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Motor neuron disease, better known as Als (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), is a devastating and terminal neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure. It's taken the lives of many wonderful people, such as David Niven, Sam Shepard, Ronnie Corbett, Aaron Lazar, Roberta Flack, Kenneth Mitchell, Charles Mingus, John Driskell Hopkins, Stephen Hawking, and Lou Gehrig, whose name has become associated with the disorder. It's a terrifying thing to be diagnosed with, with doctors giving most patients a life expectancy of two or three years (although Hawking famously lived for more than 50 years with it). Today, actor Eric Dane announced his Als diagnosis. "I have been diagnosed with Als,” Dane shared with People, adding:

“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria...

Americans likely know David Frost best as the TV host who took on Richard Nixon in the landmark interview that served as the basis for Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon — a film that earned rave reviews from everybody except those who went in thinking it was a sequel to Michael Keaton’s harmonica-playing snowman movie.

Frost also had a huge impact on the comedy world, thanks to his 1960s satirical news program The Frost Report, which, along with the Frost-hosted That Was the Week That Was, inarguably paved the way for future news parodies such as The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update.”

The Frost Report’s supporting cast included Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett (who later starred in The Two Ronnies) as well as a young performer named John Cleese. The show’s writing staff also included future Monty Python members Graham Chapman, Michael Palin and Terry Jones.

Ah, Casino Royale. Everyone loved that classic James Bond thriller starring... Woody Allen, Peter Sellers, and Orson Welles? That's right, 40 years before the 007 franchise was rebooted with Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, writer Ian Fleming's book was adapted into one of the goofiest, most ridiculous movies ever made. As the search for a new James Bond continues, let's look back on the undoubtedly weirdest moment in the history of the franchise.

1967's Casino Royale was a marquee affair, with a budget that was nearly 12 times as big as 1962's Dr. No. It attracted one of the best casts of the '60s David Niven, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, Woody Allen, Joanna Pettet, Orson Welles, Daliah Lavi, Deborah Kerr, William Holden, Charles Boyer, Jean-Paul Belmondo, George Raft, John Huston, Jacqueline Bisset, Peter O'Toole, and Ronnie Corbett. Casino Royale wasn't just bloated on-screen; it was overstuffed off-screen as well. The...

Superstar singer Robbie Williams displayed his signature cheekiness at the world premiere screening of Michael Gracey’s musical biography Better Man when he asked members of the audience at the Telluride Film Festival to “suspend your absolute bigotry” over a word that most Americans find offensive.

Williams joined Gracey to introduce the electrifying musical extravaganza at the festival’s Chuck Jones Theater.

Smiling as he took the microphone, Williams offered “a word of warning” on what “may be a trigger warning for you all, especially the ladies.”

Pleading — begging even — for their understanding, he continued to caution that “there’s a word that comes up in this movie several times,” and begged to be allowed to explain “culturally” why the word is used in the film.

He explained that there are “70 million people in the U.K., there are 26 million Australians, there are five million Irish people. We all don...

Jeannette Charles, the Queen Elizabeth II look-alike who played the British monarch for laughs in National Lampoon’s European Vacation, in the first Naked Gun movie and in the last Austin Powers film, has died. She was 96.

Charles died Sunday at a hospice facility in Great Baddow, Essex, England, her daughter, Carol Christophi, announced. “Mum was a real character and a force of nature. She had an amazing life,” she said. “She was always respectful of the queen and adored the royal family.”

Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, also at age 96.

Charles spent more than four decades doubling for the head of state before she wound down her career in 2014.

“I think the first time I was recognized [as the queen] was on a trip [in 1971] to Capri in Italy, with my Italian pen friend Florence,” she recalled in a 2012 interview. “Someone shouted ‘Princess Elizabeth’ in Italian, my friend explained her majesty had...

Channel 5 invites viewers on a laughter-filled journey down memory lane with “Ronnie Corbett: My 30 Funniest Moments,” a special documentary airing on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 8:00 Pm. This heartwarming tribute celebrates the comedic genius of Ronnie Corbett, showcasing 30 hilarious moments that span his illustrious career of six decades.

The documentary promises to be a delightful showcase of Corbett’s talent, featuring snippets from sketches to sitcoms that have left an indelible mark on the world of comedy. From his iconic solo performances to his memorable collaborations, viewers can expect to relive the wit and charm that made Ronnie Corbett a beloved figure in the world of entertainment.

Tune in for an evening of laughter and nostalgia as Channel 5 pays homage to one of the country’s most talented comedians. “Ronnie Corbett: My 30 Funniest Moments” is not just a trip down memory lane but a celebration of the enduring legacy of...

