Barr humbug

The week's comedy trivia

13/04/2007 … A character in Russia's version of Little Britain is "the only gay milling machine operator in Chelyabinsk".

Made up

BBC1 orders semi-improv sitcom

13/04/2007 … BBC One has ordered a semi-improvised family sitcom created by Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton.

Secret of comedy? Poetic parallelisms

New academic research out

13/04/2007 … A new academic report has studied the mechanics and linguistics of stand-up – and concluded that the key is a set-up followed by a punchline.

13/04/2007 … US SHOWS Desperate Housewives, The Office, So NoTORIous and Ugly Betty have been shortlisted for best comedy in the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation media…

12/04/2007 … STAN DANIELS, an American writer who worked on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Bill Cosby Show before co-creating the hit sitcom Taxi, has…

12/04/2007 … OFFICE star Martin Freeman is to be a DJ on BBC London in the 3pm-5pm drivetime slot from Monday to Wednesday next week, while Danny Baker is on holiday.

11/04/2007 … PADDY MCGUINNESS is to front a £3million advertising campaign for bakery chain Greggs.

It's queen Victoria!

12th Bafta nod for Wood

11/04/2007 … Victoria Wood has gained a record 12th Bafta nomination for her serious role in the ITV drama Housewife, 49.