Ricky Gervais's new Netflix comedy Alley Cats confirms release date
The animated series sees the After Life cast reunite – as you've never seen them before.
Ricky Gervais sitcom Alley Cats finally has a confirmed premiere date on Netflix, with the animated series set to arrive this summer. The six-part comedy imagines the "trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life". Gervais voices the main character alongside a cast containing many of his After Life collaborators, including Tom Basden, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan, Jo Hartley, Andrew Brooke and Tony Way. Joining the party for this latest project is EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, whose prior work in the comedy genre includes Psychoville, Mandy and Motherland. If you're excited to see what's in store, mark your calendars: Alley Cats will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday 7 August 2026. Netflix promises that Gervais's "signature style of heart and social commentary" will feature in the series, which marks his first self-produced animated effort since The Ricky Gervais Show concluded in 2012. That series took segments from the podcast of the same name (also featuring Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington), and brought them to life in a retro style evoking The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo producers Hanna-Barbera. Therefore, Alley Cats marks Gervais's first major foray into scripted animation (besides his work on a popular 2006 episode of The Simpsons). Don't Hug Me I'm Scared producers Blink Industries are behind the design of the show. The comedian will be in attendance at this June's Annecy International Animation Festival, where he'll join a discussion of the upcoming project and the first two episodes will be screened for guests. Speaking to Radio Times earlier this year, Gervais said it was a "no brainer" to work with his After Life cast again in Alley Cats. "You know them, you trust them, you know what they're good at [and] it's fun," he explained. Alley Cats is coming to Netflix on 7 August 2026. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add shows to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement star in first-look trailer for Disney+ series Alice and Steve
A decades-old friendship soon becomes strained when Steve starts sleeping with Alice's 20-something-year-old daughter.
Disney+ has given fans a first look at its new Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement-starring series, Alice and Steve. The show from Baby Reindeer producer Clerkenwell Films, which is set to premiere 8 June on Disney+ and Hulu, stars Walker (The Split) and Clement (What We Do in the Shadows) as best friends turned enemies Alice and Steve, after the latter sleeps with the former’s daughter and starts dating her. Billed as an "anti-romantic comedy" or even a "wrong-com", the new trailer gives us a first glimpse at the breakdown of their friendship as Steve becomes romantically entangled with 20-something-year-old Izzy (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder star Yali Topol Margalith), who is almost three decades his junior. “I hope you fall out of your window and get pierced in the heart by your railing, and that no one comes to your funeral,” Alice tells Steve in the footage after making the discovery. And when Izzy introduces Steve to her friends, they seem equally unimpressed. "He's so old," one of them says. You can watch the trailer for yourself below: View oEmbed on the source website Alice and Steve premiered to big acclaim at the Canneseries Awards 2026 last month, where it took home three gongs: best series, special interpretation award for ensemble cast and student award. Alongside Walker, Clement and Margalith, the cast is rounded out by actor Joel Fry, who is best known for hit sitcoms W1A, Plebs and Our Flag Means Death, as Daniel, as well as Tyrese Eaton-Dyce (Sherwood), Marcia Warren (The Crown), Eilidh Fisher (Dope Girls) and Ebony Aboagye (The Conjuring: Last Rites). The series has been created and written by Sophie Goodhart (Sex Education), and is directed by Tom Kingsley (Ghosts). Alice and Steve will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on 8 June 2026. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Has Amandaland been renewed for season 3?
*Contains minor spoilers for Amandaland season 2.* Amandaland's leading lady certainly has her flaws, but you can't deny her never-say-die spirit when everything around her is crumbling. Whether it's being named and shamed by a local coffee shop for not paying her bill, or losing out on a house to her own mother, Amanda always finds a way to bounce back – even if the smile plastered across her face grows more maniacal by the day. "She’s a hustler. She falls flat on her face and gets back up. She just wants a big life," confirmed star Lucy Punch in an interview with Radio Times. But will she realise that dream in a third season? Read on for everything we know so far about a potential Amandaland season 3. Has Amandaland been renewed for season 3? The BBC has yet to announce if more episodes are on the way, but Punch is certainly keen to continue. "We want to do this as long as people enjoy it; every character needs to feel fleshed out, so people can relate," she told Radio Times. Watch this space for updates. When could a potential Amandaland season 3 be released? Seasons 1 and 2 arrived in February 2025 and May 2026 respectively, so all being well, season 3 could arrive in the first half of 2027. Which cast could return for a potential Amandaland season 3? Lucy Punch would obviously return as Amanda. We'd also expect to see: Joanna Lumley as Felicity Philippa Dunne as Anne Samuel Anderson as Mal Rochenda Sandall as Fi Ekow Quartey as JJ There's also Georgie and Manus, played by Miley Locke and Alexander Shaw, Darius played by Jack Veal, Morten played by Anya Mckenna-Bruce, Ned played by Archie Smith, and Daniel Kichen played by Cavan Clerkin. There will likely be some exciting new guest stars, too. Previous famous faces have included Jennifer Saunders and Pam Ferris. But there's a question mark over Siobhan McSweeney's Della, who's heading to Miami to open her own restaurant, and it remains to be seen if Harriet Webb will return as Abs, Mal's ex and JJ's partner. Add Amandaland to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Philomena Cunk favourite Diane Morgan is reunited with Motherland co-star in first look at new BBC sci-fi sitcom
A widowed older woman finds an unlikely ally in her robotic home helper in the upcoming BBC sitcom.
Diane Morgan reunites with a fan-favourite Motherland co-star for her latest BBC sitcom Ann Droid, which dropped a selection of first-look images today. The upcoming series follows Sue (played by The Royle Family and Riot Women star Sue Johnston) after she is gifted a high-tech "Basic Eldercare Robot" by her well-meaning son, Michael (Motherland's Paul Ready). The high-tech helper is intended to look after Sue when Michael moves out (again) to have another crack at repairing his ailing marriage, much to the chagrin of his mother, who considers the "overly attentive" appliance to be her "worst nightmare". Nevertheless, over time an "unlikely friendship" develops between the two, when widowed Sue realises that her robotic aide can help with "settling scores" and other such things that her son "never gets round to". Described as a "buddy comedy between an older woman and her robot who isn't quite as advanced socially as she is technically," the series asks a key question in the age of AI: "What is replaceable and what is not?" These first-look images offer a glimpse of the odd pairing of Sue and 'Linda' (the name her second-hand Ann Droid goes by), including a snap of the latter fresh out of her rather worn-out box on the doorstep. Another image gives us our first look at Sue and her son, Michael, affectionately pictured together in her kitchen. This marks the latest collaboration between Morgan and Ready, following their memorable partnership as close friends Liz and Kevin in Motherland, who navigated the world of suburban parenting alongside Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin). It remains to be seen whether Michael is quite as timid as stay-at-home dad Kevin, but the characters are connected by their similarly imperfect marital life. Ann Droid is a six-part sitcom headed to BBC One and iPlayer later this year, co-created by Morgan and former Taskmaster contestant Sarah Kendall (Dreamland). The series was commissioned in May of last year and started filming in October. At the time, Johnston commented: "I'm thrilled to be back in the heart of BBC comedy. Diane and Sarah have created a comedy that will resonate with lots of different audiences, for different reasons and I cannot wait to get started." Ready added: "I don't know much, but I do know that if you get a chance to work with Diane Morgan, you take it. Immediately! Can't wait to be reunited and bring Michael to life in her brilliant comic series." Ann Droid is coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Ann Droid to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Friends icon Lisa Kudrow reveals surprising opinion of beloved character: "He was horrible"
The comedy star isn't mincing her words in a new interview.
Friends star Lisa Kudrow has revealed her unfiltered thoughts on one of the show's most iconic storylines – and characters – as she blasts Ross (David Schwimmer) for being a "bad boyfriend". Kudrow became a household name through the character of Phoebe Buffay, one of the six principal members of the Central Perk pals, whose lives were chronicled across 10 seasons of the legendary sitcom. In that time, the show's most famous (or infamous) coupling was Ross and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), whose will-they-won't-they dynamic stretched across the entire run. Their initial dalliance came to an end after a blazing row over Rachel's demanding job, which brought her in close proximity to handsome colleague Mark (Steven Eckholdt), whom Ross felt rather threatened by. These strains eventually caused Rachel to suggest a "break" in their relationship, at which point Ross immediately slept with another woman. Cue: decades' worth of debate over whether this was an act of cheating, or if they really were "on a break". Kudrow's mind is made up: "Well, no [they weren't]. But it's beyond that. It's beyond break or not — he was a bad boyfriend." The actor told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show: "We did the reunion just, like, five years ago… We were all so like, 'They were on a break.' Like, 'Rachel, that hysterical shrew, not letting him sleep with someone and won't get back together.'" However, since rewatching the sitcom as a way to remember her late co-star Matthew Perry, Kudrow has come to see the storyline from a different point of view. "She shouldn't have gotten back with him because he was horrible," she continued, to supportive cheers from the studio audience. Kudrow concluded: "To me, it's like, I don't care if he slept with three other women or no other women. You had a crisis at work, so you weren't available for a few nights, and he flipped out. And you're like, 'Wow!'" The actor is referencing the cringe-inducing moment when Ross turns up at Rachel's office with a picnic basket as she's frantically working out-of-hours on a company emergency. However it was intended, the gesture proves to be highly misjudged. You can find Kudrow's full conversation with Fallon below, where she also discusses the third and final season of The Comeback. View oEmbed on the source website Friends is available to stream on HBO Max. Subscribe from £5.99 a month. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Friends to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Amandaland cast: Who has returned for season 2? And who's new?
Meet the characters of Amandaland season 2 - and where you've seen the cast before.
