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Renowned prop master Bobby Warans is set to be honored with the BAFTA Special Award at this year's British Academy Television Craft Awards, which is set to take place on April 23 in London. The award recognizes Warans' outstanding contribution to production design across more than 100 television programs including Absolutely Fabulous, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, French and Saunders, Harry Hill's TV Burp and Strictly Come Dancing. Warans began his career in…...

Renowned prop master Bobby Warans is set to be honored with the BAFTA Special Award at this year's British Academy Television Craft Awards, which is set to take place on April 23 in London. The award recognizes Warans' outstanding contribution to production design across more than 100 television programs including Absolutely Fabulous, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, French and Saunders, Harry Hill's TV Burp and Strictly Come Dancing. Warans began his career in…...

Andrew Blair Oct 17, 2016

Armando Iannucci & Chris Morris' BBC Radio 4 news spoof not only gave rise to Alan Partridge but also launched countless comedy careers.

If you haven’t heard of On The Hour, you’ll have seen or read the work of the people who made it: Brass Eye, The Thick Of It, Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, Veep, Four Lions, that bit on the train at the end of Mission: Impossible, Closer, Jam, the Leicester Square Theatre Podcasts, the movie version of Notes On A Scandal; the NME, TV Burp, the videos for Little Baby Nothing by the Manics and Kung Fu by Ash, Smack The Pony, and Alan Partridge to name a few.

See related The Big Bang Theory season 10 episode 4 review: The Cohabitation Experimentation The Big Bang Theory season 10 episode 3 review: The Dependence Transcendence The Big Bang Theory season 10 episode 2 review: The Military Miniaturization The Big Bang Theory...

It's time! To face! The swimming pools and perfectly kept lawns! It's always been our favourite phase of The X Factor and now the glorified game of musical chairs is mercifully over, this weekend sees the surviving 24 acts jet off to Judges' Houses.

Or Judges' Pretend Houses, as we prefer to call it, as they tend to be rented residences. You don't think Cowell and co would let the oiks into their real homes, do you?

There are opulent interiors and guest mentors. Tension gets eked out and tear-sodden hugs get issued. Someone always wears unwise shorts. Someone else dives into a pool with their clothes on. This year, there's even a ghost. We can't wait. But while we do, let's rewind the all-time highlights from Judges' Houses…

1. Sinitta turns over a new leaf (2009)

When the Overs - including a certain Olly Murs - turned up at Simon Cowell's La mansion,...

StudioCanal is aiming to strengthen its UK presence with the launch of a new TV and film production company.

StudioCanal has announced the creation of Guilty Party, a new UK-based production company run by producer Spencer Millman (The Inbetweeners 2) and actor-writers Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners) and Jonny Sweet (Chickens).

The new company will come under the creative supervision of Nicola Shindler, executive producer and founder of drama firm Red Production Company.

The move underlines StudioCanal’s ambition to strengthen its position in the UK. The French film giant will own a 25% share in Guilty Party as a partner in the company and will also handle worldwide distribution.

StudioCanal’s COO, CFO and head of TV series Romain Bessi said: “There is a fantastic opportunity for StudioCanal to become the main house of European talents in TV series so we are very happy to have Spencer Millman, Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet join our family.

“They bring very...

'Harry Hill's TV Burp' will ''never come back''. A writer for the ITV2 series has revealed that toward the end of its 11-year-run, TV bosses turned on the popular show and blocked them from mocking programmes including ITV's 'Coronation Street' and BBC One's 'EastEnders' - but Channel 4 were the worst culprits. David Quantick said: ''TV Burp will never come back because TV companies are wise. There is a thing in telly called 'fair dealing', which means you can show anything for free, as long as you're reviewing it. ''You're not supposed to take the mickey out of it and say (Corrie star)...

EastEnders fans are surely rejoicing at the news that Dean Gaffney will be returning as Robbie Jackson after five years away.

