Michael Jackson (I)

When Michael Met Benny review

This sounds like a blatant pitch for one of Sky Arts' Urban Myths episodes: a dramatisation of what happened when Michael Jackson met Benny Hill.

New podcast dramatises real-life meeting between Michael Jackson & Benny Hill

On February 22 1992 the King of Pop met the King of Comedy. Benny Hill was staying at the Brompton Hospital following a heart attack when he was visited by his number one fan - Michael Jackson. They talked for half an hour, making plans for Michael to star in a future TV series of The Benny Hill Show. But it was not to be; Benny Hill died on the April 20, less than two months later. Now, exactly thirty years later a new play When Michael Met Benny is being released as a free drama podcast, imagining just what took place in that hospital room.

Remembering the brilliant showbiz satire

It's been a rough 12 months for satire, with King Charles III inciting dozens of finger-wagging think-pieces, and Sky Arts pulling their nutty Michael Jackson/Marlon Brando/Elizabeth Taylor comedy due to outrage on both sides of the Atlantic. But the clearest confirmation that reaction to satire has gone terribly, terribly awry is to compare and contrast the above hysteria with the treatment of Star Stories, Channel 4's late-Noughties comedy that gave the melodramatic "Lifetime movie" treatment to some of the biggest showbiz tales of the 21st century so far.

Pulling Michael Jackson comedy show sends wrong signal

Satire cannot be constrained by the sensitivities of the few and public figures are, in a way, public property.

Michael Jackson's child offended by use of white actor

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris says she's "incredibly offended" that a white actor has been chosen to play the part of her father in a new TV film.

Joseph Fiennes is unrecognisable as Michael Jackson

Joseph Fiennes looks completely unrecognisable as Michael Jackson in the new Sky Arts comedy.

Director defends use of white actor as Michael Jackson

Ben Palmer says Joseph Fiennes gives a sweet, nuanced performance in episode of Sky Arts satirical comedy series.

It's been another winning year for Graham Norton - great guests (his New Year's Eve line-up this year was extraordinary) and great audience figures. Even if you saw every episode of the most recent series these best-bit compilations are always worth a look. So prepare to relive the good and the bad.

The good include Lady Gaga forging an unlikely, instant friendship with EastEnders' Dot Cotton, June Brown; the two Doctors Matt Smith and David Tennant taking fan questions; and Paul McCartney talking about his collaboration with Michael Jackson. And the bad? Michelle Pfeiffer and a very unforthcoming Robert De Niro looking bored and baffled as Cher and Jennifer Saunders stole the show. And Harrison Ford seemingly very unimpressed by Jack Whitehall.

The truth about Benny Hill

He was Britain;s greatest comic export. In 1990, The Benny Hill Show was on in 97 countries around the world, although not, ironically, the UK, and his famous fans included Michael Jackson, Clint Eastwood, Frank Sinatra and Charlie Chaplin. Now, almost a decade after his death, discover the surprising truth behind about the comedian including his penchant for prostitutes, addiction to amphetamines and reluctance to spend a penny of his £7.5million fortune.