BCG Daily Tuesday 20th January 2015
News
Press clippings
Czech silly walkers pay tribute to Monty Python
An 80-strong group did the fourth annual Silly Walk March in the southern Czech city of Brno, inspired by a 1970 Monty Python sketch featuring John Cleese with a bowler hat, briefcase and goofy gait.
Luxemburger Wort, 20th January 2015Review: Omid Djalili at Buxton Opera House
The pace never let up, a bravura performance decorated with a dazzling range of accents, interlaced with bursts of music and Iranian dancing.
Matlock Mercury, 20th January 2015Doctor Brown: 'Comedy? It's a big word, dude.'
Doctor Brown, the alter ego of American comic Phil Burgers, on playing the idiot with Sam Simmons, watching his audiences walk out and how he never set out to be a comedian.
Paul Fleckney, The Guardian, 20th January 2015Ed Byrne and Jo Brand for Great Comic Relief Bake Off
16 new celebrities will be feeling the heat of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry this February, but at least they'll have four presenters in the Bake Off tent to sweeten the deal. Regular Great British Bake Off presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will be joined by comedians Ed Byrne and Jo Brand.
Radio Times, 20th January 2015Avalon and Hat Trick executives to bid for BBC Three
Jon Thoday and Jimmy Mulville are expected to submit a formal proposal to the BBC to prevent network going online-only.
Neil Midgley, The Guardian, 20th January 2015Sharon Horgan & Rob Delaney interview: Catastrophe
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney's new Channel 4 sitcom Catastrophe is a deeply funny, down-to-earth look at relationships...
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 20th January 2015Catastrophe review - depraved, sweet and very funny
With nimble dialogue and bursting with jokes, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney's breakneck comedy sucks its humour from a cesspool of human self-loathing.
Julia Raeside, The Guardian, 20th January 2015How do you win an Cunning Stunt Award?
Every August at the Edinburgh Fringe, I give away three increasingly prestigious Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards in memory of the godfather of British alternative comedy. One of these is a Cunning Stunt Award for the best stunt publicising a Fringe show or act. And every year, around this time, people ask me for the definition of Cunning.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 20th January 2015Your brain on Just a Minute
How come some people are born raconteurs while others struggle to speak in front of an audience? At the moment, neuroscience can't answer this question, but we aim to change that. This study investigates what differentiates the brain of fluent speakers from the rest of us.
Neuroscience of Language Group, UCL, 20th January 2015Radio Times review
Nocturnal roadworks motivate Arthur to stand in the local elections in this magnificently nutty episode. Canvassing under the slogan "We're listening", he assembles a campaign team from the café regulars, including John the Watch (security) and Eggy (health secretary), while grammar Nazi Michael is ideal as head of communications.
Despite the puzzling indignity of his graveyard slot, Steve Delaney's creation is a rich and rounded one. I love the small details of his eccentricity: in particular, the times he becomes so exercised that he almost but not quite makes his hat fall from his head. It's a beautifully silly outing topped by a majestic dovetailing of plot strands.
Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 20th January 2015Catastrophe might be the best TV comedy of 2015
With its likeable attractive leads, this is that rarest of things: a sitcom which genuinely hits the ground running from the very first episode.
Chris Hallam, Metro, 20th January 2015Extended Derek finale will be released 3rd April
Netflix viewers will get an extended version of the final moments at Broad Hill Nursing Home on 3rd April, as Gervais's thoughts turn to Life on the Road and Special Correspondents.
Emma Daly, Radio Times, 20th January 2015Review: Bramall Hall Comedy Night: 15th January 2015
Last Thursday I visited Bramall Hall at the University of Birmingham for the third instalment of their fantastic comedy night. It was great to see a very busy venue this time, as opposed to the relatively small numbers I had seen in previous months, perhaps due to the fact the names on the bill seem to get bigger each month.
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 20th January 2015Interview: Rarely Asked Questions - John Dredge
John Dredge is a prolific podcaster and YouTube clip-maker. Barely a week goes by without something by Dredge landing in my inbox and brightening my day.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th January 2015Last Tango: latest victim of the dead lesbian cliche
The decision of Sally Wainwright to bump off half of the programme's only gay couple is yet more evidence that lesbians in TV exist to be sacrificed for the plot.