London – A psychedelic eye mosaic commissioned by John Lennon for the swimming pool at his Kenwood home in Surrey in 1965 leads Bonhams’ Rock, Pop & Film sale on Wednesday 29 November at Knightsbridge, London.

Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams Head of Popular Culture in London, commented: “This monumental mosaic, commissioned by John Lennon is a striking example of the Beatle’s artistic vision and influences. Lennon’s Kenwood home in the English countryside was a place of respite from all the public attention he experienced during the height of The Beatles’ popularity. It’s said Lennon would spend idle hours near the swimming pool and that the mosaic could even be seen from his favoured ‘sunroom’ at the top of the house. With Kenwood still under private ownership, it is very rare to see anything from when John Lennon lived there, making the ‘Psychedelic Eye’ mosaic an incredibly important artefact of Beatles history.”

Consisting of approximately 17,000 tiles,...

British veteran comedy actress Josephine Tewson, who found her biggest success in her sixties starring in one of the 1990s’ biggest TV sitcoms, has died aged 91.

Tewson was best known for playing Elizabeth, the living-on-her-nerves neighbour of Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, from 1990 to 1995.

But she appeared in a string of other shows too, such as Shelley with Hywel Bennet and No Appointment Necessary with Roy Kinnear. Following the success of Keeping Up Appearances, the show’s writer Roy Clarke gave Tewson the role of Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine, which she played from 2003 to 2010.

In a statement, her agent Jean Diamond said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josephine Tewson.”

The actress died on Thursday at Denville Hall, a care home for actors and other members of the entertainment industry in north London.

Several decades before she enjoyed sitcom stardom,...

Josephine Tewson, star of Keeping Up Appearances and Last of the Summer Wine, has died at the age of 91.

She died on Thursday night (18 August) at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors in Northwood, northeast London, her agent said.

The Hampstead-born star trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1952.

She went on to play small parts in the Sixties TV series Z-Cars and The Charlie Drake Show, and appeared in sketches with comedians Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker in Hark at Barker and Frost on Sunday.

She also played Edna Hawkins in the first six series of the Eighties and Nineties ITV sitcom Shelley.

Tewson was best known for playing Elizabeth Warden, anxious neighbour and reluctant best friend of the stuck-up social climber Hyacinth Bucket in the adored Nineties BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.

She collaborated with that show’s writer Roy Clarke again for...

Chan pulls a few martial arts moves as the elder statesman of an elite security firm working to rescue a Chinese accountant and his wife from kidnappers

Veteran Hong Kong action director Stanley Tong reunites with his longtime star Jackie Chan for this amiable but rather under-par adventure with silly CGI effects. Chan is allowed one or two comedy moments, but takes a very straight and stately role as Tang, the “elder statesman”-type director of an elite private security firm called Vanguard, presiding over tough, battle-ready and apparently also catwalk-ready young people – and occasionally pulling a few martial arts moves. In his trim three-piece suit and glasses, however, he looks faintly like Ronnie Corbett.

A Chinese accountant and his young wife are kidnapped in London’s Chinatown and Vanguard (with its preposterous HQ full of people wearing phone headsets and gazing at computer screens) is tasked with rescuing him,...

Louisa Mellor Jul 13, 2017

The Crystal Maze reaches the end of its celebrity run with a couple of Loose Women, an EastEnder, a Northerner and a class clown…

In the genus of UK gameshow hosts, Richard Ayoade defies sub-categorisation. He’s not a Blood-Drinking Reptilian Overlord (Chris Tarrant, Noel Edmonds, Eamonn Holmes), nor is he Someone Who Would Be Driving A Foxtons Mini If They Weren’t On TV (Patrick Mulhern, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness, Vernon Kay). He’s not a Barrymore, a Bowen or a Les Dennis, and neither is he a Grandad Who 100% Killed Someone In The War (William G. Stewart, Des Lynam, Bruce Forsyth).

See related Doctor Who: new Doctor is announced on Sunday Doctor Who: Moffat on budget issues, advice for Chibnall

Ayoade’s a mutant variety. The ludicrousness of dragging a quintet of Heat Magazine’s finest around in a Bristol studio decked out...

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress, as presented by the creators themselves. At the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

The Cancer Conflict

Logline: Two cancer patients, two different treatments. We explore why the UK has the lowest cancer survival rate in Western Europe.

Elevator Pitch:

If you get cancer, what do you chose to treat it with in the country with the worst cancer survival rate in Western Europe? You speak to experts who say chemo is the answer and then Google tells you there are loads of solutions outside the system that work, but aren’t clinically trialled and approved and the system disregards. You’re torn – and yet you still have to do something.

