Madness will kick-start a farewell to BBC Television Centre with an hour-long concert tonight to celebrate the building's 53-year history.

We don’t half seem to love books on Englishness. Even those like myself who are second-generation imports love examining our national traits. Often these are written with mildly irreverent humour, shored up by sharp observations and self deprecating asides.

Familiar faces will gather to say a fond farewell to BBC Television Centre for a two-hour TV special as the corporation leaves one of its most recognisable homes after more than half a century.

The fugitive son of the late Ronnie Barker is in custody facing a child pornography trial tonight after eight years on the run.

Although the humour in the 1960s TV series Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In seemed particularly American, much of its content depended on the British actor and scriptwriter, Digby Wolfe, who had also named the show. That was his defining moment, as Wolfe was a journeyman in the broadcasting arts, being able to turn his hand to most things, but usually with limited success.

A recurring figure in the world of Alan Ayckbourn is the utterly well-meaning interloper who, by his cheerful immunity from the woes of the others, wreaks emotional havoc amongst the depressed, fragile people on whom he descends.

New Year Honours: Entertainment

Miranda Hart is set to consolidate her position as one of the biggest comedy stars in Britain after scooping four nominations at the British Comedy Awards.

Whale of a time with the monster bunch

The new Mini is still too big, too heavy and too expensive

As claims to fame go, it's not a bad one: Wilhelmina, pet rabbit of Professor Robert Winston, was one of the first living beings to be photographed by MRA scan. Winston had been down the pub with some friends who had, he explained, rushed in bearing news of a machine they'd built. An old TV, a few bits of wire, and there you have it: one of the first MRA scanners in the history of the universe. Understandably, they wanted to try it out right away. And so off they went to collect Winston and his rabbit.