Comedy news: Such Small Portions's news

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Deadpan comic Jimmy Carr has been unveiled as the headline act for Camp Bestival’s comedy stage this year.

The 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter is the first comedian to be announced at the festival, which usually offers a strong comedy line-up as part of the family-orientated festival.

Festival curator Rob da Bank said: 'Comedy and comedians are a huge draw at Camp Bestival and we've had most of the bigguns down there but none so mammoth as our very special guest for this year… Mr Jimmy Carr!

“Well pleased that Jimmy’s going to be making us wet our pants (and nappies) with laughter on the Sunday of Camp B.”

Set in the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset Camp Bestival has also revealed Rolf Harris as the special guest at the festival The artist, musician and all round celebrity is consistently one of the biggest draws on the festival circuit, with Glastonbury having to close access to the Jazz arena due to over-crowding the last time we saw him.

For more information on the line-up for this year’s event www.campbestival.net 

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Channel 4 has ordered a second series of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy.

The new high-profile surreal comedy on Channel 4 has broadcast two episodes so far, with the new project being met with a mixed reaction fron fans and critics.

However Channel 4 have backed Fieldings new venture with the second series, which will be filmed later this year and broadcast in 2013, alongside the DVD release of the first series.

The second series is likely to introduce more characters to Fielding’s surreal world, which already includes Tony Reason, a manta ray music producer who lives in a fish tank under the tree house and Roy Circles, a games teacher suffering from severe shell shock who is also a chocolate finger.

Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans said: "Noel is such a rare and brilliant talent we can't wait to work with him on another series of Luxury Comedy; this show feels so modern and pioneering. If Series 1 brought us a talking knife wound and a man with ice-cream for eyes, we can't wait to see where else Noel's comedy mind will take us next."

Noel Fielding adds: "Delighted to get a second series of Luxury Comedy - we'll definitely make the second one more like a Wednesday morning. Channel 4 have been so supportive and given us creative freedom to experiment with ideas and techniques. And I think we can push things further and make something even more out there next time."

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Chris Langham has chosen to withdraw from a second airing of his film Black Pond, the BBC is reporting.

He was due to talk after a screening of his film at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, but decided to miss the event to avoid 'overshadowing' it.

Langham had already cancelled an appearance at a question and answer session in a school in Kent that was due to happen in March.

Black Pond is Langham's first work since being jailed for downloading child pornography in 2007. The film has already attracted Bafta nominations.

Read more on this story on the BBC

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The Big Yin may have gone quiet in comedy in recent years but his influence lingers on, says a new poll from TV channel Dave. 

Billy Connolly has been named the most influential UK stand-up, according to a survey by comedians and the public.

Morecambe and Wise came second and Victoria Wood – the only woman on the list – came third. 

Older comedians did well on the list, with only Sean Lock – at number nine – having made his name after the eighties.

Eddie Izzard and Ben Elton complete the top five.

The list was compiled by 100 comedians, including Stephen Merchant, Miranda Hart, Jack Dee and Jason Manford, before being put to the public vote.

Robin Williams topped the list for international comics.

Steve North, channel head of Dave, said: “It is great to see trailblazing stand-ups such as Connolly and Robin Williams get the respect they deserve.

“Both Connolly and Williams have consistently pushed the comedy envelope and while they may have over 40 years of experience between them, they are still the funniest men on the planet.”

Connolly previously topped a poll by Five to find the nation’s favourite comedian.

The new poll was conducted ahead of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival and 2,000 adults took part.

Read our list of the top comedy lists here.

Top 10 British comedians, according to Dave

1. Billy Connolly

2. Morecambe and Wise

3. Victoria Wood

4. Eddie Izzard

5. Ben Elton

6. Peter Cook

7. Les Dawson

8. Lenny Henry

9. Sean Lock

10. Rik Mayall

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A potential spinoff to the American Office will be ‘even more far out than the Office’, says star Rainn Wilson.

E! Online quotes Wilson, who plays the socially backward Dwight Shrute in the series, as saying: "We are talking about a Dwight spinoff. It could be really cool. It would be on his farm which would be a bed and breakfast and have a crazy managerie of characters. It would be even more far out than The Office."

Deadline Hollywood is reporting an episode in the current series of the Office will be set there to test the waters. 

A new series could potentially start on NBC by 2013. A successful sitcom is desperately needed by the network, which has limped in to fourth place among the US networks. Series eight of The Office is currently airing on the channel, but since the departure of star Steve Carell the ratings have sagged. 

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Will they won’t they? It is a question many Monty Python fans had thought was answered yesterday when it was announced three of the former Python cast would be coming together for Terry Jones’s new animated film Absolutely Anything.