Ronnie Corbett Cbe, the British entertainer best known for comedy sketch show The Two Ronnies, died Thursday. He was 85. Ronnie Corbett Dies “Ronnie Corbett Cbe, one of the nation’s best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family,” Corbett’s publicist said in a statement, according to the BBC. “They have asked that […]

The post Ronnie Corbett, ‘The Two Ronnies’ Star, Dies At 85 appeared first on uInterview.

Ronnie Corbett, best known as playing one half of “The Two Ronnies,” has died. He was 85. The British comedian’s publicist told the Telegraph he passed away Thursday morning “surrounded by his loving family.” “They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time,” the statement continued. Also Read: Margaret 'Maggie' Blye, 'Italian Job' Actress, Dies at 73 Corbett first rose to fame on “The Frost Report” in the 1960s alongside David Frost, John Cleese and Ronnie Barker, but then became a comedy duo with Barker, who passed away in 2005. “The Two Ronnies” ran from 1971 to 1987, and typically began with.

A fixture of British television for over 50 years who was best known for BBC comedy sketch show The Two Ronnies, veteran comedian and actor Ronnie Corbett has died at the age of 85. His publicist said today, “Ronnie Corbett Cbe, one of the nation’s best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family.” The BBC reports he had been in ill health for some time. Corbett was an institution who, along with Ronnie Barker, formed a hugely successful…...

Legendary British comedian Ronnie Corbett, best known for the classic BBC comedy sketch show "The Two Ronnies," has died at the age of 85.

Corbett was an institution who, along with Ronnie Barker, formed a hugely successful double act in the 1970s and 1980s. Barker died in 2005. Corbett had been in ill health for some time and passed away surrounded by his loving family.

Corbett starred in various television roles including sitcoms like "Sorry" and "Extras" along with the John Landis 2010 film "Burke and Hare". Here's an example of one of the pair's most iconic sketches:

Source: BBC...

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Why are movie publicists so keen to plonk their stars on Graham Norton's sofa? Because of this...

When it comes to the UK film junket circuit, publicists inevitably get limited time with the talent involved in a major movie. Thus, when Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice comes along later this month, the demands on Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in particular will not be small. They’ll be expected to attend the film’s premiere, do a press conference, and do interviews with selected outlets.

And then there’s a strong chance they’ll end up on Graham Norton’s sofa.

I’ve been following Graham Norton’s chat shows since his earlier work on Channel Four, and his manner with his guests has rarely left me ever less than entertained while watching his programme. But I do think that The Graham Norton Show is something special,...

Louisa Mellor Jan 12, 2017

Sky Atlantic will air series 3 of Michael Winterbottom's Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon comedy drama, The Trip. First clip is here...

Good news for fans of The Trip, Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's autobiographically inspired comedy drama: a third series is on its way.

See related  Marvel TV: ABC developing another comic book comedy series Arrow season 5: how the show got its groove back The Ray will show Arrowverse characters as "you never saw them before"

Less good news for anyone without a Sky subscription: series three of The Trip will air not on BBC Two, but Sky Atlantic.

Here's the first teaser clip, which features Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan's impressions of Mick Jagger...

Sky's Zai Bennett, formerly of the BBC Three parish and now director of Sky Atlantic, has recommissioned the show and ordered six new episodes, which will film in Spain's Cantabria,...

A Night in with Olly Murs was seen by 3.06 million (14.2%) at 9pm on ITV.

Ahead of this weekend's X Factor final, Murs performed some of his best known hits and was joined by a number of celebrity guests. A further 177k (1.1%) tuned in on ITV+1.

Earlier on in the evening, The Martin Lewis Money Show was seen by 2.72 million (12.8%) at 8pm.

BBC One's Have I Got News for You was Friday's (December 12) highest-rated show outside of soaps, drawing in an average audience of 4.33 million (20%) at 9pm.

BBC One's evening kicked off with 4.23 million (22.2%) for The One Show at 7pm, followed by 3.37 million (16.8%) for The Two Ronnies Sketchbook.

Citizen Khan picked up 2.71 million (12.4%) at 8.30pm, while Not Going Out was seen by an increased audience of 3.53 million (16.5%) at 9.30pm.

With guests such as Jim Carrey and Jude Law, The Graham Norton Show ended the evening with 3.03 million (2.6%) at 10.35pm.

Chatting about writing, The Muppets, DreamWorks, Clockwise and Charles Crichton, all with Mr John Cleese...

Now out in hardback is John Cleese's autobiography, So Anyway. It's a genuinely interesting read, very much written in his own voice, and he spared us some time to have a chat about it, and his career.

Here's how it went...

Can we start with the predictable stuff first, but I always wonder this when anyone writes an autobiography: why do it? Why put your life down in a book, who is it for, and did you enjoy it?