Hapless Robbie has become a fan favourite over the years, but Gaffers himself has been entertaining us in the meantime in various ways. Here are a few highlights:

1. EastEnders: Wellard and well unlucky in love

When you think of Robbie Jackson, you probably instantly think of Wellard, one of the best soap dogs of all time. Aside from his friendship with the loyal mutt, Robbie actually had quite a lot of genuinely dramatic storylines, including having to work as a road sweeper for years.

His girlfriend's dad sent him to hospital after accusing him of rape, while he had a strained relationship with his estranged father. He didn't possess the womanising powers of his popstar counterpart, and had to call off his first engagement after she cheated on him.

A lot of people were pretty annoyed with Stars in Their Eyes when it returned this weekend.

On Saturday, the internet was up in arms claiming Harry Hill 'wasn't funny', ITV have 'ruined a classic' and – seriously –'bring back Matthew Kelly'.

Many had no doubt tuned in expecting Hill to emerge from the dry ice and sliding doors with a carbon copy of Kelly's (and Cat and Leslie's) version of the show, and so were left bitterly disappointed. We, meanwhile, were over the moon.

Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes was, shock horror, actually something different. The show was still about plucky members of the public wanting to emulate their musical heroes, but that's where the similarities ended.

Viewers who have never 'got' Harry Hill had tuned in lured by the promise of an ITV classic, and yet were smacked in the face with Hill's surreal mockery of what a singing competition is.

Stars In Their Eyes returned to ITV tonight (Saturday January 10) after a nine-year absence from our screens - but was it any good?

The format has remained largely the same, with members of the public announcing which singer they will be impersonating before disappearing into a cloud of smoke and emerging transformed into that singer.

However, the revamped Stars In Their Eyes saw a more comedic tone employed by new host Harry Hill, who follows in the footsteps of previous hosts Leslie Crowther, Matthew Kelly and Cat Deeley.

The new version of the show sparked a great deal of discussion on Twitter, with the majority of commenters expressing their disappointment:

Has a tv show ever been cancelled half way through its first episode before? just wondering..... #starsintheireyes

— Flipsidetv (@Flipsidetv) January 10, 2015

This isn't really working is it? #starsintheireyes

— Jamie East (@mrjamieeast) January 10, 2015

#starsintheireyes That woman's son who was too embarrassed to...

One of my happiest memories of TV as a child was the Stars In Their Eyes grand final night. The Matthew Kelly years of the show may look rather quaint in an era of spinning chairs, dancing celebrities and X Factor shoutiness, but it was actually ahead of its time as an entertainment format.

From turning Reg the butcher and Barbara from accounts into stars for five minutes, to public phone votes for the winner, it was in many ways a proto-Pop Idol and X Factor.

The key difference between Stars In Their Eyes and what followed was the complete absence of cynicism or profiteering. It probably helped Basil from Basingstoke raise a few more quid with his George Formby covers act, but there was never any pretense that the show would be life-changing.

Like most Saturday night shows in the pre-Popstars/Simon Cowell/Big Brother era, the heart...

Harry Hill has revealed that he is working on new material for television.

Speaking to the Daily Express, the comedian admitted that he's been "banking up" ideas to put on screen.

He said: "I'm working on TV shows. I've been banking up all these ideas and haven't really exploited them. I've got You've Been Framed coming back on, which is great."

Hill confirmed that TV Burp will not be coming back.

"I'm always flattered people remember it, but I've no plans to do another one," he stated. "I like Channel 4's Gogglebox, which does the same thing but in a different way.

"I am talking to people about a new TV show, so we'll see what happens."

The 49-year-old also spoke about his musical I Can't Sing!, which closed six weeks after opening.

"I felt sorry for the cast, who were brilliant," he said. "When we were told the show was closing,...

TV Od starts tonight, and seems pretty much right up our street. Hosted by Matt Edmondson, it's about all the online comments people make about television shows. Since we love Twitter and telly, we have a sneaking suspicion this could be one of our new favourites. Still, we wanted to know more, so we got Matt on the phone to find out...

People online can get very angry about television.

