Getting On Series 3

Yet more good news for  fans of Getting On following last night's Bafta win...

Getting On, the award-winning, critically-acclaimed BBC Four comedy series has been recommissioned for a third series.

Last night, Jo Brand (who co-writes and stars in the sitcom) won the Bafta award for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role.

The series is produced by Vera Productions and directed by Peter Capaldi.

Getting On offers a bittersweet look inside a female medical ward at King Edward VIIIth hospital, a backwater within a backwater, of the health service.

Producer Geoff Atkinson says "it’s great to see Getting On getting the recognition it deserves. BBC FOUR provides a unique home for shows like this and hopefully the hat trick of awards (Writers Guild, RTS and BAFTA) repay some of the debt we owe them".

Cheryl Taylor (Controller of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC) said: "We are thrilled that both the superb comedy performances and wonderful writing of Getting On have recently been recognised by both Bafta and the RTS. Fans will be delighted to hear that the show has been recommissioned for BBC Four."

The series follows on from other hugely successful BBC Four comedies including The Thick of It and Lead Balloon. BBC Four won four Baftas last night, including The Killing (International), The Road To Coronation Street (single drama), Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children (current affairs).

If you can't wait until the new series, check out our Getting On clip collection.

Episode Series Ideal Series 7

In tonight's opening episode of the new series of IDEAL, Moz (Johnny Vegas) will not only be rubbing shoulders with his usual circle of reprobates - Psycho Paul, Cartoon Head and so on - but also Strictly Come Dancing winner Kara Tointon and, perhaps even more surprisingly, the Modfather himself: Paul Weller. Both of whom bring their own unique brand of magic to the show.

And I'm proud to say they are in very good company. Over the years IDEAL has amassed a pretty impressive role call of special guests, including Sean Lock, Janeane Garofalo, Julia Davis, Jason Manford, Alan Yentob, Graham Fellows, Mark Radcliffe and my personal favorite: Mark E. Smith of The Fall playing Jesus H. Christ.

People frequently ask me how we manage to get such amazing guest stars on the show. The short answer is, if you don't ask, you don't get. Admittedly there's been a handful of occasions when we've approached a guest and they've turned us down. But often it's been due to availability rather than a lack of interest. Of course it helps if the person in question is already a fan of the show. Or better yet, if you have incriminating photos of them.

But even when they say "yes" there's still an element of risk involved. Whereas with seasoned comedians or actors like Sean Lock or Kara Tointon you know you're assured of a solid performance, with non-actors you can never be certain of what you're going to get. When I told people Mr. Weller was going to be filming a scene for the show, the general assumption was that he would probably turn up, behave like a sulky diva and deliver a performance as wooden as his guitar. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. He was friendly, down to earth and turned in a cameo which I hope you'll agree is subtle, naturalistic and very funny. In fact, I've almost begun to wonder if he might be interested in his own potential spin off series...