Well let's go backwards on that. Yes I enjoyed it very much. Who is it for me? In a funny kind of way it was for me, because some people seem to think that I've had a very interesting life, which compared with people who have fought in wars, and been spies, and discovered rivers in Africa,...

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! was Friday's (December 5) highest-rated show with an average audience of 7.48 million (33.5%).

Featuring a double elimination, the show peaked with 7.7 million (33.3%) at 9.30pm on ITV.

An average audience of 326k (2%) watched on ITV+1, while I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here Now! was seen by 656k (4.7%) on ITV2 at 10.30pm.

The Martin Lewis Money Show also secured strong ratings for ITV, with 3.23 million (15.4%) tuning in at 8pm.

Have I Got News For You was BBC One's highest-rated show of the evening, securing viewing figures of 4.02 million (17.2%) at 9pm.

BBC One's evening kicked off with 3.77 million (20.2%) for The One Show at 7pm, followed by 3.27 million (16.5%) for The Two Ronnies Sketchbook.

Citizen Khan picked up 2.95 million (13.5%) at 8.30pm, while Not Going Out was seen by 2.89 million viewers (12.5%) at 9.30pm.

With guests such as Michael Keaton, Ian McKellen and Victoria Wood, The Graham Norton Show...

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! was Friday's highest-rated show, attracting an audience of 7.74 million (33.6%) at 9pm.

Earlier on in the evening, the return of The Martin Lewis Money Show was seen by 3.34 million (15.5%) at 8pm on ITV.

Over on BBC One, The One Show kicked things off with 3.94 million (21.2%) at 7pm, followed by an impressive 3.37 million (16.9%) for The Two Ronnies Sketchbook at 7.30pm.

Ratings decreased to 2.48 million (11.6%) for Citizen Khan at 8.30pm, before picking back up for Have I Got News for You, which was seen by 4.02 million (17.2%) at 9pm. Not Going Out entertained 2.85 million (12.6%) immediately after.

With guests including Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters and Hugh Bonneville, BBC One ended the night with 3.69 million (26.3%) for The Graham Norton Show at 10.35pm.

The Home That Two Built was seen by 940k (4.9%) at 7pm on BBC Two, followed by 2 million (9.4%) for Mastermind.

Tigers About the House, Mock the Week...

Jake checks out the new series of The Mimic, a Channel 4 comedy starring the impersonation talents of Terry Mynott...

Review

The first series of The Mimic was a pleasant surprise. Most recent sitcoms had been targeted at the younger side of the typical 18-35 demographic. But The Mimic broke the trend by being a little more grown-up in its outlook.

Terry Mynott, last seen in celeb-parodying Very Important People, plays gifted yet unsuccessful Martin Hurdle, a lowly site maintenance worker who amuses himself and his friends with uncanny impressions of film and TV stars, finding out he has a teenage son. Living in the same house as his happy-go-lucky landlady Jean who herself goes through a string of unsuitable boyfriends, his world is shaken up further by the news that his son's mother has terminal cancer. The use of impressions for a narrative story rather than just a parody...

Ronnie Corbett still mourns Ronnie Barker nine years after his death. The 'Two Ronnies' star admits he is still haunted by the death of his comedy partner in 2005 and even avoids driving down a road where he had his last conversation with him. He said: ''I miss him, yes, oh God! I can't drive along the street off St James's [in London]. I took a call from Ron ... he said, 'You know I'm going.' That was the last time I spoke to him.'' Barker died from heart failure in 2005, aged 76, after refusing valve replacement surgery. As well as his work...

The man who owned Den Of Geek died on Sunday night. Allow us just a word or two about Mr Felix Dennis...

News

Den Of Geek, on rare occasions, gets nominated for an award. Thus, we pop along, duly clap as someone else wins, and we stand awkwardly at the side of the room, lamenting the amount of wine we've drunk.

However, on one such occasion, I found myself seated next to Felix Dennis. Felix Dennis is the man who, bluntly, owned Den Of Geek. Without him, his publishing company, and the people who run his publishing company, Den Of Geek simply wouldn't exist. I was always told he had a soft spot for us too, albeit never by himself. I did see him hit a handdryer once, though.

Anyway, as it turned out, Felix Dennis was getting a lifetime achievement award that night. I'd never met the man before,...

Have I Got News For You topped Friday's (April 18) ratings for the third week running.

The BBC One panel show, which was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, was Friday's highest-rated show outside of soaps, attracting 4.46 million (20.6%) viewers at 9pm.

BBC One's evening kicked off with 3.06 million (17.5%) for The One Show at 7pm, followed by 2.82 million (14.4%) for A Question of Sport at 7.30pm.

An average of 3.8 million (17%) viewers tuned in to watch Masterchef at 8.30pm, while an Outnumbered repeat was seen by 2.89 million (13.9%) at 9.30pm.

