Channel 4 Funny Fortnight

Channel 4 announced today Channel 4's Funny Fortnight, featuring over 30 hours of comedy programming.

The fortnight broadcasts in August and includes..

Toast of London

A new sitcom written by Arthur Mathews and Matt Berry. Starring Matt Berry.

Lucky Sexy Winners

Lucky Sexy Winners' sees comedy geniuses Vic & Bob featuring new comedy talent, original sketches, new characters and several un-expected anarchic twists along the way.

The Boyle Variety Performance

The Boyle Variety Performance is Frankie Boyle's unique take on a Royal variety event of a similar name. Complete with red carpet, celebrity guests, comedy, variety, music and a generous helping of Frankie himself, the show will come direct from a glamorous London theatre, and feature content so cutting edge and scurrilously funny that no self respecting royal would ever dream of attending.

Just Around the Corner

Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton - co-creators of hit shows Outnumbered and Drop the Dead Donkey - return to Channel 4 with Just Around the Corner, a comedy set in the future.

Harry Hill: The Reunion

A one off show hosted by Hill looking back at the seminal series Harry Hill, which ran for three series on Channel 4. Harry will be seeking out the cast and asking "where are they now? "

Channel 4 Comedy Presents: Them from That Thing

A new two part sketch show that combines a cast of Channel 4 comedy stars (Blake Harrison, Kayvan Novak, Sally Phillips and Morgana Robinson with a number of famous faces from the world of drama. Set in the modern world where serious characters say and do very stupid things,

Very Terry

Kayvan Novak stars as car salesman turned international television star Terry Tibbs in anew chat show. Terry will subject his celebrity guests to his own unique brand of interview technique.

Bad Sugar

Bad Sugar, written by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong stars three of the biggest female names in British Comedy - Olivia Colman, Julia Davis and Sharon Horgan - all of whom also co-conceived the idea. Bad Sugar centres on a dysfunctional, wealthy mining dynasty, with an ailing patriarch and some greedy siblings.

I'm Spazticus

I'm Spazticus is a brand new prank show featuring disabled performers pranking able-bodied members of the public. A mix of hidden camera show and mock doc the show will feature a number of recurring characters as well as one-offs.

The Function Room

The Function Room is a studio sitcom written by Dan Maier. Set in a pub function room which sees pub regulars who've booked the room for different events joined by new characters each week..

Channel 4's 30 Greatest Comedy Shows.

A countdown of the 30 greatest comedy shows in Channel 4's contribution to British comedy featuring classic clips and the stories behind them. Contributors include Simon Pegg, Al Murray, Charlie Higson, Vic and Bob, Jessica Hynes, Sally Phillips and many more.

Shane Allen, Channel 4 Head of Comedy said "Channel 4 has been at the forefront of British comedy from day one. We've launched so many careers by backing new talent and have never been afraid to get in trouble all for the comedy cause. Channel Four's Funny Fortnight is a chance to celebrate our achievements with a raft of new shows featuring many of the biggest names in British Comedy".

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Fourth X Factor Judge

Today, Nicole Scherzinger has been announced as the fourth Judge on this year’s The X Factor.

A member of The Pussycat Dolls, the group sold 15 million albums and 37 million singles worldwide making them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.

Scherzinger was a guest judge on The X Factor in 2010 and again this year in London during the current Auditions Tour. She takes up her new role on Monday June 18 when the Judges Auditions Tour rolls into Newcastle, and she will be in Cardiff for the final date of the tour on June 25.

The singer said: "I’m so excited to join the UK X Factor family. It's where I got my start, so it feels great to come full circle. I can’t wait to see what talent the UK has to offer and to help inspire and bring out the best in these artists."

Peter Fincham, Director of Television, ITV, said: "Nicole will bring her wealth of experience, both as a solo artist, and as a member of a group, to this year's Judging panel. We're delighted that she'll be joining us for the forthcoming series."

Richard Holloway, Managing Director, Thames, added: "Nicole is an absolute star. She's sold millions of records worldwide and she's extremely well qualified as a Judge - she was brilliant when she stood in as a Guest Judge two years ago and again this year. We can't wait to start working with her."

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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David Dimbleby To Set Sail

Broadcaster David Dimbleby is setting sail around Britain for a new BBC series examining how our relationship with the sea influences art and culture.

The BBC One programme, which has the working title of Britain and the Sea, features Dimbleby on board his own boat, Rocket.

The corporation said the programme would "explore the rich heritage of Britain's maritime art and culture".

It is one of several new arts programmes commissioned by the BBC.

BBC One's flagship arts strand, Imagine, returns in the Autumn with an exclusive interview with Salman Rushdie.

In The Fatwa: Salman's Story, the author talks about the experience of living under a death sentence when a fatwa was issued against him in 1989, following the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses.

In addition, The Culture Show will be on air on BBC Two across the summer to cover the best of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The move to a weekly peak-time slot, at 10pm on Wednesday, is the start of a new year-round commitment by the BBC to covering the arts.

The show will also air ten hour-long specials across the year, including a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of Britain's biggest piece of public sculpture, The Arcelormittal Orbit, in London's Olympic Park.