Kaite Welsh, The Guardian, 20th January 2015Preview: LOCO London Comedy Film Festival 2015
Love to laugh? We've picked out the must see films at the 2015 London Comedy Film Festival.
Katherine McLaughlin, The List, 20th January 2015Corden: "distraught" if Gavin & Stacey never returned
"I feel like they are still living and breathing somewhere," the Into the Woods star tells RadioTimes.com
Ellie Walker-Arnott, Radio Times, 20th January 2015James Corden: 'I wouldn't have a career without BBC3'
James Corden has said that he wouldn't have a career if it wasn't for BBC Three.
Digital Spy, 20th January 2015Catastrophe review
Catastrophe got off to a powerful start, cramming a full series-worth of exposition and drama into the first ten minutes.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th January 2015Review: Punch-Drunk Comedy, Side Club, Blyth
Punch-Drunk Comedy is the new monthly night that aims to put Blyth on the comedy map. Some may say that's a tall order, but hometown lad Kai Humphries (now based in Edinburgh) is determined to make it happen.
Elliott Clarke, Giggle Beats, 20th January 2015TV preview: Count Arthur Strong, BBC1
The near-perfect second episode was an impossible act to follow and while tonight's instalment doesn't quite reach those dizzying heights of comic confusion there are still some deliciously daft moments.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th January 2015Push for a global audience could be bad for UK sitcoms
TV and films are among the things we do best - we shouldn't distil our output simply to flog it overseas.
Catherine Shoard, The Guardian, 20th January 2015New comedy club to set up at Manchester bar
Northern Quarter's Kosmonaut to host Manchester's Alternative Comedy Experience.
Sarah Walters, Manchester Evening News, 20th January 2015Mat Ricardo, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre - review
This variety circuit regular is a welcome yet curious addition to the London International Mime Festival as he rarely stops talking during his performance.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 20th January 2015Simon Amstell interview
Lucky for us, British comic Simon Amstell is becoming a mainstay of the US stand-up scene.
Elise Czajkowski, Split Sider, 20th January 2015Review - Mark Thomas: Bravo Figaro
The humour in this writing is of the highest quality, told through character and bitter satire, the sadness with which it is interwoven heightens each extreme of emotion as we are carefully guided from one to the other.
Liz Allum, British Theatre Guide, 20th January 2015A look at 'The John Oliver Effect'
His US show has crashed websites, boosted donations and inspired legislation.
Victor Luckerson, Time Magazine, 20th January 2015Videos
TV & radio
Roy
Series 4, Episode 1 - Roy 2.0Between homework and chores, there just isn't enough Roy to go around, until Roy brings his photocopied double to life! At first life is good for Roy - he gets to do all the fun stuff, while ROY 2.0 performs all the boring tasks. However, ROY 2.0 may look like Roy on the outside but looks can be deceiving...
Gigglebiz
Series 4, Episode 12DIY Dan attempts to make a potted plant display, while Rapids Johnson tries out a new technique to try to find bears in the woods.
I've Never Seen Star Wars
Series 6, Episode 4 - Gyles BrandrethGyles Brandreth is persuaded to try four new experiences, including spending a day doing absolutely nothing and writing his first ever pop song.
Blue Go Mad In Ibiza
Episode 3The guys take JC out to celebrate his birthday at a local gay bar. Lee and JC bond over a hilarious snorkelling trip and the boys end up on the wrong side of the law when the bar gets raided by local police!
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
Series 2, Episode 3Host Alan Davies is joined by gag-loving guests Stephen Mangan, Sarah Millican, Zoe Lyons and Hal Cruttenden for some quality unrehearsed banter.
Cockroaches
Episode 2When Tom is elected the new boss of the survivors' camp, he finds leadership harder than expected. People are fighting, the water system needs fixing, and there is a very real threat of cannibals. Meanwhile, Suze attempts to set up a school, and Laura is forced to answer questions about her mum and Oscar.
Count Arthur Strong
Series 2, Episode 3 - We're ListeningArthur goes into politics. Spurred on by sleepless nights and noise pollution on his street, Arthur decides to run for local elections. Aided by John the Watch, his head of security, health secretary Eggy and a reluctant Michael as head of communications, they become a political force that cannot be ignored.