The evening ended with 2.74 million viewers (19.5%) for The Graham Norton Show at the slightly earlier time of 10.20pm. This week's guests included Ricky Gervais and Ronnie Corbett.

Drama series Lewis was the highest-rated show outside of soaps on ITV, entertaining 2.81 million (13.3%) at 9pm. Elsewhere, Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis was seen by 2.47 million (11.8%) at 8pm.

BBC Two's highest-rated show of the evening was Mastermind with 2.23m (10.7%) at 8pm.

The British public's top ten favourite double acts have been revealed.

Britain's Best Loved Double Acts - a celebration of the UK's favourite pairings - will air tomorrow night (April 12) on Channel 5.

Entertainment and comedy duos - such as Ant & Dec and The Two Ronnies - will feature, plus twosomes from the worlds of music, animation, drama and sport - including Chas and Dave, Zig and Zag, Dick and Dom and Andi Peters and Emma Forbes.

Digital Spy can reveal who has made the top ten - though you'll have to tune in at 7.15pm on Saturday to find out which order they come in, and which duo has claimed the top spot.

The top ten list is as follows...

Tom and Jerry

Wallace and Gromit

Torvill and Dean

Morecambe and Wise

Scott and Charlene

Fry and Laurie

Ant & Dec

The Two Ronnies

French and Saunders

Del Boy and Rodney...

The BBC are currently denying tabloid reports that Claudia Winkleman has already signed on the dotted line to replace Sir Bruce Forsyth as the new full-time host of Strictly Come Dancing later this year.

While there may still be some i's to dot and t's to cross, it's difficult to imagine anyone else who could step into Bruce's dancing shoes. Winkleman is the only person for the job.

Saturday nights won't be the same without Brucie's bad gags and cheeky glint and to try replicate that with another veteran performer like Terry Wogan or Ronnie Corbett simply wouldn't work. Bruce and Strictly were a unique and special combo, and simply throwing in a like-for-like replacement isn't the answer.

So why Winkleman? Firstly, as they say in EastEnders, she's family.

She's been bobbing her fringe around on It Takes Two and the results shows since 2004, and she lives and breathes Strictly.

Ronnie Corbett intends to continue working after his recent hospitalisation.

The 83-year-old was admitted to hospital for two days with a gall bladder problem after suffering chest pains and nausea.

His wife Anne told The Mirror: "He is still enjoying his work and having a wonderful life. He's given his life to showbusiness and he still intends to work as long as he can.

"Ronnie had a gall bladder problem but he's now recovering from that."

She added that he hopes to attend functions as normal and be back on the golf course shortly, as well as appearing in TV adverts.

Anne noted that Corbett will not be taking on any major television work, adding: "He's 83 - he won't be like Bruce Forsyth."

Talking about his friend Forsyth's Strictly Come Dancing work last year, Corbett said: "It is not something I could do each week on Saturday nights now. I...

Ronnie Corbett retires from showbiz as he battles a ''mystery'' illness. The 83-year-old legendary comedian has brought an end to his famed TV career as his wife Anne insists he isn't going to keep going like 'Dancing On Ice' host Bruce Forsyth. She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: ''He won't be doing any more TV - he's 83. He won't be like Bruce Forsyth.'' It is said he is likely to need more tests to find out exactly what he is struggling with, as he battles health issues including chest pains. Speaking about the day Ronnie was taken into hospital, Anne added: ''We didn't...

Ronnie Corbett retires from showbiz as he battles a ''mystery'' illness. The 83-year-old legendary comedian has brought an end to his famed TV career as his wife Anne insists he isn't going to keep going like 'Dancing On Ice' host Bruce Forsyth. She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: ''He won't be doing any more TV - he's 83. He won't be like Bruce Forsyth.'' It is said he is likely to need more tests to find out exactly what he is struggling with, as he battles health issues including chest pains. Speaking about the day Ronnie was taken into hospital, Anne added: ''We didn't...

She’s quite the looker, regardless of her context, and Pippa Middleton couldn’t help but add some eye candy to the unveiling of Blue Sandstone Memorial at Westminster Abbey today (March 13).

The beautiful brunette donned a navy blue dress with matching shoes and long flowing brunette locks as she joined her family in honoring the late broadcaster and journalist David Frost who passed away last year.

Given that Frost was quite the comedian, Joanna Lumley and Sir Richard Stilgoe put together a lighthearted poem called “A Sonnet of Sorts of a Star” which was read during the ceremony.

It stated, "Shall I compare thee to Sir Robin Day? Thou wert more lovely and more temperate. Earth has not anything to show more fair, Hello, good evening, welcome, Frosty's there."