Meanwhile, the BBC's award winning arts strand Arena is opening its archive online, via The Space.

The new on-demand digital arts service has been developed by Arts Council England, in partnership with the BBC.

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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ITV Denies TOWIE Claim

ITV has defended itself against claims it stole the idea for The Only Way Is Essex.

The channel and Lime Pictures - who make the show - responded to a High Court writ issued by Brian Belo, 24, in London accusing them of copyright infringement and breach of confidence, saying he came up with the idea for the programme.

In 2007 Brian filmed the pilot for a show called Totally Essex, featuring pals including Amy Childs, 21, Mark Wright, 25, Sam Faiers, 21, and Kirk Norcross, 23, who went on to star in TOWIE.

In legal papers submitted to the court, ITV and Lime Pictures claim the show, which they call a "dramality" - a mix of drama and reality - was their idea and Brian's pilot was a "fly on the wall" documentary.

The papers state: "A fundamental aspect of a 'dramality' show is that producers set up dramatic scenarios which are then filmed.

"Totally Essex was no more than individuals talking to the camera about themselves and their lifestyles, with occasional comments by a narrator and some music. Any notion of 'TOWIE' being created by the claimants is wholly misconceived."

Former TOWIE star Amy - who quit the ITV2 reality show last year - has recently backed Brian's case, explaining she was part of the 'Big Brother' winner's pilot series.

She said: "My friend Brian Belo is suing the makers of The Only Way Is Essex, Lime Pictures, and ITV because he believes they nicked his idea for the show.

"I can't go into details about this for legal reasons, but I was part of Brian's TV idea, 'Totally Essex', and I'm sure lots of you have seen our embarrassing trailer on the internet.

"I've been good friends with Brian ever since and I know he's determined to win the case. We'll just have to see what happens."

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Benedict Cumberbatch On Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch wants to play Sherlock Holmes for another 15 years.

The 35-year-old actor loves portraying the detective in Sherlock "too much" to ever give up the BBC One series and he revealed filming for a third season will begin again in January.

He said: "I'll always do 'Sherlock' -- it's something I'm not going to give up on. I love it too much. It's hard work, but it's so rewarding and such a lovely bunch of people who do it.

"We love our fans and we love what it's created. It's an incredible thing to be part of; it doesn't happen that often. Don't worry; it's not going to disappear."

The 35-year-old star believes the series has a great chance of being a long-lasting programme because writer Steven Moffat started the season with younger versions of both Sherlock and his assistant Doctor John Watson (Martin Freeman) than in previous incarnations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

In an interview with US website TV Line, he added: "There's no reason for us to stop if it's still being adored and we still enjoy doing it.

"We only do three episodes at a time, so I think the normal fear of over-stretching the mark and just doing too many doesn't apply.

"It's good to leave people wanting more. I'd like to see Sherlock getting older. We're starting quite young.

"It's rare to see Holmes and Watson at the beginning of their relationship; we usually join them in their mid-to-late 40s or 50s. I've got a way to go. I mean, I'm only 35."

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Duncan Norvelle Has Stroke

Comedian Duncan Norvelle, a familiar face on British TV in the 1980s, is recovering after a stroke.

Known for his catchphrase "chase me", the 54-year-old suffered paralysis down his left side and has been in hospital for nine weeks, his co-manager said.

Norvelle rose to fame on the ITV variety show Saturday Royal in the early 1980s and was last seen on TV on the Come Dine With Me Comedy Christmas Special in December.

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Rogue Trader Presenter Hands Himself to Police

BBC Rogue Traders' Dan Penteado has handed himself into police over allegations of benefit fraud.

Penteado, who hunts down bogus workmen with presenter Matt Allwright on the Rogue Traders part of the show, is accused of pocketing more than £24,000 of government payouts he was not entitled to while he worked for the BBC.

Dorset police applied for an arrest warrant at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court earlier this week after Penteado, 40, failed to respond to letters of enquiry sent to him by Bournemouth Borough Council.

He was sent a court summons to appear before Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to answer several charges of fraud.

But he failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Yesterday Dorset police today confirmed they were making enquiries to trace Penteado so they could arrest him.

But last night Penteado handed himself into the police and insisted it had been a 'misunderstanding.'

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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Dallas

A reboot of classic TV soap Dallas has proved a hit in the US, with an average of 6.8 million viewers tuning in for its debut episode.

Wednesday's show secured the highest ratings for the premiere of a scripted series on a cable channel this year.

Shown on TNT, it reunites Dallas stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray as JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing.

A new generation of Ewings includes former Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe.

This time the Ewing family rivalry centres around the cousins played by Jesse Metcalfe and Josh Henderson He plays Christopher Ewing who, along with cousin John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson), continues the legendary family rivalry on Southfork ranch.

The original Dallas, which aired from 1978 to 1991, centred around Ewing brothers JR and Bobby's long and bitter battle over the family fortune.

Channel Five will screen the new 10-part series in the UK in September.

US critics gave it mixed reviews, with some accusing the show of "cashing in" on the original, and the actors of turning in "wooden" performances.

June 15 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

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