In Amandaland season 2, the queen of SoHa is "as delusional about herself as ever", teased star Lucy Punch. Amanda is "still juggling teenagers, her online Senuous brand and her “co-lab” working at Kitchen’s Bathrooms and Kitchens", but she's also got her eye on a big house in the area that has just come up for sale. "Desperate to own it, she turns to her mother – only to discover that getting Felicity on board financially comes at a price," reads the official synopsis. "Her mum may seem evergreen, but is definitely starting to show signs of ageing so maybe living alone is no longer an option…" Yes, season 2 continues to be a humbling affair for the real star of Motherland – but she's determined not to show it. "Her change in circumstances has made her realise, finally, that she’s no better than anyone else," added Punch. "In Motherland, her superiority was her ugliest trait. Nevertheless, her giant ego and status anxiety remains, so she still wants everyone to think she’s the best! Read more: Amandaland review: Joanna Lumley still gets the best lines in this comedy triumph Amandaland star Lucy Punch reveals future hopes for acclaimed Motherland spin-off But what else is in store in season 2? And who will be joining Amanda for the ride? Find a full rundown of the main Amandaland season 2 cast below. Amandaland cast Lucy Punch as Amanda Joanna Lumley as Felicity Philippa Dunne as Anne Samuel Anderson as Mal Rochenda Sandall as Fi Siobhan McSweeney as Della Ekow Quartey as JJ Harriet Webb as Abs Pam Ferris as Elspeth Miley Locke and Alexander Shaw as Georgie and Manus Jack Veal as Darius For more information on the characters and where you've seen the actors who play them before, read on. Lucy Punch plays Amanda <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/amanda-a3d0501.jpg" width="3934" height="2623" alt="A group of four adults pose closely together in what appears to be a bar setting. In the foreground, a blonde woman with shoulder-length wavy hair and bangs faces the camera with a confident expression, wearing a light-colored top. Behind her to the right, a smiling man leans in casually. In front of him, a woman with light hair pulled back rests her head against the central figure’s shoulder, smiling warmly. On the left, an older woman in a patterned jacket and scarf drinks from a glass with a lemon slice, looking slightly away from the camera. The background is softly blurred, showing shelves of bottles and a cozy bar atmosphere." title="Amandaland S2" /> Who is Amanda? Following the events of Motherland, which saw Amanda's marriage break down, she's since moved from Chiswick to a flat in South Harlesdon and is trying to rebuild her life. "Amanda is still in SoHa, she’s more settled now but still doing everything she can elevate to her social standing and circumstances," said Punch. She also teased "some fantastically funny new characters, and more hilarious storylines with the ones we already know and love". What else has Lucy Punch been in? You might have watched her in Bloods, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Ben and Kate, Into the Woods, Bad Teacher and Ella Enchanted. Joanna Lumley plays Felicity <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/562101-c47d522.jpg" width="8285" height="5524" alt="A blonde woman wearing a bright red coat and matching top sits at a café table with a serious, thoughtful expression. She is seated in the foreground beside plates of pastries and a cup of coffee. Behind her, a teenage boy in a gray hoodie and blue vest is focused on his smartphone, holding it up as if taking a photo or recording. The setting is warm and modern, with large green houseplants and wooden shelving in the background." title="Amandaland S2" /> Who is Felicity? Amanda's catty mother. "I think it's slightly scratchy, but underneath, it’s very tender," said Lumley of the relationship between Felicity and her daughter. "They do adore each other even though they exasperate one another." Lumley also said that Felicity's "selfish, snide character is tempered by being rather ridiculous and strangely spot-on in some of her observations". What else has Joanna Lumley been in? She's best known for Absolutely Fabulous and The New Avengers. You might also have watched Lumley in Fool Me Once and Finding Alice. Philippa Dunne plays Anne Who is Anne? Amanda's long-suffering "friend" and biggest cheerleader. "Anne is of course still in SoHa juggling her high-powered job while raising her kids, attending all of Darius's soccer matches with the other parents, volunteering for activities in Darius's school while also being at the constant beck and call of her best pal Amanda," said Dunne. What else has Philippa Dunne been in? You might have watched her in The Woman in the Wall, Derry Girls and This Is Going to Hurt. Samuel Anderson plays Mal Who is Mal? A landscaper who lives below Amanda, which is exactly how it should be (her words, not ours). He has a teenage son with his ex-wife, who is now in another relationship. Could there be romance brewing between Mal and Amanda? What else has Samuel Anderson been in? His credits include Gavin & Stacey, Emmerdale, The History Boys, Another Life, Trollied, Witless and Doctor Who. Rochenda Sandall plays Fi <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/562148-603d7d7.jpg" width="8402" height="5601" alt="A woman with curly hair and a red striped headband stands outdoors between two other women who are partially out of focus in the foreground. She is wearing large hoop earrings, a gray quilted jacket, and layered casual clothing with a patterned top underneath. Her expression appears concerned or emotional as she speaks. The background is filled with greenery and trees, suggesting a park or garden setting." title="Amandaland S2" /> Who is Fi? With her wife working elsewhere, "Fi starts to find her calling as a professional dog walker". What else has Rochenda Sandall been in? Her credits include Line of Duty, The Rig, Doctor Who, Criminal: UK, Small Axe and Hijack. Siobhan McSweeney plays Della Who is Della? An acclaimed chef who is married to Fi. In season 2, she's gone off to work on a cruise. What else has Siobhan McSweeney been in? You might have watched her in Derry Girls, The Fall, Holding, Extraordinary, and The Lovers. She also hosts The Great Pottery Throw Down. Ekow Quartey plays JJ Who is JJ? He's in a relationship with Mal's ex-wife, which was awkward at first. But over time, a rather sweet bromance has developed. What else has Ekow Quartey been in? He has appeared in Becoming Elizabeth and This Way Up, among others. Harriet Webb plays Abs <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/562090-386f9d2.jpg" width="7888" height="5259" alt="A man with a beard and a blonde woman stand at the back of a classroom, watching attentively as students sit in front of them. The students are wearing black school uniforms with blue striped ties. Behind the adults is a colorful classroom display board styled like a periodic table, with large letters spelling part of the word “scientists.” Various educational signs such as “Ask,” “Observe,” and “Experiment” are pinned around the board. The atmosphere suggests a school presentation or assembly in progress." title="Amandaland S2" /> Who is Abs? "Mal’s no-nonsense ex and JJ’s wife." "Mal and Abs clearly seemed to have tried to take on too much when they were too young," explained Anderson. "But they seem to have pretty much put most of their regrets and mistakes behind them, though some things kind of float past the surface occasionally. "They both love and care for each other and Ned and don’t use parenthood as a weapon against each other. I think their future will be brighter than their past and a beautiful friendship is on the cards for them." What else has Harriet Webb been in? She's best known for Big Boys and Mr Bigstuff. You might also have watched her in Wreck, The Tower and Sandylands. Pam Ferris plays Elspeth <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/pam-60805a8.jpg" width="7761" height="5174" alt="An older woman and a younger woman stand close together in a cozy, warmly lit living room. The older woman, wearing a pink jacket over a green sweater, looks slightly uneasy or puzzled. She is holding a crutch for support, suggesting she may have an injury or mobility issue. Beside her, a smiling blonde woman leans in cheerfully, dressed in a patterned jacket and white pants, with a red shoulder bag. Her upbeat expression contrasts with the older woman’s more uncertain look. The background shows a comfortable home setting: a piano with framed photos on top, a glowing floor lamp, curtains filtering daylight, and colorful cushions on a sofa, giving the scene a homely, lived-in feel." title="Amandaland S2" /> Who is Elspeth? "A frail neighbour with a very desirable house, who Amanda is quick to befriend." What else has Pam Ferris been in? Her extensive CV includes Matilda, Harry Potter, Call the Midwife, Rosemary and Thyme, The Darling Buds of May and Where the Heart Is. Additional cast includes: Amanda's children Georgie and Manus are played by Miley Locke (There She Goes) and Alexander Shaw (Odd Squad). Anne's son Darius is played by Jack Veal (Loki). Anya Mckenna-Bruce (Cleaning Up, Adult material, The Hack) plays Morten - Fi and Della's daughter. Archie Smith plays Ned - Mal's son. Rosie Cavaliero (The Power of Parker, Code 404, Gentleman Jack) plays Claire - a makeup artist. Laurence Rickard (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) plays Mr Hastings - a teacher. Cavan Clerkin (The Last Kingdom, The Capture) plays Daniel Kichen - Amanda’s boss at the kitchen shop. Add Amandaland to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Amandaland 2: Release date and latest news
Following Amandaland's storming first season, which became one of the BBC's biggest comedy launches in years, it’s no surprise that we’re picking back up with Amanda in season 2. "Amanda is still in SoHa, she’s more settled now but still doing everything she can elevate to her social standing and circumstances," revealed star Lucy Punch. "She’s just as delusional about herself as ever!" The actor also teased "some fantastically funny new characters, and more hilarious storylines with the ones we already know and love". So, when can you watch the new episodes? And who’s joining Punch? Read on for everything you need to know about Amandaland season 2. Amandaland season 2 release date: When can you watch it? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/amanda-a3d0501.jpg" width="3934" height="2623" alt="A group of four adults pose closely together in what appears to be a bar setting. In the foreground, a blonde woman with shoulder-length wavy hair and bangs faces the camera with a confident expression, wearing a light-colored top. Behind her to the right, a smiling man leans in casually. In front of him, a woman with light hair pulled back rests her head against the central figure’s shoulder, smiling warmly. On the left, an older woman in a patterned jacket and scarf drinks from a glass with a lemon slice, looking slightly away from the camera. The background is softly blurred, showing shelves of bottles and a cozy bar atmosphere." title="Amandaland S2" /> Season 2 premieres on Wednesday 6 May 2026 at 9pm on BBC One. Read more: Amandaland review: Joanna Lumley still gets the best lines in this comedy triumph Amandaland star Lucy Punch reveals future hopes for acclaimed Motherland spin-off All episodes are also available to stream right now on BBC iPlayer. Amandaland season 2 cast: Who's returning? And who's new? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/pam-60805a8.jpg" width="7761" height="5174" alt="An older woman and a younger woman stand close together in a cozy, warmly lit living room. The older woman, wearing a pink jacket over a green sweater, looks slightly uneasy or puzzled. She is holding a crutch for support, suggesting she may have an injury or mobility issue. Beside her, a smiling blonde woman leans in cheerfully, dressed in a patterned jacket and white pants, with a red shoulder bag. Her upbeat expression contrasts with the older woman’s more uncertain look. The background shows a comfortable home setting: a piano with framed photos on top, a glowing floor lamp, curtains filtering daylight, and colorful cushions on a sofa, giving the scene a homely, lived-in feel." title="Amandaland S2" /> Alongside Lucy Punch as Amanda, the following faces are also returning: Joanna Lumley as Felicity Philippa Dunne as Anne Samuel Anderson as Mal Siobhan McSweeney as Della Rochenda Sandall as Fi Ekow Quartey as JJ There's also Amanda's children Georgie and Manus, played by Miley Locke and Alexander Shaw, and Jack Veal as Anne's son Darius, among others. And in exciting news, some new characters have also joined the cast. Pam Ferris plays "a frail neighbour with a very desirable house, who Amanda is quick to befriend", while Harriet Webb plays "straight-talking Abs, Mal’s no-nonsense ex and JJ’s wife". Amandaland season 2 plot: What will happen? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/bbc-amanda-901c509.jpg" width="8076" height="5384" alt="Two women are sitting on a cream-colored sofa in a cozy, warmly lit living room. The woman on the left has blonde hair and is wearing a bright red satin blouse with black trousers, sitting with her arms crossed and a skeptical expression. The woman beside her has curly dark hair and is dressed in a colorful pink-and-purple cardigan with burgundy trousers, leaning on a fluffy round cushion and looking amused or unconvinced. In the foreground, there are shiny pink Christmas ornaments and a bowl of popcorn on a table. A brown dog wearing a blue collar sits attentively on the right side of the image. The room has soft furnishings, candles, decorative vases, and blankets, creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere." title="562153,TITLE:Amandaland S2" /> In season 2, Amanda is still settled in SoHa and "juggling teenagers, her online Senuous brand and her "co-lab" working at Kitchen’s Bathrooms and Kitchens". "Resigned to staying in the area, she is however thrilled by the opening of a hipster coffee shop which to her mind represents a step towards gentrification," continues the official synopsis. Amanda's head is also turned when a big house in the area comes up for sale, which forces her to ask her mum Felicity for help... but there’s a catch. "Her mum may seem evergreen, but is definitely starting to show signs of ageing so maybe living alone is no longer an option…" There’s also still something romantic rumbling away between Amanda and neighbour Mal, while Anne "remains Amanda’s loyal and long-suffering best friend, as they all navigate the challenges of parenting teenagers - through exams, relationships and, for the season finale, the school prom". Amandaland season 2 trailer: Is it available to watch? Yes, you can enjoy it right now. Watch it below. View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Amandaland to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Amandaland review: Joanna Lumley still gets the best lines in this comedy triumph
A winning combination of characters, plots and gags means it's worth returning to SoHa for series two of the Motherland spin-off.