They continued, “No more TV-am, no Al Jazeera - We end not a career, but end an era; For now he's gone,...

The gastronomic TV comedy The Trip is returning. We join its two stars during filming in Italy and find their relationship has blossomed – with the help of some more fine dining

It is springtime in Italy. A blur of soft rain, wild fennel, wisteria, artichokes. In Camogli, a fishing village on the Italian Riviera, the late afternoon sun has drawn the people outside: early tourists peruse the gelaterias, a small dog chases seagulls along the beach, and on a hotel terrace Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon stand looking out over the blue waters of the Golfo Paradiso.

Both wear a British approximation of a Riviera look – chinos, light blazers, inoffensive shirts and soft shoes, and are in deep discussion about how best to seduce young Italian women. "Come back to my house and have a stand-up bath," Coogan says, in an exaggerated Italian accent. "Then we will have sex."

Brydon stares out across the water.

BBC

This Christmas we’re in for a real treat. On Boxing Day night the BBC are showing a brand new spin-off episode of Roy Clarke’s classic convenience shop comedy Open All Hours to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Several cast members – including Sir David Jason and Lynda Baron as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel – are reprising their roles from the original series for this Christmas special. The filming of this has also led to strong speculation Still Open All Hours will be given a full sequel series next year.

As delightful as that future prospect sounds, it got us wondering at WhatCulture about what made the original show so great and laugh out loud funny? Many younger viewers may not be aware of Ronnie Barker’s comic genius, but he starred both in Open All Hours as the money-grabbing Albert Arkwright and loveable lag Norman Stanley Fletcher in prison sitcom Porridge.

Bruce Forsyth has admitted that he finds it tough to keep up with his schedule as the host of Strictly Come Dancing, saying he is living on "borrowed time".

The 85-year-old, who was forced to pull out of the show last month after being taken ill with the flu, hinted that his time on the BBC One programme may be coming to an end.

"The constant week-after-week can drag you down, especially when you are getting older," Forsyth told The Sun.

When asked which projects he had lined up for next year, Strictly - which Forsyth has hosted since it started in 2004 - was absent from the list.

He said: "I've got three one-man show dates fixed for next year and I'm doing another thing for TV in April that I can't talk about yet.

"So if I was to leave Strictly Come Dancing, I wouldn't retire. That's the furthest...

Pointless Celebrities: 5.40pm, BBC One

Our Saturday nights start here. Forget the C-listers waddling around the dancefloor on Strictly and the desperate warblers on X Factor. All we need on a wet weekend is Alexander and Richard and a bumper edition of Pointless Celebrities.

Sir David Frost: That Was The Life That Was: 8.20pm, BBC Two

You could watch the X Factor circus roll into town again tonight. Or you could watch Stephen Fry, Michael Parkinson, Ronnie Corbett, Michael Caine and more paying tribute to one of the nation's greatest ever broadcasters. We won't judge you whatever decision you make. Much.

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited: 2pm, Watch

The latest in Watch's series of Doctor Who retrospectives looks back at Jon Pertwee's time at the helm. Pertwee's first adventure as the Doctor 'Spearhead from Space' follows immediately afterwards.

Sir Bruce Forsyth has been tipped to quit Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the 2013 series.

Ronnie Corbett claimed that his 85-year-old friend is starting to find the BBC show "gruelling" each week.

The comedian told The Sun: "Bruce seems to thrive on entertaining but whether he will thrive after this series of Strictly I don't know.

"He must get tired. I think after this series he will give himself a Brucie Bonus. Every Saturday is gruelling. It is really hard going.

"It is not something I could do each week on Saturday nights now. I enjoy working but only on certain things. Bruce is a special breed and his talents are very diverse as he can dance and play the piano.

"But Bruce does not walk down the stairs now - he comes down from the side like a dancer."

Corbett has been talked up as Forsyth's potential...

Sir David Frost's final BBC project is to be made, it has been announced.

The broadcaster - who died aged 74 earlier this month - was said to be "extremely excited" to be working on a new programme entitled That Was the Year That Was before he passed away.

Lord Michael Grade will step in to present the show in his memory, the BBC has confirmed.

Guests including Ronnie Corbett, Barry Norman and Dame Joan Bakewell will join Grade for the three-part project.

Broadcast on BBC Radio 2, the programme will focus on 1963, the year Frost presented That Was the Week That Was.

It will look back at news stories that took place during his early career, including the Profumo affair, the Great Train Robbery, James Bond's launch and the assassination of JFK.

The programme will begin recording this week, and will be broadcast later in 2013.

BBC Radio 2's Bob Shennan...

Tributes have been paid to Sir David Frost, who has died suddenly at the age of 74.

