Late Show UK

As you may have heard, the BBC have announced they will be tightening up guidelines and editorial policy for all future shows with regards to swearing and things of that nature, following the Andrew Sachs, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross incident on BBC Radio 2.

The Guardian reports “the director of BBC Vision, Jana Bennett, told the Guardian that Jonathan Ross had agreed to cut back on bad language in his BBC Friday night chatshow”. The Daily Mail says Jonathan Ross’s chat show - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - will have “a ban on swearing and sexual innuendo” when it returns to BBC1 early next year following Jonathan’s suspension from the BBC. The Telegraph says “the BBC’s two most senior figures will face tough questioning over Jonathan Ross’s three-year £18 million salary in wake of Andrew Sachs obscene calls affair”.

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is expected to return to BBC1 at the end of January or the beginning of February next year.

With toning down of swearing and sexual innuendo - two things which are a part of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - is this a step too far? And will Jonathan stay at the BBC for much longer if they tell him strictly what he can and cannot do throughout every show he’s on?

Although the likes of David Letterman and Jay Leno on American TV don’t have any swearing on their shows (apart from a few bleeped words every now and again), and their shows are doing fine. In fact, swearing on network TV (ie. terrestrial TV) is not allowed in the US at all. Should the UK do the same or has this thing blown way out of all proportion? I think the latter.

We’d like to know your thoughts - leave us a comment.

The Guardian - “BBC swears to cut down on bad language”
Daily Mail - “Jonathan Ross told to cut out smut and swearing…”
The Telegraph - “BBC chiefs to be quizzed over Jonathan Ross’s salary…”

Guest listings updated - www.lateshowuk.com/guest-listings

Following on from his 20th November visit to the Late Show With David Letterman, The Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert will be a guest on Late Night With Conan O’Brien on the 8th December.

Expect discussion about Colbert’s new Christmas DVD (”A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!”), the Christmas period and probably talk about the upcoming January inauguration of Barack Obama.

Monday 8th December - Stephen Colbert, Keri Russell, the Lee Boys
Tuesday 9th December - Hugh Laurie, Joel McHale, Gaslight Anthem
Wednesday 10th December - Jennifer Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Alec Greven
Thursday 11th December - Bill Hader, Jessica Szohr, Tony Bennett
Friday 12th December - Don Rickles, Erran Baron Cohen

These are US airdates. Check the Upcoming Shows box in the sidebar for CNBC.

Updated 10th December 2008.

Guest listings for the Late Show With David Letterman updated - www.lateshowuk.com/guest-listings

Monday 22nd December - Dustin Hoffman, Todd Rundgren
Tuesday 23rd December - Jay Thomas, Mickey Rourke, Darlene Love
Wednesday 24th December - Pre-empted
Thursday 25th December - Stephen Colbert, Kristen Stewart, Super Diamond (Rerun)
Friday 26th December - Tracy Morgan, Matt Braunger

Updated 20th December 2008.

Details of the guests for the big Christmas edition of the Late Show With David Letterman have been released.

Jay Thomas, Mickey Rourke and Darlene Love will all be on the show which will air on the 23rd December. It’s long been a Christmas tradition for the Late Show to have Jay Thomas and Darlene Love on the last show before the holiday.

Jay usually tells Dave his Lone Ranger story and him and Dave try to knock the meatball off the top of the Christmas tree using footballs. Darlene Love closes the show with a fantastic rendition of her song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”.

There wasn’t a Christmas show last year because of the US writers strike, so it’s great it’s back this year.

Guest listings for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report updated - www.lateshowuk.com/guest-listings

Monday 1st December - Anne Hathaway
Tuesday 2nd December - Calvin Trillin
Wednesday 3rd December - Arianna Huffington
Thursday 4th December - Ron Howard

These are US airdates. Check the Upcoming Shows box in the sidebar for More 4.

Monday 24th November - Denis Leary (Rerun)
Tuesday 25th November - Jon Meacham (Rerun)
Wednesday 26th November - Richard Belzer (Rerun)
Thursday 27th November - Pre-empted

Note: More 4 are showing different reruns this week - click here.

These are US airdates. Check the Upcoming Shows box in the sidebar for More 4.

As it’s reruns on Comedy Central in America this week, More 4 are treating us to some special reruns different from what’s being shown on US TV. Special reruns have been hand-picked by More 4 to showcase some recent episodes with top guests.

Tonight (Monday) will be a rerun of the Bill Clinton episode, tomorrow (Tuesday) will be another chance to see former British prime minister Tony Blair’s appearance, Wednesday will give you another chance to see British comedian Ricky Gervais on the show, Thursday’s a rerun of The Office US star Steve Carell and there’s another chance to see US President-elect Barack Obama’s appearance on Friday.

All shows air at 8.30pm as normal, on More 4.

There is no Global Edition on More 4 this week.

Guest listings updated - www.lateshowuk.com/guest-listings

Petitions page updated (new Saturday Night Live petition now available) - www.lateshowuk.com/petition