Sitcom spin-offs that bring side characters into their own world don’t always work – just look at the likes of Joey or The Cleveland Show. But sometimes there is a Frasier. And BBC One’s Amandaland falls into the latter camp, too, matching – and often surpassing – its (ahem) parent show Motherland in both laughs and ratings for its first series and Christmas special last year. It’s not hard to see why. In some ways, Amandaland works more cleanly as a sitcom than the grounded, ensemble piece Motherland ever did, with Lucy Punch’s failed influencer Amanda Hughes the kind of deluded, ridiculous figure that great comedy is built around. She’s the David Brent of South Harlesden, the Hyacinth Bucket of the Instagram grid. Watching her missteps, you laugh, you cringe… but sometimes, a little part of you celebrates her (few) victories. That said, victories are in short supply in the latest, second series, with indignity upon indignity piled atop Amanda’s perfectly coiffed hair. She’s caught in an embarrassing Google Maps shot, called out at her local coffee shop, edged out of a perfect house sale and regularly belittled and undermined by her imperious mother (a brilliant Joanna Lumley, still given all the best lines). Worst of all, she’s discovering that her teenage kids, Georgie and Manus, need her a lot less than they used to, and that she might not be the cool mum she always imagined herself to be. If the first series hit the ground running, this one’s a sprint; a slick joke machine from writers Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Barunka O'Shaughnessy and newcomer Laurence Rickard, one of the Horrible Histories/Ghosts collective (he also has a small role here as a teacher). Every episode is stuffed with memorable one-liners ("she came, she saw, she gentrified") and clever payoffs, with great performances in particular from Punch, Lumley and Philippa Dunne as Amanda’s best pal Anne, who grows a bit of a backbone this series after years of being her punching bag. View Green Video on the source website Among such elevated company, Rosie Cavaliero still nearly steals the show in the final episode, where she guest stars as a chaotic make-up artist hired to work with the teenagers before their prom. However, not everything in this series is as smooth as Amanda’s post-filter Instagram pics. Like Motherland, Amandaland is something of an ensemble, and sometimes the series struggles to juggle individual plots for all the other characters in Amanda’s orbit (although some are terrific, as when Rochenda Sandall’s Fi accidentally becomes a stereotypical white van driver). Siobhán McSweeney’s frosty chef Della is somewhat absent this time round (appearing fully in two episodes and once over video call from an overseas job), which leaves room for a new character to emerge. The previously unseen ex-wife of Mal (Samuel Anderson) and current partner to JJ (Ekow Quartey), Abs (Harriet Webb) is introduced as a new, down-to-earth foil for Amanda. But despite Webb’s comedic talents (best evidenced in Channel 4’s Big Boys), her character doesn’t add too much to the group dynamic across all six episodes. In some ways, Abs was funnier as a fearsome off-screen figure – perhaps future series will find more for her to do? That aside, this second series is a comedy triumph; a winning confluence of characters, plotting and gag-writing that makes a sitcom worth returning to. Whether you see yourself in Amanda, her friends, her mum or her kids – or none of them at all – it’s the kind of slick, relatable 'content' that Amanda’s feed could only dream of hosting. Amandaland season 2 premieres on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 at 9pm on BBC One. All episodes will be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer from 6 May. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
This year's BAFTA-nominated comedy stars feature across 6 covers
What is the secret to creating the best comedy on television? This year's nominees reveal how to make the nation laugh.
Time and again, whenever we interview actors about their latest projects, they trot out the well-worn phrase that, "it's all in the writing". What drew them to the role? What made the show a success? Why have they been nominated for a Bafta? You guessed it, it's all in the writing. As disingenuous as this may sometimes seem, there perhaps has never been more truth in it. And never more so when it comes to comedy. Big, broad dramas get the primetime slots, attract the heft of Hollywood names and the transatlantic accolades – but uniquely British comedies, while quieter and smaller in scale, are drawing bigger audiences and becoming much more popular. From SoHa in Amandaland to Brent Uni in Big Boys the worlds are specific, the characters that inhabit them perfectly drawn, the stakes are high and as Pushers' creator and star Rosie Jones says, "Not only are you creating story, but you're constantly trying to think of the funniest way of getting that across." So, for this year's Baftas we are celebrating all those in the comedy categories, the stars and the writers behind them - which increasingly seem to be one and the same person. After all, if you're going to give full credit to the script, you might as well have written it! The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. View Gallery on the source website Also in this week's Radio Times: Master of true-crime drama Jeff Pope discusses bringing the chilling "black cab rapist" case to screen. Sarah Beeny on 20 years of property TV – and why TikTok is changing the game. Julie Graham and Claire Cooper reunite as mother and daughter in The Hardacres series two. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Did you know you can now order a previous edition of Radio Times magazine with our back issues service? Add your favourite comedies to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Mawaan Rizwan talks saying goodbye to Juice: “I think it’s healthy to close chapters”
The creator, writer and star of sitcom Juice now has a Bafta nomination – and big ideas for the future
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. It’s the morning after the night before and Mawaan Rizwan has a languorous air about him. Tired but satisfied, almost post-coital, he reclines in the back of a car leaving London for Stratford-upon-Avon where, until 30 May, he’s on stage at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Bertold Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. As the city’s edifices of steel, sandstone and glass give way to suburban sprawl, Rizwan is in a reflective mood. “I’m really alive right now,” he says. “Like, every cell in my body is creatively fulfilled.” The night before was the Bafta Craft awards, where those who work behind-the-scenes in TV are recognised for their creativity and talent. There, Juice’s Philippa Mumford picked up the award for production design, declaring it “a dream come true” before Rizwan crashed the stage to sing her praises. “It’s unheard of that a comedy wins this category because we were so low-budget,” he said, as the ingenious and inventive Mumford beamed beside him. “Philippa worked her arse off and the team were incredible and everything was made by hand. In the age of AI, we need people like Philippa.” We need people like Rizwan too, says Seán Linnen, who directs him in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, a parable about the rise of Hitler that has clear resonance for today. “He has such a hunger to tell a story in the most entertaining way and if you give him a note or an idea, he’ll run into it head-first and explode it – which then gives permission for the actors around him to do the same thing. And they go to places that you think are impossible to reach. He makes other actors bolder and braver. He has such precision and poise, and then is also fearless in being messy and ugly and raw and mischievous.” When I relay Linnen’s comments to Rizwan in the back of his car, he sits up and is palpably moved. “That Seán sees all that is beautiful,” he says. “If I had a CV, I’d put that on it.” At the top of that imaginary CV would also be Juice, the series Rizwan created, written and stars in, which has earned him his own Bafta nomination at the Television Awards. It’s a series he loves – not least because it has been the making of him. “Five years of my life doing two series, it’s such a privilege being at the epicentre and having creative control of a project like that, but it’s a lot of pressure and a really intense process,” he says. “You can write on your own but unless it’s a one-person show, you need other people to embody it and then it takes on a life of its own. I love that transition moment where the caterpillar of the script becomes the beautiful butterfly of performance.” And, Rizwan says, you have to let that butterfly fly. “You can’t control it too much. You have to let other people do their thing. On Juice, it was a constant dance – being a leader, but getting out of people’s way, particularly my mum and brother [who also star in the series]. And look what happened yesterday [at the Bafta Television Craft Awards] – Philippa took the ideas and ran with them on series two. There were things where, if I tried to control it, it just wouldn’t have been as beautiful and magical as the stuff she made.” Rizwan draws an analogy from Of Mice and Men. “You can love the rabbit too much and squeeze it to death.” Win or lose, the Baftas will be his goodbye to Juice. “It will always be my first love and there isn’t anyone involved with that show that I don’t adore, but I think it’s healthy to close chapters.” Though he’s upfront that his work is therapeutic, Rizwan is adamant that he’s no tortured artist. “Some people work great in that energy but I need to feel hope to make stuff. Even if I’m writing something really dark, I need to feel hope to be disciplined and get to the desk or the rehearsal and be a ‘yes, and…’ person. I need to be alive, lively.” And with his relish at being part of someone else’s show, alive Rizwan most certainly is. His languor has evaporated as he leans forward to tell me of a new goal he has to aim for. “The day before we came up to Stratford from London, we went to the Together Alliance march against fascism. It was such a nice way of finishing the rehearsal process and seeing all these different communities coming together – Muslim aunties and uncles dancing to a trans[gender] DJ, Jews Against Genocide – was just joyous and beautiful. By the end of it, I was just crying. We’ve been so indoctrinated into believing there’s nothing we can do, but there is resistance and hope that comes from just showing up, congregating and listening to each other. “My goal is to show up and the more I show up, the less I’m at home alone and doomscrolling. After all, it’s the resistible rise. Stress on the resistible.” The Bafta Television Awards are on Sunday 11 May at 7pm on BBC One. BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises Shot at Sea Containers London Photography: Rachel Louise Brown @rachellouisebrownstudio Styling: Natalie Read @natreadstylist Set Design: Propped Up @propped_up_ltd Hair and make-up: Niki Mark @makeupby_niki The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Things You Should Have Done creator Lucia Keskin talks ADHD medication, old comedies and dark humour