"Digital Spy isn't the worst offender for people getting angry and leaving comments. I think it's partly that thing of people getting passionate about TV, particularly with cult things. People get very opinionated about it. And I think people think they know what they are talking about. If someone disagrees then it's nice to have a lively debate, isn't it?

"Will I be getting comments from the DS forums? I don't know, sometimes they're a little bit worthy on there.

Harry Hill will return to ITV in the future but not with his comedy review show TV Burp.

Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, revealed that he is in discussions with Hill about ideas for a new comedy series and is "hopeful" of having an announcement soon.

Fincham told a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch that Hill will definitely not be reprising the popular TV Burp.

"He finds it an exhausting thing to do. He wants to do something new," he was quoted by Radio Times as saying.

TV Burp ran for 11 years, with the final episode airing in March 2012.

Hill explained at the time that he was bowing out of the show because "it took over [his] life".

He has since starred in The Harry Hill Movie and written the West End X Factor musical I Can't Sing!, which recently closed after two months of performances.

No details have yet been...

Simon Cowell and Harry Hill's X Factor musical I Can't Sing! has postponed its opening preview nights after suffering what it describes as "technical issues".

The West End production was due to launch on Thursday (February 27), but has now been pushed back to Saturday (March 1).

Producers Stage Entertainment said in a statement on the show's official website: "After much careful thought and discussion we've decided that we need to take some more time to work on technical aspects of I Can't Sing! at the Palladium.

"As audiences will soon see the production is hugely ambitious, and the volume of installation and scale of the set means that technical work has taken slightly longer than could have been anticipated to make the show audience-ready.

"We want everyone who comes to see I Can't Sing!, from the very first preview, to have the best possible experience. We, therefore, feel that this...

London, Feb. 24: Simon Cowell has told the actor, who plays him in The 'X Factor' musical, to be a d*** every night.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Culture supplement, the 54-year-old, who recently welcomed his first child with girlfriend Lauren Silverman, said he has told Nigel Harman to play up to his trademark nasty persona while on stage, the Daily Star reported.

The musical, I Can't Sing!, has been penned by TV Burp's Harry Hill. (Ani)...

Simon Cowell encouraged Harry Hill to make 'I Can't Sing' ''cheekier''. The 'X Factor' musical - written by the 49-year-old comedian and co-produced by the music mogul -pokes fun at the 'X Factor' boss and former 'Spice Girl' Geri Halliwell, but Harry admits Simon quite enjoys the mockery. Speaking at 'The Harry Hill Movie' world premiere at London's Leicester Square on last night (19.12.13), the former 'TV Burp' presenter told Bang Showbiz: ''People said to me Simon would be controlling and he'll want to stop you from saying things but the reality is so far he's been nothing but supportive. ''In fact...

After a zippy opening 15 minutes, the duff jokes and spoofs accumulate and everyone starts to look stranded on screen

Harry Hill is the man who can do little wrong. This deranged and ebullient comic, rarely seen without his undersized black suit and oversized white collars, exhibited blithely surreal tendencies from his first standup routines in the early 1990s. A move to mainstream entertainment occurred without compromise: rather than having to shape his humour to suit viewers of his ITV show Harry Hill's TV Burp, it felt as though the Saturday teatime sensibility had to bend to accommodate him. His skew-whiff commentary on You've Been Framed even transformed that deathly show into rewarding viewing. Having proved his skill at radio, TV, standup, painting and comic novels, he moves now into two new disciplines. We will have to wait until February to see whether I Can't Sing!, his West End musical about The X Factor,...

Harry Hill, Sheridan Smith and a giant hamster wearing a Christmas hat attended the world premiere of The Harry Hill Movie in London last night (December 19).

Smith, who plays Hill's love interest in the movie, arrived in a sheer red lace dress. She was joined by co-stars Hill, Julie Walters, and the hamster - voiced in the film by Johnny Vegas - on the red carpet in Leicester Square.

Speaking about her role as Shell Girl, the 32-year-old actress told reporters yesterday evening: "It took about four hours in make-up every day, so I'd get picked up at 3am and sit in make-up having all these prosthetic shells put all over my face.

