Bill Bailey (I)

The big interview: Bill Bailey

"Madness, music, mayhem and mandolins ... but no magic." That's how Bill Bailey describes his latest comedy tour, Dandelion Mind, which wends its merry way to Yorkshire next month with gigs in Sheffield and York.

Video: Bill Bailey reworks Gary Numan's Cars

Bill Bailey pokes fun at Nick Clegg, the Pope and Simon Cowell in his stand up show "Dandelion Mind".

But the comedian told BBC Breakfast that singer James Blunt stood out as an easy target for comedy.

His show, which is about to tour the UK, mixes musical re-workings with observations on contemporary life.

Bill Bailey's guide to scary film soundtracks

The comedian and orchestra appreciator on what makes for good malevolent music.

Bill Bailey to star in Doctor Who Christmas special

Bill Bailey is to appear in this year's Doctor Who Christmas special, with Alexander Armstrong, Outnumbered actress Claire Skinner and The Fast Show's Arabella Weir.

Bill Bailey's bunker: The world in chaos - video

Bill Bailey's new video series is coming to us straight from his underground bunker. In this first episode, he gets straight to the point - the world as we know it is ending. According to something he read on a website, geomagnetic reversal is going to turn everything upside down in 2012. It's going to be chaos! But why are people panic-buying trampolines?

Video - Bill Bailey: How I covered Gary Numan's Cars

Previewing his series of video blogs on the Guardian's website, comedian and musician Bill Bailey and his band perform a rendition of Gary Numan's electro-pop classic Cars. With 'appropriate' instrumentation. In French.

Bill Bailey: My family values

The comedian talks about his family.

When Rob Brydon says: "Time now for some music," you may be forgiven for thinking, as opposed to what, exactly?

It's only week two of his new chat show series and he's ­shamelessly grabbed every chance he can get to grab the mic and show off his crooning.

That No 1 Comic Relief single must have gone to his head.

But seriously, Rob, why not just apply to go on The X Factor? We won't think any less of you.

This week, his talking guest is Bill Bailey, who made a career out of combining music and comedy. One duet (yes, there's more than one) involves cowbells and Elvis. Bell-vis, anyone?

There's yet another duet with his other guest, British soul diva Beverley Knight (who's got stories about meeting the Queen and Prince) while Australian comic Celia Pacquola gets to have the stage all to herself.

Two very funny female comics in two weeks? That's one trend we do approve of.

Rob Brydon's cheerful dismantling of the chat-show format continues. After a chinwag with the audience, culminating in a couple being presented with a tin of biscuits for their anniversary, Brydon welcomes Bill Bailey. He's not plugging anything, and Brydon barely interviews him at all before moving on to musical japes: a punked-up show tune, a fantastic Elvis cover with Bailey on Swiss cowbells and, later, a massive horn. In between all that are light but likeable stand-up comic Celia Pacquola, and the persistent Beverley Knight, who has a new covers album to promote, and somehow looks just as good as she did when her first LP came out 16 years ago. Her duet with Brydon at first seems to be one of the most embarrassing TV moments of the decade, but don't worry, there's a gag coming. Finally, Knight blasts out Cuddly Toy by Roachford. Tune!

Bill Bailey's Metallica gets 100,000 hits on YouTube

A message from Bill Bailey to fellow Knebworth headliners Metallica has hit 100,000 views on YouTube.