The Bafta-nominated creator, writer and star of Things You Should Have Done loves everything from Carry On to Nighty Night.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. From YouTube sensation to Bafta nomination, yours has been quite the journey. How are you enjoying it? I never go out and I’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s fine. Plus I’ve just started new ADHD medication. And how is that? I don’t feel any different yet as it takes ages to get on the right dose, but it’s the road to focusing. I really struggle with it – it takes me ages to get anything written down. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/BBC-comedy-96ee4bd.jpg" width="4241" height="2827" alt="A young woman stands outdoors beside a black-and-white horse, which is close to the camera and slightly out of focus in the foreground. She wears a colourful padded jacket and a scarf, with a mildly unimpressed expression, while trees and greenery fill the background." title="Things You Should Have Done Series 2" /> We hear a lot about younger generations being horrified by the political incorrectness of old comedies like the Carry On films. What do you think of them? I watch loads of old comedies like Carry On… and Hancock’s Half Hour. And unless something’s incredibly offensive to the point where it’s not funny, it doesn’t bother me. I enjoy a very dark humour, though. I love Nighty Night and I did really enjoy After Life. The Bafta Television Awards are on Sunday 11 May at 7.00pm on BBC One BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises Shot at Sea Containers London Photography: Rachel Louise Brown @rachellouisebrownstudio Styling: Natalie Read @natreadstylist Set Design: Propped Up @propped_up_ltd Hair by Philipp Haug & Eden Thomson for Schwarzkopf Make-up by Armani Beauty The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Rivals star reveals why her new Harry Potter TV series role was a no-brainer
Katherine Parkinson is nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance at the 2026 Bafta Television Awards.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. It has been 12 years since Katherine Parkinson won her Bafta for Best Female Comedy Performance for her role as Jen Barber in The IT Crowd. Now, ahead of this year's ceremony where she is up for the same award as matriarch Rachel Jessop in Here We Go, she shares her thoughts on the nomination, her on-screen husband, and her upcoming role in the new Harry Potter TV series. Last year, you were nominated for Lizzie in Rivals and this year for Rachel in Here We Go. What do they have in common? I knew I wasn’t going to win last year and I know I’m not going to win this year, so there’s that. The amazing Jessica Gunning won last year for Baby Reindeer, and rightly so. I’m not going to say who I think will win this year but it won’t be me and I’m totally OK with that. It means that you don’t have to prepare a “funny” speech and you can just relax. Would you say that you and Jim Howick, who plays your husband Paul and is also nominated for a Bafta, are very much a double act? Even though playing it can leave you feeling really stressed, I do really enjoy how quickly they get to such a fever pitch of being incredibly cross with each other. When we started, I remember thinking, “Is this potentially over the top?” at how hysterical I get, and then – and I hope they don’t mind me saying this – I spent time with my parents and realised that Paul and Rachel’s is a very authentic relationship. Next up, you’re playing Mrs Weasley in the new Harry Potter TV adaptation. Was it an easy decision to take the role? I’m a mother and my children would never have forgiven me if I hadn’t taken the part. So from that point of view, it was a complete no-brainer. The Bafta Television Awards are on Sunday 11 May at 7pm on BBC One. BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises Shot at Sea Containers London Photography: Rachel Louise Brown @‌rachellouisebrownstudio Styling: Natalie Read @‌natreadstylist Set Design: Propped Up @‌propped_up_ltd Hair by Philipp Haug & Eden Thomson for Schwarzkopf Make-up by Armani Beauty The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Rosie Jones reveals how having her benefits cut led to acclaimed drug-dealer comedy Pushers
The comedian is nominated for a Bafta at the upcoming Television Awards – and she spoke to Radio Times for our latest issue.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Congratulations on the Bafta nominationfor your performance in Pushers. Was this something on your wish list? It was always my ultimate goal to have my own sitcom, so when I did that, I thought, “Great, I’m done. I’ve peaked.” This nomination really is the icing on an already yummy cake. What inspired you to write Pushers? It’s a sitcom about a drug dealer so, legally, I can’t say it’s about my early years. It actually came from a serious political place. In 2017, the government halved my benefits. I was able to take on more jobs and make up the money, but it made me think about all the millions of disabled people unable to do the same. With my comedic hat on, I thought of the most ridiculous thing I could do to earn money, and that was drug dealing, getting past police because they think a person like me is a cute little disabled lady. It came out of knowing how it feels to be underestimated all of my life. What’s your writing process? My co-writer Peter Fellows and I literally cut every episode in half. One of us writes the first half, the other writes the second and then we swap them over, so we approach the second draft with fresh eyes and new jokes, then we swap them back, stitch them together and then finally get in the room to read it. For me then, it’s all about how it sounds, improving each line, and that process never stops, even when we’re filming on set. Is it harder to write comedy than drama? I’m biased, but I’d say yes. Not only are you creating a story, you’re also constantly trying to think of the funniest way of getting that across. I recently wrote an episode of a drama and was told that it was too funny. Comedy is my fallback and defence mechanism, so it broke my heart to take out the jokes. The latest issue of Radio Times is out on Tuesday – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Pushers to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Here We Go writer teases season 4 - while star and Ghosts favourite explains secret to its success
Here We Go is nominated for two awards at the 2026 Bafta Television Awards.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Since debuting in 2022, Here We Go and the Jessop family have gone on a three-season run, with the BBC sitcom earning two nominations at the upcoming Bafta Television Awards. Creator, writer and actor Tom Basden and star Jim Howick share what it is that has made the comedy such a success. Tom Basden Creator, writer and actor in Here We Go What’s your writing process for Here We Go? I’m actually in the middle of writing series four. I’m very, very bad at admin in general, so I have lots of notes all over the place, in notebooks or Word documents or on my phone or on random bits of paper in my bag. So the start of the process is always trying to unearth everything, to do an audit of all the ideas that I’ve ever had for Here We Go – and everything else – and then just go through them. How is writing comedy different to drama? I don’t want to generalise but in drama, the stakes are usually a lot higher, and therefore characters’ responses are usually the same. It’s like, “We’ve got to catch the murderer” or “We’ve got to keep this hospital patient alive”. It doesn’t really matter who the detective is, or who the doctor is. Whereas in a comedy, the stakes are often coming out of relationships, and quite personal. I think that’s a lot of the reason why the characters become funny – they respond to things in a way that the audience doesn’t necessarily expect them to, but completely recognises. Jim Howick Star of Here We Go Nominated for actor in a comedy Why do you think Here We Go has become such a success? It follows family dynamic tropes very well, but the stories can often be quite goofy and mad. Also, sitcoms really benefit from a sort of “open house” culture. Often, when the doorbell goes – and that’s actually a joke in the show – you know that it’s going to offer a new flavour and texture to the comedy. As part of the collective behind Ghosts and Horrible Histories, what’s the difference working with scripts you didn’t co-write? It’s a lot more relaxing to be an actor for hire on someone else’s script, especially when it’s one of Tom’s scripts. Tom is a quiet genius and his scripts make me laugh out loud. I would never laugh out loud at my own script – that would be sort of psychopathic. How much latitude is there for improvisation? Tom can be particular sometimes, but as long as it’s not disrupting the story beats and as long as you’re not being self-indulgent, there’s a real value in ad-libbing, especially as it fits with the guerrilla film-making format of Here We Go. The Bafta Television Awards are on Sunday 11 May at 7pm on BBC One. BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises Shot at Sea Containers London Photography: Rachel Louise Brown @‌rachellouisebrownstudio Styling: Natalie Read @‌natreadstylist Set Design: Propped Up @‌propped_up_ltd Hair by Philipp Haug & Eden Thomson for Schwarzkopf Make-up by Armani Beauty The latest issue of Radio Times is out on Tuesday – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Am I Being Unreasonable? favourites Lenny Rush and Selin Hizli talk BAFTA nominations, Slow Horses, and creating comedy
"If I’m not making it funnier, I’d much rather the writers tell me," says Lenny Rush.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Lenny Rush Star of Am I Being Unreasonable? Nominated for actor in a comedy Congratulations on your BAFTA nomination. You must be feeling a sense of déjà vu, after your win for the first series. What are your memories of that night? I was shocked, I genuinely didn’t expect to win. This year, it’s strong competition again, and even being selected alongside these people feels crazy to me. What’s changed for you personally between filming series one and two? People started coming up to me and shouting, “Lenny!” I thought, “Do I know you?” It felt a bit odd at first, but now I just find it lovely. I went on holiday with my family and some of them hadn’t experienced it before, so they found it a bit weird. What’s it like on the set of Am I Being Unreasonable?, with the writers also acting? I’ve never had a job with so much improvisation. I think it makes the comedy funnier. You can tell when something is improvised, in a good way. Are they happy for you to change your own lines? They pretend to be! I think so, yes. And if I’m not making it funnier, I’d much rather they tell me. You’ve appeared in drama, too, including A Woman of Substance and the next Slow Horses. How different is it from working in comedy? I think it’s similar, but even a serious show like Slow Horses has lots of funny things in it. I’m probably most comfortable with comedy, but I want to do other stuff. I want to be able to do a bit of everything. Selin Hizli Co-creator, co-writer and co-star of Am I Being Unreasonable? and co-star of Things You Should Have Done, which is nominated for best scripted comedy You’re in two of this year’s BAFTA-nominated comedies – Am I Being Unreasonable? and Things You Should Have Done. What quality do they share? I think they both bring a unique, clear voice that has not really been heard before. What drew you to them? Things felt completely new and I was excited to be part of it. With Unreasonable?, Daisy May Cooper [co-creator, co-writer and co-star] and I describe it as a love story, but with friends. We connected over being at home during lockdown, with children. We wanted to convey as much of our friendship as possible. How does the writing process with Daisy work? We live quite far apart, so first of all we reconnect, then there is procrastination, but out of all that ideas will come. Daisy usually paces a lot while I tip-tap on the computer, saying, “We can’t say that,” and Daisy saying, “Yes, we can.” Do you change things on the fly while you’re filming? The whole of series one felt like it was on the fly because it was so new. We both know when it feels right, so we’re never wedded to any particular words. Now you’re a writer/actor, do you still enjoy “just” acting? It’s what I came to first. I love turning up, being told where to stand, what to wear and what to say. Actors are essentially like children, and I love making no decisions. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Such Brave Girls’ Kat Sadler talks writing comedy and having her sister play her sibling on-screen