"And I had to wear a fat suit all day, which was mental!

"We had these T-shirts on underneath that had iced water pumped through them because we got so hot. So today I'm like, 'Ah! It's nice and chilly!

Julie Walters has spoken about her life before she became famous,

The actress, who stars in the upcoming comedy The Harry Hill Movie, recalled that she had a job testing faeces samples.

Walters revealed that before she became famous, she used to work in a hospital.

She told The Mirror: "I tested stools in a hospital lab for the whole summer when I was at drama school.

"Of all the jobs I did before, that was the worst. There were so many of them, and they were people who were all ill so you can only imagine what they were like. They weren't even normal ones."

Walters went on to say that she loved playing Harry Hill's nan in the stand-up's debut film.

"I was a huge fan of TV Burp so when I got the call asking if I wanted to read the script I said, 'Yes!' and loved it,...

Harry Hill has teamed up with Sinitta and the Hairy Bikers to record a spoof version of 'Take On Me' for Children in Need. The 49-year-old comedian joined forces with the 'So Macho' hitmaker and Dave Myers and Simon 'Si' King to create a comical video remake of Norwegian pop band A-ha's hit 1980s song, and in the clip the former 'TV Burp' star is seen squabbling with the TV chefs, who play motorbike thugs, over a big sausage. Harry, who wrote the script for the sketch, said: ''Pudsey called me and told me his favourite 80s pop video was...

Harry Hill and Sinitta have teamed up to record a spoof of 'Take On Me' for charity.

The pair have shot a special music video reminiscent of the original 1985 A-ha hit for Children in Need's appeal show on November 15.

Former TV Burp presenter Hill replaces frontman Morten Harket in the video, while Sinitta plays the love interest.

Hairy Bikers Si King and Dave Myers will also make an appearance on motorcycles and start a fight with Hill over a giant sausage.

"Pudsey called me and told me his favourite '80s pop video was A-ha's 'Take On Me'," Hill said. "Suddenly an idea popped into my head - let's recreate it.

"Who better to get involved than '80s superstar Sinitta, and the Hairy Bikers? We've changed the plot only slightly to bring it bang up to date - it now involves a fight over a giant sausage.

"If that's...

Harry Hill has teamed up with Sinitta and the Hairy Bikers to record a spoof version of 'Take On Me' for Children in Need. The 49-year-old comedian joined forces with the 'So Macho' hitmaker and Dave Myers and Simon 'Si' King to create a comical video remake of Norwegian pop band A-ha's hit 1980s song, and in the clip the former 'TV Burp' star is seen squabbling with the TV chefs, who play motorbike thugs, over a big sausage. Harry, who wrote the script for the sketch, said: ''Pudsey called me and told me his favourite 80s pop video was...

The Harry Hill Movie has premiered its first trailer.

The comedy film sees TV Burp star Hill embark on a road trip to Blackpool with his Nan (Julie Walters) when he discovers that his hamster only has one week to live.

The minute-long trailer sees Hill dodge machine gun fire from chickens, ride a rollercoaster and get soaked by bright green vomit.

The Harry Hill Movie, opening in UK cinemas on December 20, also features Inbetweeners star Simon Bird, Matt Lucas, Sheridan Smith, Marc Wootton, Jim Broadbent and indie band The Magic Numbers.

The film is directed by Steve Bendelack from a script by Hill, Jon Foster and James Lamont.

The Harry Hill Movie has premiered its first trailer.

The comedy film sees TV Burp star Hill embark on a road trip to Blackpool with his Nan (Julie Walters) when he discovers that his hamster only has one week to live.

The minute-long trailer sees Hill dodge machine gun fire from chickens, ride a rollercoaster and get soaked by bright green vomit.

The Harry Hill Movie, opening in UK cinemas on December 20, also features Inbetweeners star Simon Bird, Matt Lucas, Sheridan Smith, Marc Wootton, Jim Broadbent and indie band The Magic Numbers.