Yet though John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin have agreed to voice aliens in the science fiction picture, director Jones (also a former Python himself) has poured hot water on the idea that the group had reformed in any creative sense. 

Speaking to the BBC Breakfast Jones said: “The Pythons have agreed to voice the aliens. I hate to disappoint you but it’s not really a Python film, they’ve just agreed to do the voices. 

Asked about whether Eric Idle will be signed up to the film Jones said: “Eric has not committed to the film yet, we’re putting pressure on him.

“I don’t think he thinks we’re grateful enough for the money we’ve made through Spamalot yet.” 

The new film has been co-written by Jones and Gavin Scott and also signed up Life of Brian Producer Mike Medavoy to work on the project. The remaining five Pythons last appeared together to receive a special Bafta Award in 2009.

Pushed on the subject of a reunion by BBC presenters Jones added “It wouldn’t be the same, we get on too well. We can do lunches but actual creative work, well maybe not.”

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Julia Davis has landed a new seven-part series on Sky Atlantic, her first series since Nighty Night.

Hunderby follows Helene, a shipwreck survivor arriving at an English village in the 1800s. She is swept off her feet by widowed pastor Edmund and the two soon marry, but her history comes back to haunt her.

Davis will play housekeeper Dorothy in the show. 

Baby Cow's Henry Normal, Armando Iannucci and Lindsay Hughes will be the executive directors. 

The Royle Family's John Rushton will produce the series, and Tony Dow, who previously worked with Davis on Nighty Night, will direct. 

Julia Davis said: “I'm so excited to be making a series for Sky Atlantic, a channel that has so many of my favourite shows from around the world. It’s great to be working with Stuart Murphy and Lucy Lumsden again.” 

Lucy Lumsden commented: “The genius of Julia Davis comes to Sky Atlantic. Her sick and twisted sense of humour has found its natural home and we can’t wait to unleash it onto our customers later this year.”

The series will air in July.

Davis joins a growing army of comedy stars at Sky including Armando Iannucci, Steve Coogan, Kathy Burke and Chris O'Dowd, following Sky 1's recent summer programming announcements.

Other comedy offerings from Sky Atlantic this summer include a wry look at British culture by Supersize Me star Morgan Spurlock in April, Kathy Burke's Little Crackers-inspired series Walking and Talking, and Armando Iannucci's new political show Veep in June. American comedy House of Lies, starring Don Cheadle, will also air in July, when season four of Nurse Jackie will also air on the channel.

Read our thoughts on Sky's comedy offerings here.

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Jon Stewart and Russell Brand will headline this year's Secret Policeman's Ball – in New York.

The recording at Radio City Music Hall, to an audience of 6,000 people on March 4, represents the first time the Amnesty International event has been held outside the UK.

The last event was held in 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Reggie Watts and Stephen Colbert will also perform at the event, with music from Coldplay and Mumford and Sons.

John Cleese, one of the pioneers behind the original Secret Policeman’s Balls, said: "I used to think humour was a luxury, but at the last election Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert taught me it was a necessity. The Secret Policeman's Ball was – and is – a coming together of the very best comedy talent of any generation to celebrate their art, remind audiences how important free speech is, and highlight just how much vital work Amnesty International does to protect it.  I implore you to support it."

Andy Hackman, of Amnesty International, said: “This year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball brings together an incredible representation of the best comedians and musicians in the world. It’s humbling that they have given up their time to join us and champion the fundamental right to opinion and expression – and in doing so helping us connect with a new generation of supporters.

“I hope comedy and music fans in the UK will help us in making it a bad night for dictators and a good night for free speech.”

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Angelos Epithemiou and Ulrika Jonsson will team up for this year's Let's Dance for Sport Relief, competing against Omid Djalili and Patrick Monahan.

Other comedians include Ava Vidal, Terry Alderton, Arabella Weir, upcoming double act Watson and Oliver and Rowland Rivron.

Other stars include ski anti-hero Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, DJs Tony Blackburn & David Hamilton, Scott Mills & Olly Murs, and The Only Way Is Essex's Amy Childs and Harry Derbridge.

The show, which sees celebrities recreate famous dances from pop history, has already seen Charlie Baker, Noel Fielding and Rufus Hound take to the stage. 

The five-week run will start on February 18, ahead of the final on March 17.

We look at the runners and riders for the prize here.

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The Battersea Arts Centre is to host a month of mirth in February as the N2O festival returns to the venue for another year.

The festival will see Pappy’s Fun Club, Dan Antopolski, Tom Deacon, Carl Donnelly, Jarred Christmas and Milton Jones take to the stage, alongside up-and-coming acts such as Tom Adams and Chris Martin. 

The ten-day festival runs from Wednesday 15th February to Saturday 25th February. For more information visit www.bac.org.uk