Painful viewing

McGuinness to host sadistic panel show

13/07/2006 … Patrick McGuinness is to front a new TV show subjecting celebrities to painful ordeals in the name of charity.

A snapshot of topical comedy

12/07/2006 … With Rory Bremner just starting a five-week West End run, and Mark Thomas and Robert Newman both road-testing material at the Soho Theatre, fans of topical and political…

Mark Thomas on the humour in activism

12/07/2006 … State-sponsored murders, the hysterical hatred of asylum-seekers, a racist, torturing regime forcing thousands of people out of their homes - most people would hardly…

Silly plucker

Skinner to learn banjo on TV

12/07/2006 … Frank Skinner is to learn to play the banjo for a new BBC One reality show.

No butts

'Bill Hicks' is victim of smoking ban

11/07/2006 … His chain-smoking may have been legendary, but producers of a Fringe show about Bill Hicks have been warned not to let their star light up on stage.

Office outing

UK stars to appear in US version

11/07/2006 … British stars of The Office are to make an appearance in the hit US version.

Comedy audiences grow

Ratings boost for BBC2 shows

11/07/2006 … Audiences for BBC Two’s Monday-night comedy line-up are growing in the face of a glut of reality TV shows.

I'm not naturally funny

Ben Elton's confession

10/07/2006 … Ben Elton has admitted: ‘I don't see myself as naturally amusing.