The film is directed by Steve Bendelack from a script by Hill, Jon Foster and James Lamont.

Harry Hill poked fun at Simon Cowell's impending fatherhood and rumours about his sexuality, as well as Cheryl Cole's shocking bum tattoo, at the launch of the X Factor musical yesterday (September 2).

The TV Burp star opened a preview of his forthcoming show I Can't Sing!, attended by Digital Spy, with a comedy routine in which he joked about his wife conceiving a love child with Cowell on the Syco boss's yacht.

"Some years ago I had the idea for the musical," he explained to the audience, which included Cowell himself. "I phoned Simon Cowell up and he said, 'Harry, why don't you and your wife join me on my yacht?' I said, 'You're not going to get me like that'.

"Anyway we went and that child starts school tomorrow. I wouldn't mind but we hadn't even left Southampton. He conceives all his children in international waters for tax reasons.

Sheridan Smith was spotted dressed in seashells on the set of Harry Hill's debut movie in Blackpool yesterday (June 11).

The 31-year-old actress, who won a BAFTA last month for her role in Mrs Biggs, wore different sized shells all over her head and body, with bits of seaweed hanging down from her waist and orange starfish for fingers as she filmed scenes for The Harry Hill Movie at the seaside resort.

Smith stars as "an undersea shell person" who steals Hill's heart, while Julie Walters plays Hill's grandmother and Matt Lucas his estranged Alsatian-raised twin brother Otto.

Julian Barratt, Jim Broadbent and indie band The Magic Numbers are also set to feature in the supporting cast.

Speaking about the film previously, TV Burp comic Hill has said: "I'm thrilled at last to be able to tell the world the true story of my hamster's struggle on the big screen...

Julie Walters has been pictured filming The Harry Hill Movie in new on-set photos.

In the images, Harry Hill can be seen driving a mobility scooter alongside his Nan, played by the veteran British actress.

The film follows the TV Burp comic as he embarks on a road trip to Blackpool with his hard-drinking grandmother, when he discovers that his hamster only has one week to live.

Hill previously said of his movie: "I'm thrilled at last to be able to tell the world the true story of my hamster's struggle on the big screen and even more excited to be working with some of the comedy greats of the British film industry."

Sheridan Smith is set to appear as "an undersea shell person" who steals Hill's heart, and Matt Lucas portrays Hill's estranged Alsatian-raised twin brother Otto.

Marc Wootton, Julian Barratt and Jim Broadbent and indie band The Magic...

Harry Hill has started production on his first feature film.

The Harry Hill Movie will see the TV Burp star embark on a road trip to Blackpool with his hard-drinking Nan (Julie Walters) when he discovers that his hamster only has one week to live.

Inbetweeners star Simon Bird will play a vet in pursuit of the pair, while Sheridan Smith is to appear as "an undersea shell person" who steals Harry's heart. Matt Lucas is on board to portray Harry's estranged Alsatian-raised twin brother Otto.

Marc Wootton, Julian Barratt and Jim Broadbent and indie band The Magic Numbers will also feature in the supporting cast.

"I'm thrilled at last to be able to tell the world the true story of my hamster's struggle on the big screen and even more excited to be working with some of the comedy greats of the British film industry," Hill said.

The Harry Hill...

Julie Walters and Matt Lucas on board as British comic prepares to make big-screen debut in tale of ailing rodent

He has won a Perrier award at the Edinburgh fringe, fronted the successful small-screen clip show TV Burp, and recorded a novelty record with Coronation Street star William Roache (sample line: "I made some mistakes, real howlers, especially with the kids"). Now the British comic Harry Hill is set to make his big-screen debut in an eponymous movie co-starring Julie Walters, Matt Lucas and Jim Broadbent.

The Harry Hill Movie, which begins its eight-week shoot on 12 May, promises a tale of sick hamsters, a fraught road trip, and a King Kong-esque climax atop Blackpool Tower. Walters is set to play Hill's hard-drinking grandmother, while Lucas will appear as the comic's evil twin Otto. According to the press release, the film is "based on a true story".

