Quicklinks
Top Links
biographyby votesawardsNewsDeskmessage boardFilmographies
overviewby typeby yearby ratingsby votesby TV series awards by genre by keywordBiographical
biography other works publicity photo galleryTwitterblogNewsDeskmessage boardExternal Links
official sites miscellaneous photographs sound clips video clipsNews for
Jack Dee (I) More at IMDbPro »
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2005
1-20 of 21 items from 2013 « Prev | Next »
Eddie Braben: friends and fellow comic writers pay tribute
21 May 2013 4:00 PM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
David Baddiel among those praising screenwriter who 'played all the right notes, in the right order, all the time'
Friends and fellow comic writers paid tribute on Tuesday to Eddie Braben after his death at the age of 82.
His manager, Norma Farnes, who announced his death, said: "It was Billy Cotton Jr at the BBC who recognised the brilliance of Eddie's writing was the ideal marriage that would guarantee the success of Morecambe and Wise.
"Eddie was a very humble man, a very quiet man and a very private man. He had a lot of integrity, which is in short supply in this business.
"I have to say – and he would have disagreed with this – that writing came easy to him, even on bad days, when he was writing Christmas shows for Eric and Ernie and he was under great pressure."
Miranda Hart, who interviewed Braben for a BBC1 documentary »
Do comedians lose their edge as they get older?
27 April 2013 4:07 PM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
Ben Elton's new BBC sitcom The Wright Way has received a critical mauling. At 53, is he too old now to cut it as a comedian?
Viv Groskop, writer, broadcaster and standup comedian
The second I saw the gyrations of health and safety executive Gerald Wright (David Haig), airing his damp crotch under the hand dryer in the men's toilets, I knew the critics would take Ben Elton to pieces. Also featured in The Wright Way, Elton's new sitcom, which aired on BBC1 this week: lesbians with saucy knickers and council officers talking about their latest erections. "The star who's lost his sparkle." "One after another his sitcoms have withered and died." "So groan-inducing that you want to gather a mob with torches and pitchforks." "What on earth has happened to Ben Elton?"
Nothing has happened to Ben Elton. He is doing what he has always done: finding ideas that make some people laugh. »
- Bruce Dessau, Viv Groskop
Miranda Hart, Diversity, Warwick Davis join Comedy Gala lineup
26 April 2013 3:30 AM, PDT | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
Miranda Hart, Diversity, Warwick Davis and Nina Conti have been added to the Channel 4 Comedy Gala lineup.
The foursome join a bill which already includes Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr and Rhod Gilbert.
Jack Dee, Adam Hills, Jason Byrne, Jo Brand, Jonathan Ross, Noel Fielding, Rich Hall and Paddy McGuinness are also performing at the event.
Hosted at London's O2 on May 18, the show will air in a two-hour Channel 4 special later in the year.
The event is a fundraiser for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Tickets are currently on sale priced £40-£100.
Watch Nina Conti performing stand-up below: »
Why is Britain so bad at standup sitcoms?
5 April 2013 4:13 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
As Lee Mack returns for a sixth series of Not Going Out, Leo Benedictus asks if a British standup comedian has ever made a really good sitcom
Now I've thought about this carefully and I'm happy to be corrected, but I don't think a British standup comedian has ever made a decent sitcom. And this isn't because they've not been trying. Sue Perkins delivered six episodes of Heading Out in February, which will be (for some reason) released on DVD next week. Tonight, Lee Mack returns to BBC1 with a sixth series of Not Going Out, which – let's give it time – may yet show that the first five were just a lengthy warm-up.
This is starkly different from how things are in America. There, a stage career is basically an audition for one on television – or even in movies – where the fame and money is. Often the transition may even improve a comic's work, »
- Leo Benedictus
Red Nose Day raises record-breaking £75m for Comic Relief
16 March 2013 3:35 AM, PDT | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
Comic Relief's Red Nose Day 2013 has raised more than £75 million, the highest total in its history.
At the end of last night's event, which saw celebrities including Jessie J, Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Peter Kay mark the 25th anniversary of the fundraiser, total donations stood at £75,107,851, with more still to come.
The figure includes sales of Comic Relief merchandise and money raised by BT Red Nose Day challenges, including Miranda's Mad March and Hell and High Water, featuring Dara O Briain, Melanie C, Jack Dee, Chelsee Healey, Phillips Idowu and Greg James.
Founder Richard Curtis said: "Once again the extraordinary generosity of the British public has put Comic Relief in a position to be able to serve thousands upon thousands of people with very hard lives in Africa and the UK.
