales. Copyright: BBC 6:30pm
30 min
What Just Happened?. Image shows left to right: Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Robin Morgan

What Just Happened?

Series 2, Episode 1

Robin Morgan and Kiri Pritchard-McLean take a look back at the week's news with Mel Owen, Esther Manito and Anna Thomas.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 9pm
60 min
Taskmaster. Image shows left to right: Joanne McNally, John Robins, Nick Mohammed, Sophie Willan, Steve Pemberton

Taskmaster

Series 17, Episode 9 - Assistantbury

As the series climax approaches, Little Alex Horne risks raising notoriously prickly Greg Davies' hackles with a task in celebration of himself. Sophie Willan is baffled by mirror writing, John Robins proves to be a talented tailor, Steve Pemberton has an expletive-laden row with a bin, Joanne McNally finds a novel use for a cow's ear, and Nick Mohammed brings a tear to Greg's eye.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
65 min
Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays. Image shows left to right: Katherine Ryan, Joe Wilkinson

Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays

Episode 5 - Northern Ireland

Joe Wilkinson and Katherine Ryan head to Northern Ireland for a riotous lads' holiday at a bargain price.

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