"I'm thrilled at...

Details have emerged about the upcoming X Factor comedy musical.

Simon Cowell will be portrayed by stage actor Alexander Hanson, according to The Sun.

Hanson has starred in many West End and Broadway plays, and is married to Downton Abbey actress Samantha Bond.

Cowell was said to be "howling with laughter" when he watched Hanson read through his lines for the play in London last week.

A source said: "He's not exactly a Hollywood A-lister but he does a bloody good Simon Cowell. Simon had to admit he was the right man for the job."

Hanson's portrayal of Cowell will reportedly include a song titled 'Falling in Love with Myself'.

Harry Hill has been working on the musical project with songwriter Steve Brown, who previously worked together on TV Burp.

Insiders have claimed that the musical will focus on a hopeful named Shenise and her attempts to win The X Factor.

Harry Hill has revealed that he hoped TV Burp would continue under a new host.

The comedian departed the ITV entertainment show after 11 years in 2012, as he did not enjoy the job as much as he used to.

Hill explained that he had spoken to stand-up comic Micky Flanagan about possibly taking over the reins, but this did not materialise.

"I don't miss it. I probably did it for a couple of years longer than I should have done for my own sanity," he told Heat.

"I do miss watching it, and I was hoping that someone else would take over. I was talking to Micky Flanagan, and I was hoping he would do it.

"It's a lot of work, though. I'm the only mug that would do it."

Hill added that working on TV Burp meant that he had to undergo a rehab of sorts with television, as he...

Harry Hill wanted Micky Flanagan to take over 'TV Burp'. The comedian ended the ITV comedy programme - which saw him mock clips of the week's popular TV shows - last year because he no longer enjoyed doing it but was hoping the fellow stand-up would front another series. He said: ''I don't miss it. I probably did it for a couple of years longer than I should have done for my own sanity. ''I do miss watching it, and I was hoping that someone else would take over. I was talking to [stand-up comedian] Micky Flanagan, and I was hoping he would...

Harry Hill wanted Micky Flanagan to take over 'TV Burp'. The comedian ended the ITV comedy programme - which saw him mock clips of the week's popular TV shows - last year because he no longer enjoyed doing it but was hoping the fellow stand-up would front another series. He said: ''I don't miss it. I probably did it for a couple of years longer than I should have done for my own sanity. ''I do miss watching it, and I was hoping that someone else would take over. I was talking to [stand-up comedian] Micky Flanagan, and I was hoping he would...

Harry Hill wanted to turn 'TV Burp' into a sketch show. The 48-year-old comedian ended the ITV comedy programme - which saw him mock clips of the week's popular TV shows - last year and admits he and producers had different ideas of what direction they wanted it to go in. He told this week's Big Issue magazine: ''I was always trying to make it into a sketch show. I was trying to edge out the clips whereas the others were trying to get more clips.'' Now the show has ended, Harry has gone back into the world of stand-up comedy with his...

There was plenty to howl about at last night's comedy awards. But while Olivia Colman and Cuckoo missed out, there were well-deserved gongs for The Thick of It, Hunderby and Reeves and Mortimer

There is no justice. That is what a lot of nominated comedians who missed out on a British comedy award last night will be thinking today, despite painting on obligatory smiles at the unusually well-behaved ceremony in London. But actually there is some justice after all. The nearest the painfully unfunny Keith Lemon/Leigh Francis got to taking home an award was when he leapt onstage and attempted to snatch somebody else's mantelpiece-bound slab from the rostrum.

Olivia Colman fans might have good reason to feel that justice took the night off. The 57 judges, drawn from journalism, TV production and performers, shortlisted Colman against herself for best comedy actress in Rev and Twenty Twelve, only for her to go home empty-handed.

Peter Capaldi and Rebecca Front both honoured, while Sacha Baron Cohen given outstanding achievement award

They played arch-rivals in political satire The Thick of It, but Rebecca Front and Peter Capaldi shared the glory at the British comedy awards.