"It's almost impossible to thank enough all those who took part in the event, all the members of »
Comic Relief, 'MasterChef', 'The Mimic': This week's TV review
15 March 2013 5:01 PM, PDT | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
"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 »
Comic Relief 'Hell and High Water' amuses 4.7 million viewers
15 March 2013 3:37 AM, PDT | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
Comic Relief's Through Hell and High Water fundraising challenge brought in a decent audience for BBC One on Thursday night (March 14), overnight data reveals.
Mel C, Jack Dee, Dara O'Briain and co's dangerous trek down the Zambezi river attracted 4.71 million (20.7%) at 8pm.
Afterwards, the second series of Prisoner's Wives launched with 4.02 million (17.8%) at 9pm.
On BBC Two, the biggest show of the evening was the 7.30pm episode of Great British Menu, which pulled in 1.95 million (9.11%). Later, Horizon intrigued 1.17 million (5.6%) at 9pm.
ITV's Europa League coverage of Chelsea's tie with Steaua Bucharest collected 3.48 million (15.4%) from 7.45pm.
Channel 4 entertained 1.28 million (5.7%) at 9pm with Born To Be Different, while Gogglebox had 0.81 million (4.1%) at 10pm.
Killers Behind Bars brought 933k (4.1%) to Channel 5 at 9pm, while The Bind and Torture Killer - Born To Kill? followed at 10pm with 733k (4.3%).
Celebrity Juice continues to amuse plenty on ITV2, pulling in 1.01 million (5.8%) at 10pm. At »
TV highlights 14/03/2013
14 March 2013 12:00 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
Uefa Europa League Live | Comic Relief: Through Hell And High Water | Prisoners' Wives | Horizon: The Creative Brain – How Insight Works | Born To Be Different | Killers Behind Bars: Levi Bellfield | The South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2013 | Lee Nelson's Well Funny People
Uefa Europa League Live
5.30pm, ITV4
Inter Milan v Tottenham leads a packed night of last-16 second-leg football in Europe's secondary competition. For Spurs fans it's a tie that will elicit fond memories of the most recent meeting between the two sides in 2010, a Gareth Bale-inspired 3-1 win over the Nerazzurri. Elsewhere, Newcastle and Chelsea have home ties against Anzhi Makhachkala and Steaua Bucharest respectively. Gwilym Mumford
Comic Relief: Through Hell And High Water
8pm, BBC1
In which sporty Mel C, sour-faced satirist Jack Dee, comedian Dara O Briain, actor Chelsee Healey, Radio 1's Greg James and champion triple-jumper Phillips Idowu travel down the Zambezi river, where they encounter near-death experiences, »
- Gwilym Mumford, Jonathan Wright, Julia Raeside, Andrew Mueller, David Stubbs, Rebecca Nicholson, Ben Arnold
This Week's Must-See TV: 5 Shows You Shouldn't Miss
10 March 2013 1:00 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
What can you expect from the TV schedules this week? Well, there's Prisoners' Wives, celebrities paddling for their lives and much, much more, with the best bits all nicely packaged for you here in Tube Talk's acclaimed (probably) TV Picks.
Don't you forget as well that months of fund-raising fun reaches its peak on Friday, March 15, aka Red Nose Day. Join all the Comic Relief festivities from 7pm on BBC One.
The Mimic: Wednesday (March 13) at 10pm on Channel 4
If, like us, you're of the opinion that impression shows got a bit stale the thousandth time Jon Culshaw declared "My fellow Americans" on Dead Ringers, then you might appreciate the new take on the comedy sub-genre offered up by The Mimic.
Terry Mynott is the star of this not-entirely uplifting sitcom, playing an unremarkable maintenance man with a hidden talent for celebrity impressions. From Terry Wogan to Morgan Freeman, »
Chelsee Healey wants to do I'm a Celebrity
5 March 2013 1:00 AM, PST | Virgin Media - TV | See recent Virgin Media - TV news »
Chelsee Healey wants to appear on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'. The former 'Waterloo Road' star was runner-up in the 2011 series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' and is keen to take part in another reality show. She said: ''I wouldn't say no to the jungle. I've had a bit of experience, so I think that would be amazing!'' Chelsee recently took part in BT Red Nose Challenges: Hell and High Water - a five-day ordeal that saw her and other celebrities, including former Spice Girls singer Mel C and comedian Jack Dee, travel down the Zambezi river to raise money »
Danielle Harold's pooch help on EastEnders
2 March 2013 1:00 AM, PST | Virgin Media - TV | See recent Virgin Media - TV news »
Chelsee Healey wants to appear on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'. The former 'Waterloo Road' star was runner-up in the 2011 series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' and is keen to take part in another reality show. She said: ''I wouldn't say no to the jungle. I've had a bit of experience, so I think that would be amazing!'' Chelsee recently took part in BT Red Nose Challenges: Hell and High Water - a five-day ordeal that saw her and other celebrities, including former Spice Girls singer Mel C and comedian Jack Dee, travel down the Zambezi river to raise money »
Are Anna & Katy the new Vic & Bob?
