Vivendi's shares have fallen 7% since the news leaked out, Seagram's stock trades at 26% below the offering price, and reporters stumble over themselves to chortle at Vivendi's star-crossed ambitions.

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Lynn told comedy website Chortle that the BBC "said it was policy" to order a pilot episode before commissioning a full series.

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Before the Fringe, Goldsmith, who was nominated for a Chortle comedy award last year, said the changes could cause him to lose ticket sales.

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Of course, you can chortle at the outrageous overbuilding in places like Dubai, but the Western world might do better to appreciate the scope of their ambition.

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