Capaldi was named best TV comedy actor for his role as foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker, while Front won the best TV comedy actress award for her portrayal of hapless politician Nicola Murray.

Her success meant there was no win for Olivia Colman, who was nominated in the category for two different roles - in Olympic satire Twenty Twelve and the sitcom Rev.

Capaldi saw off competition from Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, who got a nod for his Twenty Twelve role, along with Tom Hollander for Rev and Steve Coogan.

Ali G and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen won a special award for outstanding achievement, more than a decade after he was named best newcomer.

Channel 4's British Comedy Awards were hosted at Fountain Studios in London tonight. Jonathan Ross hosted the show, while Kelly Brook, Cuba Gooding Jr, Louis Smith and Joan Collins were among the award presenters during the evening. The winners list in full: King of Comedy:

Jack Whitehall Best Comedy Entertainment Personality:

Charlie Brooker Best Sitcom:

Hunderby Best Male TV Comic:

Lee Mack Best Comedy Entertainment Programme:

Harry Hill's TV Burp Best (more)...

The nominations for the British Comedy Awards 2012 have been announced. The ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Ross, will air live on Channel 4 on December 12 at 9pm. The event will be preceded by the British Comedy Awards Nominations Show on December 2 at 10.30pm, during which lines will open for the public to vote for the 'King or Queen of Comedy' category. There will also be two special awards given out on the night - 'The British Comedy Outstanding Achievement Award' and 'The Writer's Guild of Great Britain Award'. The full nominations for the British Comedy Awards are as follows: Best New Comedy Programme

Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life

Cardinal Burns

Hunderby

Moone Boy Best Comedy Entertainment Programme

Alan Carr: Chatty Man

Celebrity Juice

Harry Hill's TV Burp

The Graham (more)...

Harry Hill has announced the release of compilation DVD Harry Hill's Cream of TV Burp. The new DVD includes clips, skits and quips from the archives of the show alongside new exclusive extras. Including on the disc are stripograms in River Cottage, Albert Square on Insect EastEnders and sketches for Springwatch and Downton Abbey. Bonus features include Louie Spence on Hill's desk, a knitted item going through to the Not Live Final of knitting competition The K Factor (more)...

Harry Hill has announced his first full live tour in six years. The comedian will perform 40 dates in his 'Sausage Time' jaunt, which starts in Canterbury on February 7, 2013 and finishes in Edinburgh on March 30. The set features showband The Harry's, the legendary Stouffer the Cat, a section for Tongans, the debut of Harry's son Gary from his first marriage and whistling of chart hits from his grandson Sam. Asked about the name of the tour, Hill told Metro: "We had a lot of sausages on TV Burp. Sausages are funny. "There are a couple of specific things in the show that relate to sausages. I'm hoping to get a big sausage made." He added of choosing theatres rather than arenas: "That's the best size for me to have fun and for the audience to enjoy it. "I (more)...

The rising price of comedy, Harry Hill post-TV Burp – plus, a new Bill and Ted adventure, and your take on the week's comedy

Comedy news from Edinburgh

It's week two of the fringe, and unease about low audience figures continues to thrum beneath the surface jollity. Richard Herring broke cover at the end of last week, writing on his blog about his own experience of low sales for his Underbelly show Talking Cock. "It's a shame that I have taken the chance on a bigger venue," he writes, "in the year when the Olympics/the recession/the dissatisfaction with high prices of everything in Edinburgh (delete or add as applicable – there's no definitive answer) has sucked out all the punters as if someone opened the door on a spacecraft."

In a thoughtful rumination on the subject, Herring predicts that the Edinburgh comedy bubble is about to burst. "It's open...

Harry Hill is happy 'TV Burp' ended before it became ''s**t''. The 48-year-old is currently working on a series of new projects including a movie after quitting his comedy sketch show in March and Harry admitted he is happy to have bowed out on top. He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''We'd kind of exhausted it. I think, in the end, we just about avoided it going a bit s**t.'' Harry also revealed it was getting more difficult to lampoon TV shows as many of them poke fun of themselves already, although 'EastEnders' is perfect as it takes itself seriously. He added: You got...