Bafta-nominated comedy writer Sadler spoke to Radio Times for our latest issue.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. What’s your writing process for Such Brave Girls? Often my sister Lizzie and I will regroup at the end of the week, and 10 anecdotes will come out of that, plus some mad logic that we’ve had about something. And then I write them down! Your sister plays your character’s sister in the show – what’s that like? I think I would have let them not cast me, but I definitely wanted Lizzie to be in it. I hadn’t seen someone like her on TV before – she’s so funny, so confident, so boisterous. You were lucky she was good, then! I know, the relief! She was incredible, but I knew she would be. We’ve always found the humour in dark stuff that happened to us. At one time I had just come out of hospital and she was in loads of debt, and that was the genesis of the show – where we could start our story. Who are the comedy writers you admire? I love Jesse Armstrong [Peep Show, Succession] so much. He was so encouraging about series one. He said with series two, it’ll feel like you’re writing fan fiction of series one, but you just need to lean into it and service the characters. And then he did notes on series two, and was a really good sounding board. And also my script editor, Cameron Loxdale – he’s like my best mate. The latest issue of Radio Times is out on Tuesday – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Such Brave Girls to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Amandaland star Lucy Punch reveals future hopes for acclaimed Motherland spin-off
Punch – as well as co-star Philippa Dunne and co-creator Holly Walsh – spoke to Radio Times ahead of the upcoming Baftas.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. It’s surely a sign of a great characterisation – comic, tragic, sometimes delightfully both – when a fictional figure feels instantly recognisable in our own lives. We all know a David Brent. Everybody in TV has met an Alan Partridge. All both admirable and aggravating, made of equal parts self-belief, self-aggrandisement and self-sabotage. A newer, worthy addition to that list is Amanda Hughes, first seen as the self-anointed blonde vixen of Motherland, now tirelessly trying to ascend more social rungs in her own eponymous show. So who is the real Amanda? If anyone knows, it’s Lucy Punch, Bafta-nominated for her turn in the first series of Amandaland. "Everyone says they know an Amanda, but she’s based on a lot of people I’ve come across," says Punch. "She’s lots of little pieces. She’s not a caricature; there’s stuff that’s endearing, and stuff that’s horrific and obnoxious. She can’t just be one thing, otherwise she’d have no friends and not be able to function." Does the actress recognise herself? "I’m hopeful like she is, and can find the positive in a situation," she begins. "I hope I’m a lot more self-aware, not as pretentious and snobby." Does she like her screen counterpart? "I do. She’s a hustler. She falls flat on her face and gets back up. She just wants a big life." Punch isn’t alone in getting a Bafta nod for her work on the show. Alongside her in the category of best actress in a comedy are two castmates (Philippa Dunne and Jennifer Saunders, who appeared in the Christmas special), with the comedy itself also nominated. With a second series now on BBC One, why does she think it found an appreciative audience so quickly? "I think it’s the writing, which started on Motherland. It’s a really tight script, the writing is specific to each of the characters and their voices are really clear." Does any actor dare tweak a line? "We might play around a bit, but the jokes are thick, fast and brilliant so we stick to it pretty much." Other familiar faces in the series include Joanna Lumley, on scene-stealing form as Amanda’s negligent mother Felicity, who flickers with vulnerability in the new series. Punch says all the characters need to evolve: "We want to do this as long as people enjoy it; every character needs to feel fleshed out, so people can relate." Punch was brought up in London, the only child of parents who worked in marketing (mother) and advertising (father), and found acting via school plays and the National Youth Theatre during her summer holidays. "I was lucky enough to get little job after little job, and one of my earliest roles was with Jennifer Saunders. I was obsessed with Ab Fab, so I was beside myself. I did speak to her, but I was timid." View Green Video on the source website She now lives in California with her partner, artist Dinos Chapman, and their two children, neither of whom are interested in their parents’ professions. "I’ve got a very little one, he’s oblivious, and my elder son is not particularly impressed, which is how I like it." One of the many upsides of Punch starring in her own hit British TV comedy is that filming brings her back here to the UK. "I don’t really feel very at home in the States," she admits. "I get back here and it feels like a relief. Occasionally, I’ll miss cultural references just because I’m not here enough, but I feel very British and connected to the people, the attitude, the sense of humour." With her recent success, plus juggling transatlantic family life, Punch would be forgiven for becoming pickier about taking roles, but she laughs at the notion. "I’m currently in a very special, unexpected situation. I’ve never had an opportunity to be selective; I love what I do, but it’s how I make my living. Being in something that’s done well means maybe I can be a bit more choosy or specific about what will be next. But truthfully, I love working and it’s hard to get a job as an actor. People think there are endless offers coming in, but sometimes you get a job you think is going to be huge and it isn’t, and the little jobs turn out to be something bigger.” Did Amandaland and its predecessor originally feel like a big job or a little job? Punch smiles widely. "It felt special. I couldn’t have imagined 10 years later I’d be here, but that first script was incredible, as was the cast. And here we are." Philippa Dunne – Anne Flynn actress Interview by Huw Fullerton Amandaland is sweeping the Bafta Television Awards this year, including three actress nominations for you, Lucy Punch and Jennifer Saunders. You signed on for a small role in Motherland – could you have imagined the current situation? That was 10 years ago! No, I couldn’t have imagined it. In the Motherland pilot, I had a handful of lines, and I tried my best, and I didn’t know where that was going to go. Even coming back for Amandaland – I dreamed of it, because I knew that me and Lucy had something special with our two characters. This week, you’re also in a very different, dramatic series – ITV1’s Believe Me (Sunday/Monday 9.00pm). Do you think comedy is harder to make than drama? Yes. Comedy, I think, is held to a higher standard. It has to make you laugh, laugh, laugh all the time. Whereas dramas like space to breathe and roll on and fluctuate. With comedy, people don’t give it a chance. If you don’t make someone laugh out loud within the opening scene of a new series, good luck! Holly Walsh – Co-creator and writer Interview by Huw Fullerton Amandaland has a huge number of Bafta nominations. How do you feel? "Relieved" I think is the word. I’m particularly happy for our cast who got nominated. I love our cast – all our cast. And they deserve it, because they are excellent. You used to be an "on-screen" performer yourself as a stand-up – why have you stepped behind the camera? Well, when I was a stand-up, there were loads of jokes that I felt like I couldn’t say, that weren’t really in my voice. When you’re a stand-up, you have to be conscious of your persona. When we do Motherland or Amandaland, I can write jokes for people who I am not, in any way, shape or form. Do you think that’s something other sitcom writers feel? I think nowadays there’s a big push for writer-performers in sitcoms. Our show is kind of unusual because we’re a group of writers who write for a group of actors. We’re not in the show. But that, for me, is the sweet spot. Why not get a specialist to do the thing they can do really well, so I can do my job, and they can do their job, and together we make something really great? The latest issue of Radio Times is out on Tuesday – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Amandaland to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Eric Morecambe’s son reacts to recovered The Morecambe and Wise Show episode: "It’s absolutely hilarious"
The finding of a missing Morecambe and Wise episode is very timely, says Eric’s delighted son Gary Morecambe.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. There’s always a fever of excitement when a slice of classic television is miraculously returned to the archives, and this time no one is more chuffed than Gary Morecambe. A long-thought-lost 1968 edition of The Morecambe and Wise Show provides another chance to see his father Eric in his heyday with his comedy partner Ernie. The duo were watched and adored by record-breaking millions in the 1960s and 70s. “And what timing!” says Gary. “Fantastic that it should happen right now, this being his centenary year.” Indeed, it has been found almost to the week. Eric was born on 14 May 1926, and with Ernie having been born in November 1925, it’s almost a double centenary. “How can you not celebrate 100 years!” says Gary cheerfully. “My sister and I have a whole week planned up in Morecambe of unveilings, attendances and Q&As.” (Eric’s real surname was Bartholomew and he took his stage name from the seaside town of his birth.) “It’s really amazing,” says Gary. “I mean, how do they find these things? It’s usually me who finds them.” He’s referring to a happy day five years ago when he was clearing the attic in his old family home and stumbled upon a missing 1970 edition of Morecambe and Wise. It was cleaned up and shown on BBC Two on Christmas Day 2021. “I thought that would mark the end of anything turning up, but now I just don’t know. What next?” The latest recovery has been meticulously managed by Film Is Fabulous, the same charitable trust and repository for rare film collections that recently returned to the BBC two long-lost Doctor Who episodes. This gem hails from the collection of a deceased “industry professional”, whose estate has requested anonymity. It first aired on BBC Two in colour on 16 September 1968, was then repeated in 1969 on BBC One in black and white – and has never been seen since. “I would’ve been 12 then and probably caught this one,” says Gary. Eric and Ernie’s 1968 series marked the pair’s triumphant return to the BBC after a long spell at ITV and was heralded on the cover of Radio Times. By then, they’d already been a comedy duo for 28 years – in fact, since their teens – and Eric joked with RT, “I’m thinking of divorcing him – he talks too much.” Several editions of that initial colour series remain lost. This latest find is actually a monochrome “telerecording” on film. As FIF head John Franklin explains, “This is a ‘cutting copy’ made for technical review within the BBC, and was probably later stored in cupboards by staff – just like the recent Doctor Whos. These aren’t items that have come back from overseas sales.” He’s delighted with the episode. “There’s a stand-out sketch at the end set in a nudist camp. It’s absolutely hilarious.” Structured as a half-hour variety show, it also features a vocal trio, the Paper Dolls, and actresses Jenny Lee-Wright and Ann Hamilton, who were regular foils for Eric and Ernie. The show’s writers were Sid Green and Dick Hills, “so that’s very embryonic in terms of what they later did with Eddie Braben,” observes Gary. Though Eric died in 1984 and Ernie in 1999, their appeal is undiminished. And Morecambe’s comedic influence should gain new currency later this year. His children’s book The Reluctant Vampire has been filmed by the BBC. “We’ve got the wonderful Lenny Rush starring in it,” says Gary, “and the Gibbons brothers, Neil and Rob, who’ve done a lot of Alan Partridge, came in and wrote their own scripts but they did it without ‘losing Eric’ – which is a fantastic achievement.” John Franklin promises further announcements from Film Is Fabulous in the coming months. So stay tuned… The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Big Boys creator Jack Rooke: "I’m bored of mental health shows"
