David Walliams

Matt Lucas blacks up - nobody hurt

Interesting to see the first picture just released from the new Matt Lucas/David Walliams BBC sitcom Come Fly With Me. The comedy is set in an airport with the duo playing various colourful characters. And colour may be the key word here.

As series three began, Little Britain had become huge; the air was thick with its catchphrases ("I'm a laydee", "I'm the only gay in the village") and the transfer of Matt Lucas and David Walliams's sketch show from BBC2 to BBC1 guaranteed a whole new, bigger audience. But then the arguments began: was it cutting edge, or just coarse? Some viewers didn't see the funny side of new characters such as Mrs Emery, an incontinent old lady. Make up your own minds as BBC3 starts a re-run. All the old favourites are here, from monstrous Marjorie Dawes to Vicky "yeah but, no but" Pollard.

Lucas and Walliams in Come Fly With Me - first picture

Here it is - the first picture from Matt Lucas and David Walliams' new comedy show, Come Fly With Me! The show starts later this year... watch this space for more news.

David Walliams has revealed some of the secrets of his and Matt Lucas' new airport-based comedy. He said that one of the characters will be a "trolley dolly with really buck teeth."

The project, Come Fly with Me, will be a spoof of docusoaps like Airport and Airline. But David said it will have all new characters and won't recycle favourites from Little Britain.

The show is due to be aired on BBC1 this Christmas.

David Walliams' wife Lara Stone sues Playboy

Model Lara Stone, who married comedian David Walliams in May, has announced she is taking legal action against the French edition of Playboy magazine.

Walliams among winners for first People's Book Prize

David Walliams was among the winners of the inaugural People's Book Prize, which took place at London's Stationers Hall yesterday (21st July).

David Walliams and new wife Lara cuddle up in St Tropez

David Walliams and his wife of two months put on a very public display of affection as they holidayed in the sunshine of the South of France.

David Walliams narrates a history of disability on TV. It's a slightly directionless tour around the archives from the Spastics Society appeal of the 1960s via Joey Deacon's appearance on Blue Peter to Roy's hysterical abuse of a disabled toilet in The IT Crowd. There are even segments on Heather Mills and Big Brother, although the one about Mills mercifully shows no actual footage of her. Interviewees trying not to say the wrong thing include Mat Fraser, Stephen Merchant, Dom Joly, Ash Atalla and Francesca Martinez.

David Walliams narrates a funny but cringe-making look at how people with disabilities have been portrayed on TV over the years. The first shock is seeing black-and-white clips of people whose lives were improved by something called the Central Council for the Care of Cripples or who were allowed, as the plummy newsreel voiceover man puts it, to work in a factory "alongside normal people". Recent footage makes you wince even more. Like shots of Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson winning a sports personality award in 2000 - on a set with a podium inaccessible to her wheelchair. She and an excellent selection of disabled actors and producers reflect on the progress we've made.

David Walliams narrates a show about the nature of disability in comedy. He motors through from Benny in Crossroads to Francesca Martinez from Extras. If you think you know what it is going to be like from that description, you're exactly right.