Harry Hill has revealed that he is aiming to launch his X Factor musical in autumn 2013. The TV Burp comic claimed that the show would be both a "celebration" and a "piss-take" of the Simon Cowell entertainment series. "I was watching the last X Factor final, drunk, and thought it was a good idea," Hill told The Telegraph. "[Simon Cowell] liked it, so we're doing it. It's like a TV Burp treatment... to get the lovers and haters in. It's not caustic, like Jerry Springer: The Opera. That would be quite an easy route to take, but we want it to be funny above everything." Hill is writing the production with his friend Steve Brown, who is penning the music. The comic has also confirmed his plans to make a film in 2013. "I've (more)...

Harry Hill has declared that he would have continued TV Burp indefinitely had he been allowed to film fewer episodes per series. Harry Hill's TV Burp bowed out in March after 11 years on ITV, when the comedian quit the show to pursue new projects. Explaining the reason for his departure to The Daily Telegraph, he complained: "It was a mixture of extreme boredom and extreme stress. The turnaround was pretty fierce - some of the runs lasted 26 weeks. "They never let me do just eight shows, and if they had, I could have gone on till they carried me off. "The thing with TV Burp was, it took over your life. You couldn't get researchers to watch everything because we had to spot the laughs." Since splitting with his management at Avalon, Hill has committed to a Reunion (more)...

Harry Hill is planning a movie about a road trip. The comedian told The Sun that the film was inspired by comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure. "It's partly a road trip, with a sick hamster and some badgers involved, plus some songs and guest appearances - the kind of thing I always do, but a bit longer and wider," he said. Hill quit ITV series TV Burp last year. "You got this new, knowing breed of shows, like The (more)...

Harry Hill is planning a movie about a road trip. The comedian told The Sun that the film was inspired by comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure. "It's partly a road trip, with a sick hamster and some badgers involved, plus some songs and guest appearances - the kind of thing I always do, but a bit longer and wider," he said. Hill quit ITV series TV Burp last year. "You got this new, knowing breed of shows, like The (more)...

Harry Hill is writing an 'X Factor' musical. The comedian - who was the star of hit show 'TV Burp' - is planning to debut the programme in the West End next year and he admits that he got the idea for writing it while he was watching the final drunk. He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''[Simon Cowell] liked it, so we're doing it. It's like a 'TV Burp' treatment, a celebration/p**s-take, to get the lovers and haters in. It's not caustic, like 'Jerry Springer: The Opera.' That would be quite an easy route to take, but...

An exhibition of paintings by comic Harry Hill has opened at the Edinburgh Art Festival. The collection, entitled My Hobby, is currently on display above a shop in George Street. Hill told BBC Scotland that he had kept quiet about his pastime until recently. "I have been painting in secret for about 20 years. Basically what I do is I watch TV all day for TV Burp then I go to the kitchen and I get a piece of wood and I start painting," he said. "It is just a way of winding down really," he added. "People have said to me, 'Maybe you should have an exhibition', but I always kind of thought this was a little private thing I had going. It wasn't like I was going to sell them." The presenter also admitted that, like his humour, the paintings are heavily influenced by surrealism. (more)...

Paddy McGuinness is looking to star in a TV Burp-style show for Channel 4. The host of Take Me Out filmed a pilot called Paddy's TV Show in Manchester last week. The Sun reports that ITV Studios describe the programme as "a comic look at TV shows that might normally slip under the radar". If picked up, it will be McGuinness's first project for Channel for since Phoenix Nights spinoff Max and Paddy's (more)...

Harry Hill has announced that he is to play eight shows in Edinburgh. The TV Burp comedian will perform two shows a day at Stand 3 with his band The Caterers. Hill's set will play out between August 1 and August 4 at the intimate venue. The surreal comic is using the gigs to test out his material ahead of his first live tour in six years - (more)...