During his lengthy career, Frost was at the forefront of major changes in broadcasting and used his skill, creativity and persistence to provide viewers with some of the most memorable moments in television - and in some cases, world history.

Digital Spy looks back at six ways in which Sir David Frost made his mark on broadcast media below.

1. That Was the Week That Was (TW3)

That Was the Week That Was - or TW3, as it was often known - made politicians and the establishment fair satirical game in the early 1960s at a time when the Profumo affair was dominating headlines. Commissioned by the BBC, Frost was chosen to anchor the programme by its creator Ned Sherrin.

TW3 lampooned the class system, Britain's waning influence on the world stage (as in the clip below) and foreign affairs,...

Sir David Frost died yesterday (August 31) after suffering a suspected heart attack on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

Frost was born in Kent in 1939, the son of a minister. A keen footballer, he was offered a contract with Nottingham Forest Fc while at school, but chose to study English at Cambridge University instead.

It was here that he started out in journalism, editing the student newspaper Varsity and literary magazine Granta. He also became secretary of the Footlights club, where he met future comedy stars such as Peter Cook, Graham Chapman and John Bird.

Upon graduating, Frost became a trainee at ITV and was soon asked to host satirical show That Was The Week That Was in 1962. He went on to front a Us version of the programme for NBC, before presenting The Frost Report from 1966 to 1967, helping to launch the careers of John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.

Ronnie Corbett is to present brand new BBC One pet show Ronnie's Pedigree Pals.

The six-part series will follow the 82-year-old entertainer, comedian and lifelong dog owner as he uncovers how much the British public love their animals.

The series will feature breeders and owners of everything from dogs, cats, miniature pigs, camels and skunks as they compete in competitions, while revealing the lengths some people will go to for their animals to be the best in show.

Corbett said: "This series celebrates our nation's love of animals which I share.

"Though I am finding the latest addition to my family a bit of handful; he's a very playful rescue dog called Baz, and this series will also be following his progress as he adapts to life in the Corbett household."

Meanwhile BBC Commissioning Editor for Factual Features and Formats Alison Kirkham added: "It is fantastic to be able to welcome a true national treasure,...

Legendary comic writer Eddie Braben, who worked with acts such as Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd and Ronnie Corbett, has died aged 82.

Braben's manager Norma Farnes confirmed that the writer had died this morning (May 21).

In a statement, Farnes said: "The writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, died this morning at the age of 82 after a short illness.

"It was Billy Cotton Jnr at the BBC who recognised the brilliance of Eddie's writing was the ideal marriage that would guarantee the success of Morecambe and Wise.

"He is survived by his loving wife Dee, three children and six grandchildren."

Braben started working with Morecambe and Wise in 1969 and was regarded as a key member of their writing team and one of the most gifted comic talents of his era.

In recent years, the writer has revealed how he suffered from stress and nerves...

Actor best known as the haughty department store supervisor Captain Peacock in the TV comedy Are You Being Served?

The actor Frank Thornton, who has died aged 92, had a flair for comedy derived from the subtle craftsmanship of classical stage work. However, he will be best remembered for his longstanding characters in two popular BBC television comedy series – the sniffily priggish Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and the pompous retired policeman Herbert "Truly" Truelove, in Roy Clarke's Last of the Summer Wine.

Robertson Hare, the great Whitehall farceur, told him: "You'll never do any good until you're 40." And, said Thornton, "he was quite right." In the event, he was 51 when David Croft, producer of another long-running British staple, Dad's Army, remembered the tall, long-faced actor from another engagement and decided to cast him as the dapper floor-walker in charge of shop assistants played by Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard,...

"Ooh sweet and juicy pears." "You might as well dunk your head in a bowl of sugar." "Coooooooooor!" Yup, you guessed it, John and Gregg are back with yet another series of MasterChef, full to the brim with shouting, innuendo and serious discussions about courgette flowers.

But do we still need MasterChef in a post-Bake Off world? Have Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood's cream buns and soggy bottoms made Gregg and John's buttery biscuit bases a thing of the past?

And has Gregg managed to take a break from browsing for young fillies on Twitter to get his gob in a chocolate pud?

MasterChef's secret weapon these days is its familiarity. John and Gregg's shout-offs about who should go home, the preposterous angry chefs in the professional kitchen round, the uplifting indie tunes for the final reveal, it's a bingo-style drinking game dream. And we know it's all...

Madness will help close BBC Television Centre with a gig from the car park outside the iconic building.

Suggs's '80s pop collective will perform a concert that will act as a warm-up for a final two-hour pre-recorded show about the broadcaster's studios, Goodbye TV Centre.

