Bill Bailey (I)

Victoria Wood directs this loosely autobiographical story about a Lancashire girl whose dismal Christmas is transformed upon visiting a merry neighbour. Hers is the first of a dozen bite-sized films written by and starring the cream of British comedy - Stephen Fry, Bill Bailey, Jo Brand - shown in double bills. Next up tonight is Chris O'Dowd's impish tale about the time he ambushed that white-bearded, milk- and mince pie-pinching trickster in red. Nine-year-old Chris is as lippy a rapscallion as you might expect, while O'Dowd takes the role of disgruntled supermarket Santa and Sharon Horgan is terrific as harassed Mum.

Bill Bailey: 'It's genius, evil genius'

Bill Bailey has been described as the world's seventh greatest comedian. But he's a lot better than that. Who else could make inverse femtobarns (look it up) funny?

A nightly season of short autobiographical films featuring some of Britain's best comic talent opens tonight with stories by Victoria Wood and Chris O'Dowd. Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Bill Bailey, Kathy Burke, Jo Brand and Catherine Tate are among those writing, narrating and starring in these seasonal dramatisations of their lives, often with stories recalled from their childhood. It's a bit hit-and-miss. Wood's is on first, though hers is the only story not to feature a younger version of herself. The IT Crowd's O'Dowd follows with an amusing story of why as a boy he thought Santa was a "big weirdo".

Bill Bailey interview

As he launches the DVD of his latest stand-up tour, Dandelion Mind, Bill Bailey spares some time to talk about strange musical instruments, supermarket scanners and The Hobbit.

Bill Bailey on British comedy's 'boom time'

The country is freezing, house prices are falling and England lost out on its bid to host the 2018 World Cup. This is, according to Bill Bailey, a "boom time" for comics.

Interview: Bill Bailey ('Dandelion Mind')

Many a stand-up has attempted to walk the precarious surrealist tightrope, but very few do it with the same aplomb as Bill Bailey.

Bill Bailey On... Ouds

Bill Bailey, legend of musical comedy, is on tour in his new show Dandelion Mind. We caught up with him to chat about music, politics and religious chants...

Bill Bailey: video exclusive

Comedian and classically trained musician Bill Bailey talks about the instruments he uses on his Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra live show.