1 March 2013 4:05 PM, PST | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
The UK's funniest new sketch duo are in the surreal lineage of Reeves and Mortimer. But it's been a long road from Edinburgh to Channel 4
Anna Crilly wants to stop talking about French & Saunders. In an edit suite off Oxford Street in central London, her nose wrinkles when I mention the inevitable comparisons that she and comedy partner Katy Wix will draw as female sketch comedians, one brunette (Wix), one blonde (Crilly) with their own show, Anna & Katy. "Let's pretend we've never heard of them," blinks Wix with cod innocence. "Who?"
The pair were practically passed a torch when invited on to French & Saunders's bank holiday Radio 2 show last year. They had nothing to promote at the time, then heard that they'd got the series a few weeks later. The veterans played Bring Me Sunshine by Morecambe & Wise for them in open homage, but these new kids on the »
- Julia Raeside
Darren Jeffries and Matt Littler's Stand-Up Comedy Diaries: Part 1
6 February 2013 7:34 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
At last year's Dave Leicester Comedy Festival, Digital Spy sent one of its own reporters off to test their stand-up skills and run the gauntlet with a full five-minute set.
This year, we're going one better. Darren Jeffries and Matt Littler, perhaps best known as Max and Ob from Hollyoaks, have signed up to take part in the comedy festival for Digital Spy and are prepared to put their dignity on the line for laughs.
Darren and Matt will be sharing their Diaries with us as they prepare to take to the stage.
Digital Spy Diary - Darren Jeffries:
Me and my big fat unfunny mouth. I'm standing outside some language school in central London waiting for Mr Marc Blake, who is our tutor for today's comedy lesson, and also Matt Littler, my husband in televisual crime, to learn how to write a stand-up routine for a gig at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. »
BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James strips naked after completing Comic Relief challenge - pictures
4 February 2013 2:16 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James has stripped naked for cameras after successfully completing a Comic Relief challenge over the weekend and raising £50,000.
© Rex Features / Tom Dymond/Comic Relief Ltd/Rex Features
The 27-year-old promised fans he'd take off all his clothes and jump into the Zambezi River if he reached his target amount during the Hell and High Water BT Red Nose Challenge.
The star kept to his word and bashfully waded through the water while preserving his modesty with his hand.
© Rex Features / Tom Dymond/Comic Relief Ltd/Rex Features
BBC Radio 1 also shared a picture of a naked James on its Twitter and wrote: "The only thing to say about this tweet @gregjames is naked getting into a river!"
James completed the five-day trek along with Dara O'Briain, Melanie C, Jack Dee, Chelsee Healey and Phillips Idowu. The celebrities travelled 111km down the Zambezi River and battled rapids during the challenge. »
Greg James strips naked after completing Comic Relief challenge - pictures
4 February 2013 2:16 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
Greg James stripped off naked after successfully completing a Comic Relief challenge over the weekend and raising £50,000.
© Rex Features / Tom Dymond/Comic Relief Ltd/Rex Features
The 27-year-old BBC Radio 1 DJ promised fans he'd take off all his clothes and jump into the Zambezi River if he reached his target amount during the Hell and High Water BT Red Nose Challenge.
The star kept to his word and reluctantly waded through the water while preserving his modesty with his hand.
© Rex Features / Tom Dymond/Comic Relief Ltd/Rex Features
BBC Radio 1 also shared a picture of a naked James on its Twitter and wrote: "The only thing to say about this tweet @gregjames is naked getting into a river!"
James completed the five-day trek along with Dara O'Briain, Melanie C, Jack Dee, Chelsee Healey and Phillips Idowu. The celebrities travelled 111km down the Zambezi River and battled rapids during the challenge. »
Jessie J to shave head live on TV for Comic Relief on Red Nose Day
30 January 2013 4:01 PM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
Jessie J has announced that she will be shaving her head on live TV as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day fundraising extravaganza.
The popstar and Voice judge will have her locks cut down to 0.5mm for a 'Big Dare' to raise money for the charity.
