Bill Bailey

Interview: Bill Bailey talks about his latest show, Qualmpeddler

'It's about reflecting ideas and thoughts that float about in an intangible way'

A press release for a Bill Bailey tour is often more entertaining than some comedians’ entire stage careers. There’s no way that this ‘Swiftian satirist,’ the archetypal hippie materialist and owner of a Dandelion Mind did not have a hand in publicity…

Bill Bailey welcomed chance to guest star in Threesome

TV gossip

Bill Bailey is to guest star in the new series of 'Threesome'. The 'Black Books' actor and comedian is set to star in the Comedy Central programme as shopping centre security guard Mr Scrutton, who takes an instant disliking character Alice - played…

Interview: Alan Davies brings Life Is Pain to 2012 Edinburgh Fringe

Jonathan Creek star on stand-up, therapy and Hillsborough

Prior to recording, QI’s elves flash interesting facts up on monitors for the audience. What they don’t reveal, as Alan Davies is explaining to me at a café in Highbury Corner, is that budget cuts have meant they’re now shooting two shows a day: ‘a hell…

Rammstein win Best Live Band at Golden Gods

Music Gossip

Rammstein won Best Live Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards last night (11.06.12). The German metal group beat off competition from Iron Maiden, Metallica, Skindred and Watain to take home the accolade, while Saxon won Best British Band and…

Late'n'Live Guide to Comedy

The greatest hits of the legendary Fringe bear-pit makes an appearance on TV

‘The performing equivalent of self-harm’ is how Johnny Vegas describes the bearpit hell of the notorious Late’n’Live. Brainchild of the Gilded Balloon’s head honcho Karen Koren, this Edinburgh Fringe staple has been sending chills down the spines of…

Bill Bailey's guide to scary film soundtracks

The comedian and orchestra appreciator on what makes for good malevolent music

What’s your favourite score to a scary movie? The Bernard Herrmann score to The Day the Earth Stood Still [1951]. It’s quite futuristic and incredibly orchestral and atmospheric. He uses the Theremin [an early electronic instrument that can be played…

Bill Bailey to star in Doctor Who Xmas special

TV Gossip

'Outnumbered' actress Claire Skinner and Bill Bailey are to guest-star in the 'Doctor Who' Christmas special. The two stars will also be joined by 'Fast Show' actress Arabella Weir and comedian Alexander Armstrong in the festive episode with the…

Colin Morgan wants Bill Bailey for Merlin

TV Gossip

Colin Morgan wants Bill Bailey to play his "crazy uncle" in 'Merlin'. The Northern Irish actor - who plays the title character in the BBC TV series based on the Arthurian legends of the mythical wizard- revealed as he can't work with his first…

Bill Bailey

It may seem that the comedy world and his dog is holed up in Edinburgh, but the mighty Bailey this year escapes its shackles to rock up for a six-night run out West. Taking inspiration from the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s seminal…

Bill Bailey

STAND-UP SECC, Glasgow, Wed 7–Fri 9 Nov It seems clear that Bill Bailey has never minded looking somewhat foolish in the pursuit of his chosen career path. Back in the early days when he was a mere West Country boy trying to earn a modest showbusiness…

Hitlist - The best comedy

• Bill Bailey The self-proclaimed hippie materialist part-troll guy worms his way back into our affections with more daft musical musings. SECC, Glasgow, Wed 7–Fri 9 Nov. * Ian Rankin's choice • Mark Watson The most energetic (yet unhealthiest…

Russell Howard

A regular panellist on BBC2’s Mock the Week, with a Sunday morning radio show and an if.comeddie nomination to his name, Russell Howard recently played the biggest gig of his life, and at 27, his comedy future seems assured. ‘We just almost crashed on…

Top comedy gigs to look out for

Tom Stade It takes years of hard, dedicated gigging to appear as relaxed as Tom Stade does on stage. Charming, handsome and unflappable he may be, but the Canadian émigré also possesses that indefinable knack of drawing you completely into his offbeat…

Bill Bailey interview

Audiences filing into the ‘humungoid shed’ of the Clyde Auditorium for the opening nights of Tinselworm, Bill Bailey’s new national tour, will be fighting for nothing less than the UK’s standing in Europe and democracy itself. Following year on year…