Comedy

BBC Lenny Henry's plea for more investment in West Midlands TV production Actor and comedian says more is needed in the region and hopes to bring more work to the Midlands

BBC Solihull writer's Car Share set to make broadcasting history with iPlayer premiere All six episodes of Car Share, written by Tim Reid and Paul Coleman, will be available on the iPlayer between April 24 and 28.

BBC Ones to watch 2015: Birmingham's cultural stars From TV to movies, comedy to crime drama, who from the city will be keeping us entertained during 2015

Alexandra Theatre Birmingham Veteran comedian Ken Dodd is heading to Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre Veteran comedian Ken Dodd is clocking up six decades in showbusiness, he tells Graham Young why he is still fizzing, ahead of his show at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.

Glee Club Birmingham 80 shows across Birmingham in comedy extravaganza The Birmingham Comedy Festival runs for 10 days from October 3 and features 150 acts in 80 performances across the city.

Glee Club Birmingham Birmingham's Glee Club plays host to deadpan comic James Acaster Comedian James Acaster plays Birmingham's Glee Club as part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival, he will also play Warwick Arts Centre and Bromsgrove Artrix.

Birmingham city centre Birmingham Comedy Festival gets under way as The Goon Show is recreated on stage Birmingham Comedy Festival begins next week with dozens of shows to see. Roz Laws talks to comics and discovers a radio revival of The Goon show.

Kings Heath Cherry Reds plays host to Comedian Kate Smurthwaite Comedienne Kate Smurthwaite plays Cherry Reds in as part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival All Dayer.

Glee Club Birmingham Birmingham's first comedy club The Glee Club celebrates 20 years of jokes Birmingham's first comedy club is celebrating 20 years of jokes. Owner Mark Tughan tells Roz Laws the secrets of his success

Solihull The world of stand-up is a funny old game Edinburgh Fringe Festival is up and running with more than 3,000 shows in 250 venues. Roz Laws rounds up the Midland artists taking part and talks to a playful comedian

Jasper Carrott Jasper Carrott: People told me I could make it big in the States... but I like it here in Birmingham Jasper Carrott made his TV debut 40 years ago and is now back on the road again. As he prepares to play the second biggest outdoor audience of his career, he talks to Graham Young about keeping it fresh

Stratford-upon-Avon Master of puns Tim Vine sticking to one-liners for laughs Tim Vine is swapping puns for the world of pork belly futures as a temporary share trader. But, he tells Alison Jones , he is not giving up the day job that took him so long to find

Comedy Lenny Henry takes to the Birmingham stage for the first time Lenny Henry is to star in the stage premiere of Rudy's Rare Records, a Radio 4 series which has been adapted for the theatre.

Wolverhampton Shappi Khorsandi: The industry is so male dominated I couldn't rest Comedian Shappi Khorsandi tells Roz Laws about life as a single mum and being the token female on TV shows.

Adele 'Telling Jimmy Savile to get lost is my badge of honour'Disabled comedian Laurence Clark tells Roz Laws about being patronised – even by Jimmy Savile

BBC John Hegley: My musings on poetry, books - ands spuds Acclaimed poet is one of the star attractions at this year’s Wenlock Poetry Festival. Graham Young reports

Birmingham Town Hall Ruby Wax is racking her brain for new material Comedian Ruby Wax talks to Roz Laws about staying sane in the 21st century.

Repertory Theatre Birmingham New comedy inspired by children's TV show Tiswas A new comedy inspired by children's TV show Tiswas takes to the stage in Birmingham. Roz Laws reports

Glee Club Birmingham South African comedian Trevor Noah to play Birmingham’s Glee Club South African comedian Trevor Noah tells Roz Laws about the harsh reality of racism and finding comedy in Apartheid.

Wolverhampton Civic Hall The big error that put Alan Davies on the retweet Telly favourite Alan Davies talks touring, Twitter and blue whales with Roz Laws .

Comedy Award-winning comic Tom Wrigglesworth to play the Jewellery Quarter Comedy Club Yorkshire funnyman will take to the stage at the Jewellery Quarter Comedy Club – held monthly at the Rose Villa Tavern, Jewellery Quarter – on Tuesday November 12

Comedy Comedian Paul Foot is bringing his unique show to the Midlands Comedian Paul Foot tells Dave Freak about faxes and his latest one-man show.

Comedy Comic Lucy Porter bringing Northern Soul to the Midlands Stand-up star coming to Midland Arts Centre

Comedy Comic John Bishop fires up the engines for a Supersonic tour Star coming to the Birmingham NIA in 2014

1
2

Benjamin Zephaniah Birmingham writer Benjamin Zephaniah has book adapted for the stage Writer Benjamin Zephaniah tells Roz Laws about fighting wars and learning to read

Find Things To Do Cuckoo comedy writers' fight to set a sitcom in Birmingham Remember that TV drama set in Birmingham, where supernatural energy lines met under Spaghetti Junction?

Film & TV Battle scars have left Warrior star Tom Hardy a lot wiser Tom Hardy is a chameleon in the purest sense of the word and it’s his ability to transform himself for roles that means he’s not instantly recognisable.

Music Boy George's Birmingham memories and the Culture Club reunion Andy Coleman speaks to Boy George about turning 50 and the future of Culture Club.

Theatre Michael Praed comes before a fall from grace Michael Praed tells Alison Jones why we have a different appetite for scandal in these days of Jade Goody and Jeffrey Archer

Birmingham Town Hall The Birmingham choir that's not very vocal about its many triumphs!Founded in the 1880s, Birmingham Choral Union is still going strong. Christopher Morley finds them in fine voices ahead a concert at St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter

Marks & Spencer M&S confirms Walsall store closure date High street retailer says it will shut up shop at The Saddlers Centre in August as part of wider reduction in portfolio of stores

Education Armonico Consort going supersize for its surround sound shows Warwickshire’s Armonico Consort are taking on two massive polychoral works from the 16th century. Christopher Morley talks to its artistic director

CBSO Concert hall's winning friends in high places As the Opening Festival of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire continues apace, Christopher Morley talks to its principal, Julian Lloyd Webber

The Cube Birmingham New bowling to launch at The Cube this summer Boutique operator Lane7 confirms it will launch its latest venture in The Cube in August

Lifestyle Brendan Lynch won't hang up his apron after The Great British Bake Off After 10 weeks of pastries, pies and the odd soggy bottom, Birmingham's Bake Off finalist Brendan Lynch is putting his feet up.

Local News Lordship titles for sale at under £20 - and the peers don't like it Having a title is big business, with vendors promised red carpet treatment for an outlay of a few pounds.

Business Rich List 2013: No.34 - Rashid and Aziz Tayub (£160m)Rashid Tayub, 63, and his brother Aziz, 56, run the Leicester-based food distribution and property company Crown Crest.

Local News Teenagers who died in Smethwick canal kept relationship secret A teenage West Midlands couple who died in a canal lock kept their relationship secret from their families because of their different backgrounds, friends have said.

Local News Sex club to open until 6am A Birmingham lap dancing club has been given permission to remain open until 6am six days a week sparking fears of a creeping spread of the city's infamous entertainment zone into the leafy suburbs.