TV festival to celebrate comedy shows

Dave Allen, Ricky Gervais, The Goodies and more

Dave Allen, The Goodies and Ricky Gervais are to be celebrated at this year’s BFI and Radio Times TV Festival.

The annual event this year takes place London’s South Bank over the weekend of April 17 to 19.

Comedy-related events from the programme are:

A preview of series two of Ricky Gervais’s After Life, with the creator taking questions after the screening. Sunday April 19, 7.15pm to 9pm
A preview of The First Team, a new comedy about three young football players from The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley and featuring Will Arnett. The event will also include a Q&A with Morris and actors Shaquille Ali-Yebuah and Jack McMullen. Friday April 17, 5.30pm to 7pm
Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie gettingtogether to reminisce about The Goodies to mark its 50th anniversary, along with archive clips. Sunday April 19, 1.30pm to 2.30pm.
A celebration of the legacy of Dave Allen, with a compilation event featuring clips from all the varied parts of his small-screen career. Sunday April 19, 6pm to 7pm
Sir Lenny Henry in conversation with Alan Yentob, following his Imagine film on the comedian’s rise to fame for the BBC. Saturday April 18, 2.45pm to 3.45pm
Mo Gilligan picking the best moments of his Channel 4 programme, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. Friday April 17, 7.30pm to 8.30pm
The team behind The Mash Report, including Nish Kumar, Michael Spicer, Rachel Parris and Desiree Burch, asking whether the world is now beyond satire. Saturday April 18, 6.45pm to 7.45pm
The festival’s Talent Spotlight event, celebrating the rise of Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan, who next appears alongside Julie Andrews in the period drama Bridgerton. Friday April 17, 9pm to 10pm
A panel session on the Channel 4 Comedy Shorts initiative, featuring writer/performers Donna Preston and Verona Rose and producer/writers Guy Davidson and Daniel Clarke. Friday April 17, 2.30pm to 3.30pm.