Jack Rooke has had great success as the Bafta-winning writer of Big Boys – but "I'd rather be at the Edinburgh Fringe, performing in a tiny hovel"
Jack Rooke, double Bafta-winning comedy writer, has a confession. “I actually don’t like writing,” he laughs. “I find it really boring and time-consuming. I find other writers all really awkward and anxious and full of neuroses. I’m a stand-up comedian! I would way rather be at the Edinburgh Fringe performing in a tiny hovel, sharing a dressing room with 12 drag queens, than I would in a writer’s room. It’s not my vibe.” It must be a burden to be so good at something you hate. The 32-year-old has already won two Bafta Craft Awards for writing Big Boys, Rooke’s tongue-in-cheek riff on his own university days, starring Dylan Llewellyn as the younger “Jack” alongside Jon Pointing as best mate Danny. Now, at this year’s Television Awards, Big Boys is nominated for best comedy, alongside Pointing for actor in a comedy. And a scene they appeared in together – where Rooke plays a version of himself, talking back through time to Pointing’s character – is the only scripted comedy nominated in the “memorable moment” category. All in all it’s a long way from the series’ inauspicious origins. “When I was first writing Big Boys, the show had been with previous broadcasters. They turned it down. The show had been cancelled twice!” Rooke recalls. “We got cancelled when we made a pilot and then we took it to someone else, then Covid happened and we were cancelled again. “We made that show on the smallest possible budgets. Series one was half-funded by the Young Audiences Content Fund through the BFI, so we almost didn’t make it. Nobody ever really wanted to fully commit to Big Boys. Thankfully Fiona McDermott, when she was at Channel 4, said, ‘I love this show. I think it should be a unique comedy, but also a family comedy.’ “I think the 14 nominations we’ve had over three series is pretty good. I could die happy with that.” In his Bafta Craft winner’s speech last month, Rooke spoke passionately about the need to invest in comedy early, and the class barrier that means some people never have a chance to take their first steps into the industry. “It’s really challenging to make comedy in the UK at the moment,” he explains. “I think it’s because it’s devalued constantly against drama, and gets less spend than drama, especially at the public service broadcaster level. It gets way less marketing. “You look at shows like Gavin & Stacey and at writers like Michaela Coel or Phoebe Waller-Bridge or Jesse Armstrong, all of whom stem from scripted comedy. And we just aren’t giving anyone the right setup to launch their career in the same way.” A big issue, he explains, is that more “regional” or specific comedies – he cites Alma’s Not Normal, Smoggie Queens, Juice, The Change and Things You Should Have Done – are harder to sell to America, which means they can’t secure the same investment as more universal stories. “International investment means you’ve got bigger budgets, which means bigger names and better marketing,” he says. “It ends up meaning that way more privileged stories get told than stuff that feels very specific to this weird little island.” On or off his keyboard, Rooke is a funny man. Believe it or not, that’s not a prerequisite for comedy writers, and given his campaigning mien and the themes of his work (which has covered grief and suicide), you might expect him to be more earnest than he is. Instead, he spends our shoot riffing with Pointing and sending himself up, comparing his work unfavourably to older comedies like Only Fools and Horses. “I just don’t think that anything will ever be as funny as the bar fall,” he says. “That and when the Vicar of Dibley drops in the puddle. To me, as a child, that’s comedy. Less of this Big Boys-y male mental health stuff. I’m bored of that. Put some slapstick in. Let’s get some people falling over. Let’s get some people injuring themselves in a permanent way.” He laughs, warming to his theme. “I’m bored of mental health shows. There you go. We’re sick of them now. Just get a therapist and take some vitamin D, get outside and have a walk. All right?” Next up for Rooke is a stint writing on David Nicholls’ Adrian Mole adaptation, and a planned return to stand-up. But could there ever be another return for Big Boys? “I’m really proud that we ended it with series three, and it was always going to be a three-season arc, because you have three years of uni,” he says firmly. “Sometimes, you have to end on a high – like with these Bafta nominations.” But he does also have one final confession. He admits, “Sometimes, I think, ‘If I was doing season four… I actually think I’m a better writer now than I was then.’” Albeit, of course, a reluctant one. Jon Pointing, star of Big Boys, is nominated for actor in a comedy at the Bafta Television Awards 2026. Jack wrote this character for you, Jon — does that give you more leeway to tinker with the script? I think with this show in particular, Jack wanted me to do it because he saw something in me that he knew worked for this part, for Danny. So I sort of took that as licence to bring something to the role. That said, you can get carried away by the improvising. You’re so keen to make people laugh in the room that it sort of takes away from what the scene is doing. You’ve also been in hit comedy Small Prophets recently — how different is a Mackenzie Crook script to a Jack Rooke one? Crook or Rooke? That’s the question. The pace is different – with something like Big Boys, you’re charging through the years with this group of people. With Small Prophets, it’s more like Mackenzie is trying to slow the world down a little bit. What’s your favourite classic sitcom quote? From Peep Show… I probably say “That’s my bit of lager” the most. Or the other one I say from The Royle Family quite a lot is, “Bye bye, baby David.” But I quote Peep Show the most because it works for so many scenarios. The Bafta Television Awards are on Sunday 11 May at 7.00pm on BBC One. BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises Shot at Sea Containers London Photography: Rachel Louise Brown @rachellouisebrownstudio Styling: Natalie Read @natreadstylist Set Design: Propped Up @propped_up_ltd Hair by Philipp Haug & Eden Thomson for Schwarzkopf Make-up by Armani Beauty The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Scrubs revival finally gets its future confirmed after returning from 16 years off screens
JD has a big challenge to tackle in the next chapter.
The quirky doctors of the Sacred Heart aren't clocking off yet as a second season of Disney's hit Scrubs revival is on the way, chronicling the later lives of original trio JD (Zach Braff), Elliot (Sarah Chalke) and Turk (Donald Faison). Fans of the original series were relieved and delighted to find that this revival lives up to its legacy, by developing the returning characters in exciting new ways and setting up a slew of memorable new additions. In addition to positive reviews, Scrubs season 10 also drew a sizeable crowd, with the premiere episode reaching 11 million viewers in North America alone, where the series also became ABC's top-ranked comedy of the year (among adults aged 18-49). Scrubs lead actor, Braff, has made it known that, unlike Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, this revival was always intended to run for multiple seasons – and the team has been busy putting together plans for what to do next. For one thing, co-star John C McGinley told Deadline that fans could expect "a lot more" of him in season 2, following the poignant reveal that JD's mentor Dr Cox would become his patient moving forward. Dr Cox was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, named microscopic polyangiitis, which is incurable and requires expert care to treat – an enormous challenge in any case, but particularly between two people with such a storied history. "[JD] needs a threat, he needs consequence," said McGinley. "There has to be jeopardy, and that jeopardy is Cox, however Billy [Lawrence, creator] writes it. I think Cox will be more thickly woven into the tapestry of season 2. I'm completely speculating." Beyond Dr Cox, Braff has also assured fans that the Scrubs team have heard their demands for the original cast to have larger roles, telling TVLine that they're "working on" overcoming the hurdles involved. For example, Sacred Heart head nurse and Turk's wife Carla could only appear in a handful of the new episodes, due to her pre-existing commitments to fellow Disney comedy High Potential (starring It's Always Sunny's Kaitlin Olson). View Green Video on the source website "We only had nine episodes and we had so much to do," Braff explained. "I know some people are like, 'Wait, I want more Johnny [C McGinley], I want more Neil [Flynn as The Janitor], I want more Judy [Reyes as Carla].' We get it, and we're working on it." Original series creator and revival producer Bill Lawrence, also known for Ted Lasso and Shrinking, has previously committed to bringing back Ken Jenkins as fearsome veteran Dr Bob Kelso in the second chapter of the reboot, too. "Dr Kelso will be back next year," he told Deadline in February. "It just didn’t work out this year but it will next year." That particular returnee to the Scrubs cast would be quite momentous, given that the 85-year-old Jenkins was believed to have retired, having not taken a major role since 2018's A Series of Unfortunate Events season 2 on Netflix. We'll bring you more updates on Scrubs season 2 (aka season 11) as they come in. Scrubs is available to stream on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Scrubs to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
BBC finally confirms air date of 'missing' episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show - and it's soon
The lost episode will be shown on BBC Four and iPlayer next month.
The BBC has finally confirmed when a lost episode of Morecambe and Wise is set to be broadcast - and there isn’t too long to wait. It was announced last week that an episode of the legendary sketch show starring the British comedy icons from season 1 - which wasn’t archived at the time of broadcast - had been recovered. The episode, which was previously thought to be lost forever, was discovered at the estate of a former TV professional by Film Is Fabulous! - a charitable trust run by film collectors and television enthusiasts. Now, the BBC has revealed that the episode, which first aired on 16 September, 1968, will be shown on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 14 May 2026 - the day that Eric Morecambe would have turned 100. BBC Four will also air a collection of sketches called The Perfect Morecambe and Wise to mark the anniversary. The ‘missing’ episode, which was the third instalment from Morecambe and Wise’s first series after returning to the BBC, features British actress Ann Hamilton appearing in a sketch set in a nudist colony, as well as Jenny Lee-Wright playing Morecambe’s niece. It also includes a musical performance from the female trio The Paper Dolls. Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives, said in a statement: “Morecambe and Wise are one of the UK’s most loved comedy duos. Thanks to Film Is Fabulous! - we’re delighted to share this comedy gold that we thought was lost forever with viewers across the UK." Eric Morecambe’s daughter, Gail Morecambe, added that she's "really looking forward to seeing it on a screen once again after so many years", and that she's "especially thrilled that it coincides with my father’s centenary year". Eric Morecambe’s son, Gary Morecambe, said: "I honestly didn’t think there was anything out there left to find, and when something like this comes out of nowhere, it’s really quite wonderful." Last month, Film is Fabulous restored missing Doctor Who episodes The Nightmare Begins and Devil's Planet, which were broadcast back in November 1965. Both episodes are available now on BBC iPlayer. The Morecambe and Wise Show is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Friends icon Lisa Kudrow reveals eye-watering amounts cast get from endless reruns of beloved sitcom
Kudrow and her co-stars earn an astounding amount a year in residuals when Friends is re-aired.