© Trevor Leighton
[Jessie J prepares for Red Nose Day]
"Shaving my head for charity is something I've promised to do for a long time and Comic Relief has given me the opportunity to try and raise as much money as possible for good causes by doing it," said the 'Price Tag' popstar.
"I've loved watching Red Nose Day since I was a kid and I'm so excited to join this year's team of celebrity 'fun raisers' and help support the campaign.
"So this Red Nose Day I'll be shaving my head live on the night of TV! I won't deny that I'm nervous but I am also honoured to be part of this year's campaign. »
1D, Keith Lemon, Olly Murs, more model new Comic Relief Red Noses
30 January 2013 4:01 PM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - TV news news »
One Direction, Keith Lemon, Olly Murs, Caroline Flack and Fearne Cotton are among the stars who have donned Red Noses in support of Comic Relief 2013.
The X Factor and Celebrity Juice stars joined a host of famous faces to model this year's Dinosaur Red Nose and Comic Relief T-shirts designed by Stella McCartney.
© Trevor Leighton
Also among the celebrity 'Fun Raisers' are Miranda Hart, Miss Piggy, Stephen Fry, David Walliams, Mary Berry, X Factor's Union J, Kara Tointon and Rowan Atkinson, as well as the night's presenters Claudia Winkleman, Jack Whitehall and Lenny Henry.
Michael McIntyre, Rob Brydon, John Bishop, Davina McCall, Nick Grimshaw and Jonathan Ross will join the trio in hosting segments of the Comic Relief 25th anniversary broadcast on March 15 on BBC One.
© Rhian Ap Gruffydd
© Trevor Leighton
Plonking on a nose as well is Helen Skelton, who will be taking on seven huge »
Dara O'Briain, Mel C, Comic Relief celebs start Zambezi challenge - pictures
29 January 2013 3:58 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - Movie News news »
Dara O'Briain, Melanie C, Jack Dee, Chelsee Healey, Phillips Idowu and Greg James have started their trek down the Zambezi river for the BT Red Nose Challenge: Hell and High Water. The five-day ordeal will see the celebs taking on rapids officially known as 'Gnashing Jaws of Death', 'The Washing Machine' and 'Oblivion' as they make their way beyond the world's largest waterfall – Victoria Falls.
Dara O'Briain and Jack Dee The five celebs will be aiming to raise as much cash as possible for Comic Relief with their efforts, however, the team quickly ran into navigation troubles on day one. "We've done 22 kilometres and I can definitely say the second part of that has been just as painful as the first, " said O'Briain. "Chelsee and I have been working (more) »
- By Alex Fletcher
The new Go Compare ad
25 January 2013 10:00 PM, PST | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »
'We have your wife and daughter and unless we get your full cooperation with this Go Compare advert they will be killed'
Reading this on mobile? Click here to view
Stephen Hawking is delivering a fake lecture, his audience pretend-rapt in anticipation. "After a lifetime of study, I have finally calculated and formulised the exact conditions," he begins, "needed to generate a supermassive black hole." A befuddled science man raises a hand. "But what will you do with it, professor?" The camera pans back to Stephen Hawking's properly-famous-for-actual-real-things face, more deadpan than an unsuccessful Jack Dee sitcom pilot. So many answers occur to his brilliant mind.
Cut to the previous evening. "Here are our demands," says the shadowy figure, producing a note which he passes over the table. The man facing him remains still, seemingly impassive. "I'm sorry," says world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking, "but you're going to have to »
- Andrew Falkous
Comic Relief: Dara O'Briain, Mel C take on Zambezi River challenge
22 January 2013 7:42 AM, PST | Digital Spy | See recent Digital Spy - Movie News news »
Dara O'Briain, Melanie C, Jack Dee, Chelsee Healey, Phillips Idowu and Greg James have been revealed as the six celebrities taking part in a Hell and High Water challenge as part of this year's Red Nose Day fundraising. The six celebs' BT Red Nose Challenge will be a five-day ordeal, which will see them attempt to navigate their way down the Zambezi river by themselves. Previous BT Red Nose Challenges have included Gary Barlow leading Chris Moyles, Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, Ronan Keating, Denise Van Outen, Alesha Dixon, Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard up Kilimanjaro in 2009. Sport Relief challenges have included David Walliams taking on a Thames swimming task and comic John Bishop's Week of Hell fundraiser in 2012. This year's task features the celebs attempting to travel along the deadly 111km of the Zambezi. O'Briain (more) »
- By Alex Fletcher
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2005
1-20 of 21 items from 2013 « Prev | Next »
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
See our NewsDesk partners
Copyright © 1990-2013
IMDb.com, Inc.
Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads
An 
company.