Press clippings

Stewart Lee: Farage, Musk and Candy say 'cheese' - now British democracy's toast

Last week's photo op with the Reform leader and X owner was further evidence of the UK's inevitable march towards the far right. Merry Christmas!

• Stewart Lee

Rob Brydon: 'Ruth Jones is the closest thing I have to a sister'

The Gavin & Stacey actor on the last ever Christmas special, ​first working with his co-star Ruth Jones​ aged 14, and why he puts family before his career.

• Gavin & Stacey
• Rob Brydon
• Ruth Jones (I)

Zoe Lyons reveals her blind spot about pensions

We find talking about money a bit grubby in this country. My brother lived in the States, where discussing money is what they do, and young people there are very clued up about money matters. So, my top priorities are to stay informed and financially independent.

• Zoe Lyons

Bad Tidings review

Lee Mack and Chris McCausland comedy is forgettable festive fare.

• Bad Tidings
• Lee Mack
• Chris McCausland

I detest Mrs Brown's Boys - but forced myself to sit through every minute of it

Is the BBC's critically loathed sitcom really the worst show on TV? Louis Chilton spends a week with Brendan O'Carroll's 'Mammy' and her unbearable boys to find out for himself.

• Mrs. Brown's Boys
• Brendan O'Carroll

Rose Matafeo: "When you walk into a pub quiz and see a table of old geezers, you're screwed"

The Kiwi comedian on Junior Taskmaster, her love of games, and her bizarre childhood Christmases featuring... the lollyman.

• Rose Matafeo

Mathew Horne looks back: 'People would confuse me with Gavin in real life'

The comedian and actor on his Cure obsession, surviving a press storm, and being heckled by Robbie Williams.

• Gavin & Stacey
• Mathew Horne

Chris McCausland: "The standout moment of 2024? Jürgen Klopp leaving Liverpool"

The comedian and Strictly star is hopeful for 2025, but his plans don't involve a certain sibling-led Mancunian band.

• Chris McCausland

How Michael McIntyre went from comedy superstardom to game show purgatory

The man who was the face of British stand-up has never been cool, but now his comedy is almost radioactively un-chic - and he only has himself to blame, writes Louis Chilton.

• Michael McIntyre

Comedy legend defends Mrs Brown's Boys and says it's 'insane' show gets such a grilling

Comedian Ben Elton has defended divisive BBC sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys.

He insisted harsh reviews from critics were hugely unfair.

• Mrs. Brown's Boys
• Ben Elton

Mark Dolan goes solo after GB News sacking

Mark Dolan has broken his silence about getting sacked from GB News. However apart from confirming the decision to leave the channel after three-and-a-half years was not his, the former comedian gave no details of what happened.

• Mark Dolan (I)

Duncan Norvelle obituary

Comedian whose camp variety act made him a showbiz top earner in the 1980s.

• Duncan Norvelle

Lloyd Griffith swaps comedy for Christmas carol

Comedian and actor Lloyd Griffith has got into the festive spirit with a carol recital at Lincoln Cathedral.

• Lloyd Griffith

Sharon Horgan: "I was sleepless with no energy - then I hired a menopause expert"

The actress and screenwriter on staying well in mid-life, her upcoming role as Amanda Knox's mum, and why she had to write a second series of Bad Sisters.

• Bad Sisters
• Sharon Horgan

"Nativity! is a true part of Christmas culture"

"It's up there with some of the most important Christmas films for people". That's the verdict of movie director Debbie Isitt, who puts a hefty slice of the affection for Nativity! down to the starring role Coventry's Holy Family Primary School played.

• Nativity!
• Debbie Isitt

Damian Lewis leads backlash by unpaid cast of Jimmy Carr's Downton spoof

Disaster and recriminations flew on the set of Downton Abbey spoof Fackham Hall, written by comic Jimmy Carr and starring Damian Lewis. The £5 million movie suffered a financial collapse part way through filming, with backers pulling out, and none of the cast or crew have yet been fully paid.

• Fackham Hall
• Jimmy Carr
• Damian Lewis

Stephen Fry criticises Stonewall's "nonsensical" stance on trans issues

The author and broadcaster spoke out for the first time against the LGBT rights charity's advocacy for gender ideology during an interview with the Triggernometry podcast.

• Stephen Fry

Eddie Kadi, Michelle De Swarte and Munya Chawawa guest in TV Version of Crongton adapted by Archie Maddocks

With a focus on nurturing homegrown talent from across the UK, Crongton held an open casting call on social media for underrepresented young actors.

• Crongton
• Archie Maddocks
• Eddie Kadi
• Michelle De Swarte
• Munya Chawawa

Simon Evans: The UK will miss Andrew Doyle and Graham Linehan

Their departure for the US is a damning indictment of the state of artistic freedom in Britain.

• Graham Linehan
• Simon Evans (I)
• Andrew Doyle

Taskmaster Series 19 to premier in New York

Greg Davies and Alex Horne will be hosting the world premiere of the next series at the Town Hall in New York on January 21.

• Taskmaster
• Greg Davies (I)
• Alex Horne

"It's all starting to get very emotional": how Gavin & Stacey became one of TV's most beloved comedies

It's back this Christmas ... for the final time. But how did the naughty, surreal sitcom charm Britain so much that new episodes are a national event with viewing figures akin to a royal wedding?

• Gavin & Stacey

Ramona Marquez: "I grew up on TV. I never knew anything different"

Marquez was just five years old when the groundbreaking improvised sitcom Outnumbered made her a star. As the show returns to our screens for a one-off Christmas special, she talks to Ellie Harrison about the pitfalls of fame, from eager fans at Reading to intrusive tabloid headlines, and what we can expect from the Brockman siblings now they are all grown up

• Outnumbered
• Ramona Marquez

Mathew Horne suffers head injury on stage in London's West End

Horne is currently starring in a production of The Tempest at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London but was just ten minutes into the performance when disaster struck on Tuesday night. The show was halted after he hit his forehead on a rock on the stage during part of the play where he rolled on the floor. He was off stage for 15 minutes but then bravely continued, despite a visible mark on his face.

• Mathew Horne

Mark Dolan sacked by GB News

Mark Dolan has been axed by controversial TV network GB News after joining the station in 2021, and said he planned to 'speak publicly' after the sudden firing.

• Mark Dolan (I)

Chris McCausland: Blind people don't need inspiring

Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland has said he doesn't think blind people "need inspiring", after he made history as the first blind contestant to take part in the show.

• Chris McCausland

Martyn Crofts missing: Cops searching for Britain's Got Talent comedian find body

Police searching for missing Britain's Got Talent star Martyn Crofts have made a tragic discovery. They have confirmed a body has been found in a reservoir as they continued their search for the comic, who has been missing since Monday.

• Martyn Crofts

Fern Brady tipped for the big time in the US

Fern Brady has been named one of the top 15 comedians "on the verge of a big break" by US-based entertainment industry website Deadline.

• Fern Brady

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl review

An unmissable, ingenious Christmas treat.

• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Film reviews: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The series has lost none of its appeal in the intervening years and, unlike Aardman's belated Chicken Run sequel last year, it feels fresh as ever.

• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Philomena Cunk on Life, being bored, Brat Winter and wisdom teeth

Philomena tackles some of the most complex concepts to have ever been discovered, including Quantum Physics, Existentialism, Nihilism, Hedonism - and at least four other isms.

• Cunk On...
• Diane Morgan