Friends star Lisa Kudrow has revealed the amount of money she and her former cast mates receive in residuals more than 20 years after the beloved sitcom ended. The actress, along with her co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and the late Matthew Perry, all rose to global stardom over the course of the show’s 10-season run between 1994 and 2004. Although the six cast members reportedly started out on $22,500 per episode in season 1, they famously negotiated together to increase their salaries to $1 million per episode in the last two seasons, and earned at least $2.5 million each for featuring in the 2021 reunion episode, according to Variety. Now, Kudrow and her co-stars earn an astounding $20 million a year in residuals when Friends is re-aired, Kudrow recently revealed in an interview with The Times. Kudrow went on to elaborate on the show’s enduring legacy, saying that she rewatched it after Perry's death in 2023. "After Matthew died I watched the show again. Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better, but for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was," she said. She continued: "Because there was a genius at work. And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again. I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew – he was just beyond us all." Kudrow previously said she’d love to see a reboot of Friends – a topic that has long been debated by fans – but on the condition that there’s an entirely new cast. She told Where Is the Buzz: "I don’t think there’s going to be a Friends reboot. I mean, not with any of us in it; not that Marta [Kauffman] and David [Crane] are writing." "But a reboot, you mean like they hire other actors?" she continued, adding that she would be keen to see that version materialise. "I would love to see what that would be," she said. "That would be really good." Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
David Jason argues Only Fools and Horses isn’t a comedy in exclusive interview with Radio Times
The TV legend reflects on Del Boy, Ronnie Barker and the secret to true comedy.
Sir David Jason has reflected on the extraordinary TV career that made him one of Britain’s best-loved actors – and revealed why he doesn’t think Only Fools and Horses should be described simply as a comedy. In a new interview with Radio Times columnist Caroline Frost, which you can listen to below, the star looks back on some of the roles that have defined his decades on screen, from wheeling and dealing Derek "Del Boy" Trotter to his work alongside comedy greats, including Ronnie Barker. Listen to the full interview with Sir David Jason below. View Green Video on the source website Jason, who starred in Only Fools and Horses from 1981 to 2003, explains that the enduring appeal of the sitcom lies not just in its jokes, but in the emotional truth at the heart of the Trotter family. The actor suggests that, while the series remains one of the funniest shows in British TV history, its power came from audiences recognising the characters’ struggles, hopes and relationships. "Basically, it’s about family," he says. "Not only was the writing brilliant, it had a classic structure of three people sharing a home. You have the governor/father figure, Derek Trotter, then Rodney the lad, plus the paternal figure in Grandad and then Uncle Albert. When we read the first script, we were all very excited because it was so funny and clever. "I said, 'The secret is, this isn’t a sitcom, it’s a situation drama. It’s the journey of these people living together. It just so happens that the characters do or say things to make us laugh. But it’s not joke-telling.'" In the interview, Jason also discusses the lessons he learned from his great mentor Ronnie Barker, with whom he worked on Open All Hours. Barker, he recalls, was not only a master performer but a meticulous craftsman, showing him how timing, detail and generosity could transform a scene. Jason also reflects on the performers who continue to make him laugh the loudest, revealing the classic double act whose work still delights him years later. Across the conversation, the actor offers a warm and thoughtful look back at a career spanning some of the most cherished programmes in British television, while sharing the insight of someone who has helped shape the nation’s comedy landscape. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Only Fools and Horses and Open All Hours to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Game of Wool winner reveals adorable exclusive look at new CBeebies show Froglets – and why it feels unique to modern children's TV
The show will follow the adventures of a trio of amphibian friends crafted by Holger Auffenberg.
A children's TV show starring wool frogs hand-knitted by Game of Wool winner Holger Auffenberg is coming to CBeebies – and now Radio Times can share an exclusive new look at the series. Froglets will follow the adventures of a trio of amphibian friends crafted by Auffenberg – who was crowned the winner of Tom Daley's first season of Game of Wool in December 2025 – and brought to life by a team of puppeteers as they navigate life together in a house. The pre-school show will arrive on 11 May 2026 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about what viewers can expect from Froglets, which is narrated by comedy star Sue Perkins, Holger said it will follow "the everyday adventures of a group of three best friends living together in a suburban house. But they’re knitted. And they’re frogs. And nobody but the dog knows they’re there." He added: "It’s a charming series aimed at pre-schoolers, who can follow our intrepid three as they navigate the world of the humans with unlimited imagination and an unfeasibly large wardrobe of fabulous outfits." He continued: "It's really a show that will inspire children to be creative and have fun playing with the simplest and humblest things they find in their own home." Talking about the series' origins, Holger added: "We first started developing this a few years ago when we noticed a big knitted-frog trend on Instagram led by various creators, including Claire Garland (AKA @dotpebbles_knits), and the charming cottagecore feel transpiring from this trend was one of the first inspirations for the production team." In terms of what makes the show unique among modern children's TV, Holger said: "We went for an overall feel that is, at the same time, both endearingly old-school and very modern. "Froglets is a slower, more thoughtful pace that gives children time to engage and absorb, very much in keeping with the CBeebies approach." Rather than using CGI for the series, a bespoke technical filming set-up was developed in order to film the Froglets as live action. Holger added: "The characters are animated in a deliberately simple and naive way by traditional puppeteers, because this reflects the way they would be moved around if a child were to play with them. As a result, there is a very honest and wholesome feeling to the stories." The series, which was created by Massimo Fenati, was commissioned by Rai Kids, Italy and is an international partnership between Eaglet Pictures and Pesci Combattenti (Italy). Tess Cuming serves as executive producer, while Riccardo Mastropietro helms and produces the episodes. Froglets will air on 11 May on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
British TV favourite Nicola Walker's new comedy show wins big at major international festival
The show took home the top prize for best series, among other awards.
Disney+ series Alice and Steve, starring Nicola Walker, has won big at the Canneseries Awards 2026. The show from Baby Reindeer producer Clerkenwell Films took home three gongs: best series, special interpretation award for ensemble cast and student award. The series, which is set to premiere 8 June on Disney+ and Hulu, is created by former Sex Education writer Sophie Goodhart and follows Alice (Walker) after she discovers that her longtime best friend Steve (Jemaine Clement) has become romantically entangled with her daughter, Izzy (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder star Yali Topol Margalith). When a devastated Alice confronts Steve, it’s not long before their friendship devolves into an all-out feud. Disney has described the series as an "anti-romantic comedy" or even a "wrong-com" and recently gave fans a sneak peek at the (almost) three-decade age gap between Steve and Izzy in the form of first-look images. The awards were given out on Tuesday evening (28 April) at the Palais des Festival following a week of screening and industry events. Elsewhere, Florence Longpré’s Canadian show Empathie won the Europe 1 audience award, Finish sports drama Guts received best performance for star Roosa Söderholm, and Spain’s I Always Sometimes won best screenplay for writers Marta Bassols, Marta Loza and Almudena Monzú. Walker is famous for her roles in various hit shows including The Split, Spooks, Last Tango in Halifax, Unforgotten and Annika. Alongside Clement and Margalith, she's also joined by actor Joel Fry in the new series, who is best known for hit sitcoms W1A, Plebs and Our Flag Means Death. Alice and Steve will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on 8 June 2026. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ted Lasso season 4 finally gets premiere date confirmed as first look at new episodes unveiled
The Apple TV sitcom dropped a brief teaser set to a moving new song.
Apple TV has announced a premiere date for Ted Lasso season 4, which is headed to the streaming platform this August. After three years away, Jason Sudeikis's ever-optimistic football coach is returning to AFC Richmond, only this time to help the women's team out of their slump. He'll be reuniting with some firm favourites from the original series, including club owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) and marketing pro Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), plus a number of brand new characters. Joining the party are Tanya Reynolds (The Other Bennet Sister) and Faye Marsay (Andor) in as-yet-undisclosed roles, while Grant Feely (Obi-Wan Kenobi) is taking over the expanded role of Ted's son, Henry. If you're excited to see what the next chapter has in store, then mark your calendar accordingly: Ted Lasso season 4 will premiere on Apple TV on Wednesday 5 August 2026. The announcement was accompanied by a brand-new image from the upcoming season, which features Ted himself alongside his longtime pal Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and new assistant coach, as played by Reynolds. While Ted grins in the centre, the colleagues to either side of him appear considerably less confident in the players they're working with, who are languishing in the second division at the start of this chapter. Apple also unveiled the very first Ted Lasso season 4 teaser trailer, which is relatively light on plot and dialogue, but drops some fleeting hints as to what our characters have been up to since we last saw them. From romance for Rebecca to friction between Keeley and Roy, it seems as if there will be plenty to tug at the heartstrings – and if you're wondering, the Ted Lasso season 4 trailer song is Rubber Band Man by Mumford & Sons and Hozier. Watch the promo here: View oEmbed on the source website Ted Lasso co-star Waddingham bagged the scoop of an August launch for season 4 back in February, when she let slip on the BAFTA Film Awards red carpet that the show was likely to return then – before hastily adding that she could be "wrong". It means that Ted Lasso season 4 will be kicking off just a couple of weeks after the FIFA World Cup 2026 concludes, making it a lovely way to celebrate or console depending on whether your favoured team wins or loses. In addition to the aforementioned, the Ted Lasso cast also includes Brett Goldstein and Jeremy Swift. Meanwhile, original series star Nick Mohammed has declined to confirm whether he appears as Ted's former protege Nate Shelley. Ted Lasso is available to stream on Apple TV. Season 4 coming soon. Start your seven day free Apple TV trial at Apple. Add Ted Lasso to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
British TV icon David Jason reveals why he almost didn't get cast as Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses
Fifty years after Open All Hours welcomed its first customer, the star is back behind the counter one last time.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Sir David Jason has for decades been a jewel in the British TV crown, entertaining audiences in shows from Only Fools and Horses and The Darling Buds of May to Porterhouse Blue and A Touch of Frost. From 1976 for nine years he also played Granville opposite Ronnie Barker’s Arkwright in Open All Hours, before returning for the 2013 reboot Still Open All Hours. Now he’s reunited with his grocer’s overalls in a final outing for the feature-length retrospective, Open All Hours: Inside Out. Taking you back to when you first signed up to play Granville 50 years ago, what drew you to the role? Two words: Ronnie Barker. I’d worked with him three or four times previously, including in one of his great showcases, Porridge, and I was a great fan of his. I wanted to just work in his shadow, really. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/open-all-hours-david-jason-ronnie-barker-fef289f.jpg" width="2517" height="1666" alt="David Jason as Granville and Ronnie Barker as Albert Arkwright, standing in a shop next to each other. Granville has his arms crossed and Arkwright is holding toilet roll and looking confused." title="David Jason as Granville and Ronnie Barker as Albert Arkwright in Open all Hours" /> What made him so special? He was such a master at the craft of comedy, and I hoped that if I worked with him, something might rub off, you never know. The one thing I enjoyed more than his huge ability was his humility, because he knew you don’t get good comedy from just acting. You need the help and confidence of everyone around you, like wardrobe, make-up, props people, scene shifters. Everybody is an important part of delivering what comes out of the television. If you can get that joy of working, of communicating with your fellow workmen, you’re halfway there. Then it’s not like work, it’s like getting paid for nothing. Who inspired Granville? That all came from our writer Roy Clarke. The writer is always the unsung hero of any series – they bring the foundations of the house that you can build on. With Granville, he created this grown-up man who was really a vulnerable lad who missed his mother. That, with the humour, became sweetness. How did it feel coming back in 2013 and putting on your great mentor’s overalls, with Granville now in charge? I’d always wondered what happened to Granville after Arkwright had left the shop, so that’s how the journey started. The first show is when it hit me: the boy had become the man. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/OnlyFoolsAndHorses201111086MfnTboNv-f953c25.jpg" width="1200" height="800" alt="Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert, David Jason as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. They are stood together with a large boat in the background." title="Only_Fools_And_Horses20111108_6_MfnTboNv" /> After Open All Hours came an even bigger comedy hit, Only Fools and Horses. Why do you think that sitcom was so successful? Basically, it’s about family. Not only was the writing brilliant, it had a classic structure of three people sharing a home. You have the governor/father figure, Derek Trotter, then Rodney the lad, plus the paternal figure in Grandad and then Uncle Albert. When we read the first script, we were all very excited because it was so funny and clever. I said, “The secret is, this isn’t a sitcom, it’s a situation drama. It’s the journey of these people living together. It just so happens that the characters do or say things to make us laugh. But it’s not joke-telling.” Did you ever change a line? Constantly. I’d spent many years doing comedy, theatrical farces, pantomimes and summer seasons, so I brought all that knowledge to the shows I did. For example, one day we were rehearsing and I asked the director, “Can Derek and Rodney go into the kitchen?” We’d never used it before. Then we had Albert coming in and making a sandwich, which led to a great joke nobody had thought of. You also played Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, making a uniquely successful run of shows. What is the magic ingredient that you were able to bring? I just think, whatever show I was working on, that stimulated other people to say, “We could do with him in ours.” Except John Sullivan, the writer of Only Fools, originally said, “Oh, we don’t want him. He always plays a loser,” because he’d seen me as little dreamy Granville. In his mind, I couldn’t possibly play a clever, witty hustler, but the director convinced him to at least meet me. As well as comedy, you’ve played serious roles including Skullion in Porterhouse Blue and DI Jack Frost. Same body, different muscles? My approach has always been through the character, finding what it is that makes them tick. Lots of military men became university gatekeepers like Skullion, so that inspired his attitude, efficient and clipped. Frost became a detective at a time the minimum height was 5ft 8in, and I’m two inches shorter, so I had him always trying to carry himself to be taller than he was. Those kind of elements have always stuck with me. You’ve given a lot of laughs over the years, but what makes you laugh? Really, it’s old-fashioned, often physical comedy like Laurel and Hardy, where you have the knowing fool and the unknowing fool. When you put those two together, that magic just happens. You could be describing Derek and Rodney, or Arkwright and Granville... Ah, yes, of course! That, plus you must have warmth for your characters. I have to love them, in order to get the audience to enjoy them as much as I do. The latest issue of Radio Times is out on Tuesday – subscribe here. Open All Hours: Inside Out is on U&Gold on Thursday 7 May at 8pm Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
New The Big Bang Theory spin-off series confirms release month with first-look images
The franchise veers off in an unexpected direction with this latest entry.
The Big Bang Theory's eccentric sci-fi spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is heading to HBO Max this summer, with a release month confirmed along with a slew of first-look images. Although only the latest show to spin out of the hit nerdy sitcom, following Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, this entry in the universe stands out for its outright sci-fi premise. Comic shop owner Stuart (Kevin Sussman) takes centre stage for the first time after he inadvertently brings about a "multiverse armageddon" when he breaks a machine designed by original series leads Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons). Despite their characters being explicitly referenced in the synopsis, it has yet to be confirmed whether Galecki and Parsons will be reprising their iconic roles for the series, or if they will simply be referred to from off-screen. We do know, however, that alternate versions of The Big Bang Theory characters will be seen as Stuart takes a journey across the multiverse, with girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus), pal Bert (Brian Posehn) and frenemy Barry (John Ross Bowie) in tow. If you're as intrigued as we are to find out what all this means for the future of The Big Bang Theory franchise, the good news is that we don't have much longer to wait! Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will premiere on HBO Max in July 2026. Now that HBO Max is finally up and running here in the UK, it's likely that the show will launch simultaneously here and across the pond on the shiny new streaming platform. An intriguing first-look image from the series show the core characters in what could be a post-apocalyptic universe (see top of page), donning dark colours next to a metal vehicle as they receive some worrying information. Another image of the ensemble sees them look ahead in fright at an unseen presence, holding a giant mechanical device which is presumably the cause of their imminent adventure. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/04/john-ross-bowie-lauren-lapkus-kevin-sussman-brian-posehn-03c84b3.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="(L-R) John Ross Bowie, Lauren Lapkus, Kevin Sussman and Brian Posehn star in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe; their characters are standing in a row, looking shocked and worried at something ahead of them. Stuart is holding a large technological instrument." title="john-ross" /> Another image shows off a completely different location, with Stuart and Denise sharing a moment alone by a shimmering blue lake in the middle of a forest. The characters met, and eventually married, in the original Big Bang Theory series. Lapkus went on to play the title character in Netflix comedy The Wrong Missy as well as the voice role of Jennifer Sh'reyan in Star Trek: Lower Decks. Sussman has recently appeared in acclaimed miniseries The Dropout and Lessons in Chemistry. The synopsis for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe teases, as the title suggests, that things "don't go well" as the hapless group traverses the multiverse – and certainly, in the image above, Stuart and Denise do seem to be grappling with a dilemma. The bold new direction for The Big Bang Theory comes from original series creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, plus screenwriter Zak Penn, whose work includes Marvel blockbusters X2 and The Avengers, plus sci-fi hits Ready Player One and Free Guy. View Green Video on the source website Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is coming to HBO Max in July 2026. Subscribe to HBO Max from £5.99 a month. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Stuart Fails to Save the Universe to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
British TV legend Nicola Walker's much-anticipated "messy" anti-romantic comedy confirms release date
The series imagines a nightmarish scenario for a mother – and the battle of wits that follows.
Comedy-drama Alice and Steve has its confirmed release date on Disney+, bringing together British TV icon Nicola Walker and New Zealand comic Jemaine Clement. The story follows Alice (Walker) after she discovers that her longtime best friend Steve (Clement) has started dating her daughter, Izzy (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder star Yali Topol Margalith), who is almost three decades his junior. The shocking revelation leaves Alice "devastated" and seemingly doomed to "lose her best friend and her daughter in one fell swoop," but she's not going down without a fight. The synopsis, courtesy of Disney+, teases: "Alice tries everything she can to end the relationship. Unfortunately for her, Steve's more than ready for the attack, and what begins as a perfect friendship, devolves into an all-out feud." If you're intrigued to see how this story unfolds, you can tune in to all six episodes of Alice and Steve on Disney+ from Monday 8 June 2026. Alice and Steve is created by former Sex Education writer Sophie Goodhart, with Stath Lets Flats alum Tom Kingsley on directing duties. The first two episodes were screened at Canneseries, a prestigious TV festival held in France, over the weekend. Disney describes the series as an "anti-romantic comedy" or even a "wrong-com," with first look images showing the core trio of characters on the cusp of their lives changing forever. Clement rose to stardom in the comedy world as one half of musical duo Flight of the Conchords (with Bret McKenzie), with later credits including What We Do in the Shadows, Moana, A Minecraft Movie and the last two Avatar films. On the other hand, Walker is among the most recognisable faces on British TV, owing to various hit shows, such as Spooks, Last Tango in Halifax, Unforgotten, The Split and Annika. In addition to rising star Topol Margalith, the series also features Joel Fry; another actor with a strong comedic background, through the likes of W1A, Plebs and Our Flag Means Death. When the series was announced, Walker said in a statement: "I'm thrilled to be stepping into the fabulous world of friendship, motherhood, marriage frantic revenge and fierce love that Sophie Goodhart has created, and to be doing it with Jemaine Clement is completely joyful!" Clement added: "I really relate to Steve – he's classy, stylish and an all-round good guy – except for when he isn't. I'm excited to be working with the wonderful Nicola Walker and seeing how Steve and Alice's relationship descends into absolute chaos." Alice & Steve is coming to Disney+ on Monday 8 June 2026. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Alice & Steve to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Missing classic episode of The Morecambe & Wise Show has finally been discovered after nearly 60 years
The long-lost show sees the comedy duo "in their prime".
A lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show has been recovered after decades spent missing, which looks set to be broadcast on the BBC once again in the coming months. The duo are often considered two of the most iconic comedians in modern British history, yet not every episode of their legendary sketch show was archived at the time of broadcast. One such 'lost' instalment, dating back to their September 1968 return to the BBC (after a stint at the now-defunct ATV), is the latest to be rediscovered by a charitable trust called Film is Fabulous. The organisation is run by film collectors, cinema lovers and vintage television enthusiasts, which aims to ensure vulnerable materials held in the UK are preserved when their original owners pass away. It announced on its X (formerly Twitter) account that The Morecambe & Wise Show would be the latest beneficiary of their diligent work, with a long-lost episode likely to be returned to the BBC Archives imminently. View oEmbed on the source website In an interview with BBC News, Professor Justin Smith, of De Montfort University in Leicester, who sits on the Film is Fabulous Board of Trustees, revealed the episode featured risqué skits involving a balloon dancer and a nudist camp. "It is very much of its time and very tongue-in-cheek obviously. But what comes across is the spark that Eric and Ernie had, they were in their prime," he said. "It is fast-paced, it is witty and it has many of their trademarks that we associate with vintage Morecambe and Wise." If all goes to plan, further details will be shared on the episode this coming Tuesday, which is hoped to receive a very belated repeat on the BBC in a timeframe of mere months. Previously, Film is Fabulous has restored missing episodes of Doctor Who, Steptoe and Son, The Likely Lads, ITV Playhouse and The Basil Brush Show among others, returning precious items to the BBC and BFI archives as appropriate. Most recently, it made headlines just last month for unearthing Doctor Who episodes The Nightmare Begins and Devil's Planet, dating back to November 1965, offered by the estate of an anonymous individual who had died. The Morecambe and Wise Show is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Morecambe and Wise Show to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.