Airing in March, the show will celebrate the BBC's flagship studios, looking back at events such as the power cut on the launch night of BBC Two, and visiting the studios used for Monty Python's parrot sketch, Del Boy's living room, Miranda's shop and the corridors that Alan Partridge ran down with his stolen Stilton.

Guests who joined former BBC chairman Michael Grade on the sofa include Penelope Keith, Ronnie Corbett, David Mitchell, Michael Parkinson, Terry Wogan, Mark Lawson, David Jason and Zoe Ball.

Completing the lineup are Phillip Schofield, Gary Lineker, Chris Hollins, Bob Harris and Fiona Bruce.

BBC Television Centre opened on...

Martin Freeman and Jimmy Carr will be among the stars appearing on Graham Norton's upcoming chat show marathon.

Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton will see the presenter attempt to set the Guinness World Record for 'Most Questions Asked on a TV Chat Show' from 7pm on Thursday, March 7 on BBC Three.

Keith Lemon, Louis Smith and Russell Tovey are also among the longlist of celebrities who will be interviewed by Norton.

Norton said: "David Walliams swam the Thames, John Bishop endured a week of hell and Eddie Izzard ran marathon after marathon after marathon.

"I am hoping to join this elite group of celebrity fundraisers by doing what I do best - sitting on my backside and talking."

Also appearing on the show will be Ronnie Corbett, Sarah Millican, Lee Mack, Elle MacPherson, James Nesbitt, Paddy McGuinness, Heston Blumenthal and Aston Merrygold from Jls.

Got To Dance...

Also this week, Ronnie Corbett couldn't make it in comedy now, Billy Connolly smoked the Bible and Marmite man Judd Apatow

In the week we lost Richard Briers, one of the all-time TV comedy greats, confirmation of a new – and intriguing – addition to the UK's sitcom pantheon. Jessica Hynes, star of Spaced and Twenty Twelve, has written and will star in a new BBC4 comedy series about the suffragette movement. "It's a kind of a character study," Hynes recently told an interviewer, "and hopefully, on a good day, it will be a kind of female Dad's Army." The sitcom is set in 1910, and traces the unlikely politicisation of the Banbury Intricate Craft Circle. "Margaret has been to London and discovered Women's Suffrage," runs the BBC's blurb, "so she decides [the Craft Circle] need to set up their own movement." Rebecca Front and Getting On's Vicki Pepperdine will also star.

From Dad's Army...

BBC Four has confirmed the details of Goodbye Television Centre, a final 120-minute show bidding farewell to the broadcaster's iconic building.

David Attenborough, Jeremy Paxman and Noel Edmonds are among the talent who will join former BBC chairman Michael Grade at BBC's Studio One to talk about their favourite memories of TV Centre.

Airing in March, the show will celebrate the BBC's flagship studios, looking back at events such as the power cut on the launch night of BBC Two, and visiting the studios used for Monty Python's parrot sketch, Del Boy's living room, Miranda's shop and the corridors that Alan Partridge ran down with his stolen Stilton.

Other guests confirmed to join Grade on the sofa include Penelope Keith, Ronnie Corbett, David Mitchell, Michael Parkinson, Terry Wogan, Mark Lawson, Richard Briers, David Jason and Zoe Ball.

Completing the lineup are Phillip Schofield, Gary Lineker, Chris Hollins, Bob Harris and Fiona Bruce.

'My most embarrassing moment? Coughing up a greeny on to the script in front of me while doing an audition with bronchitis'

Sienna Miller, 30, was born in New York and educated in England. Having studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York, she made her film debut in 2004 in Matthew Vaughn's Layer Cake. Her other movies include Alfie, Casanova, Factory Girl, Interview and GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra. In 2005, she made her West End debut in As You Like It at the Young Vic. She performed on Broadway in After Miss Julie and appeared in Terence Rattigan's Flare Path in London last year. She plays Alfred Hitchcock's muse Tippi Hedren in The Girl, which airs on BBC2 this month. In July, she had a daughter, Marlowe, with her partner, the actor Tom Sturridge.

When were you happiest?

7 July 2012.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing someone I love.

Ronnie Corbett is rumoured to have been lined up as a possible replacement for Bruce Forsyth on Strictly Come Dancing. Show producers are said to be planning to approach a number of alternative hosts in case the 84-year-old decides to step down next year. According to The Mirror, Corbett, 81, and professional dancer Anton du Beke - who has been on the BBC show since the start - are being considered as Forsyth's successors. Claudia Winkleman, who used to present Strictly spinoff It Takes Two and now fills in for Forsyth on the Sunday results shows, is also being touted as an option. "It's the first time we are hearing there could be movement with Bruce," a source told the paper. "In previous years it's never even been spoken of. But ­producers seem to think that this year is [Forsyth's] last and they need to be (more)...