BCG Daily Thursday 23rd April 2015

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Press clippings

Fresh Meat cast film on Canal Street in the sunshine

The Fresh Meat cast have been soaking up the Manchester sun during filming on Canal Street.

Manchester Evening News, 23rd April 2015

TV comedy's top 10 jargon abusers

To celebrate the return of W1A, we salute the top 10 comedy characters who talk absolute mother-thumping rubbish. Covers shows such as Peep Show, Drop the Dead Donkey and The Thick of It.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 23rd April 2015

W1A: so pitch-perfect as to be profoundly depressing

W1A is so pitch-perfect that its only real downside for those of us who fundamentally like the BBC is that it can often be quite depressing.

James Walton, The Spectator, 23rd April 2015

Josie Long review: breaking up is hard and funny to do

It's lovably eccentric stuff, but there's also a strong undercurrent of sadness here.

Daniel Herborn, Sydney Morning Herald, 23rd April 2015

Radio Times review

An hour-long special of the comedy where the BBC looks at itself in a fairground mirror. As usual, writer/director John Morton happily tramples on touchy subjects. Not just in the subplot about Jeremy C****son (his full name cannot now be broadcast, due to events) saying "tosser" on Top Gear with controversial frequency, but in the main disaster-in-waiting: a visit to New Broadcasting House by Prince Charles. Head of security Dave (Andrew Brooke) briefs Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) on the protocol for the Royal Range Rover's arrival: "I will at that point assume control of the rising bollards personally." Dave also plans to lock all internal doors in case of emergency...

When it eventually gets going (I know the myriad characters who say the same thing over and over are meant to be annoying, but still) it's a fine farce, albeit one in which director-general Tony Hall's much-anticipated cameo is still as yet unviable.

Gill Crawford, Radio Times, 23rd April 2015

Radio Times review

The praise lavished upon this anthology series from viewers and TV critics alike is justly deserved, and this episode is another cracker. In Nana's Party, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith (writing and directing) play prankster brothers-in-law who, with their wives (Claire Skinner as an OCD mum and Lorraine Ashbourne as her alcoholic sister), gather for Maggie's 79th birthday. Cue another delightfully ditsy turn from Benidorm's Elsie Kelly.

The half-hour unfolds like a micro-packaged Mike Leigh drama, with finely judged performances as secrets and lies are exposed in cosy suburbia. All it's lacking is Timothy Spall grunting.

Patrick Mulkern, Radio Times, 23rd April 2015

Radio Times review

Can TV's best topical comedy keep that mantle in the midst of election fever? It's a challenge, even for the excellent Adam Hills and his two sidekicks, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe.

Brooker pre-empted the worst excesses of the race for Downing Street earlier this year by conducting a genuinely enlightening interview with Nick Clegg, during which any answer deemed to be "bulls**t" was met with a klaxon. It's safe to say that despite Brooker's efforts, plenty of the smelly stuff has crept into the campaign on all sides as 7 May has drawn closer. The trio's signature brand of satire without cynicism could be just what we need.

Jack Seale, Radio Times, 23rd April 2015

Review: Tim Vine

This show was entertaining but with a few tedious moments.

The Birmingham Mail, 23rd April 2015

Jonny Awsum for Derby Comedy Festival

Jonny Awsum has been announced as the patron of the Derby Comedy Festival, which returns in July.

The Derby Telegraph, 23rd April 2015

Andrew O'Neill interview

From Sabbath to Slipknot: Andrew O'Neill's bringing a history of heavy metal to the stage.

Alex Bellotti, Ham & High, 23rd April 2015

Video - W1A: Back to poke fun at the Beeb

It's the "mockumentary" which does not need to aim far to hit its target. W1A is a comedy which satirises the BBC, and it's back for a second series, which starts tonight on BBC Two at 9pm. BBC Breakfast was joined by two of its stars, Hugh Skinner and Rufus Jones.

BBC News, 23rd April 2015

Comedians join V Festival line-up

This year's V Festival will be about more than just the music as big names such as Frankie Boyle, Russell Kane and Shappi Khorsandi have signed up to appear in The Glee Club Comedy tent.

The Lancashire Evening Post, 23rd April 2015

Zoe Lyons exclusive guest blog

There is no defined clear career path for what I do. You have to grab the scythe of faith firmly by the handle and cut your own route. When I first decided to try stand-up comedy I didn't know any comics and I had only ever been to a handful of comedy clubs but I just knew I really wanted to give it a go. One of those gut urges that you can't explain.

Zoe Lyons, Female First, 23rd April 2015

ITV's comedy line up down 1m viewers after one week

The ratings for both Newzoids and The Delivery Man fell by over a million viewers this week.

Niall Johnson, MediaTel, 23rd April 2015

The Wild West world of standup comedy

Theatre-makers often develop their craft under the wing of caring venues. Comedians learn theirs by finding out how bad it feels to not be funny on stage.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 23rd April 2015

George Egg will crack jokes & cook a three course meal

An unusual stand-up comedy show will be a feature of the forthcoming Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Brighton-based comic George Egg will combine 20 years of tales of food on the road with his own DIY cooking demonstration.

Eryl Crump, Daily Post, 23rd April 2015

Preview: W1A returns with hilarious Clarkson parody

In the episodes, a character based on Clarkson is seen getting in trouble after writing a controversial tweet and repeatedly using the word 'tossers'.

Duncan Lindsay, Metro, 23rd April 2015

TV preview: Inside No. 9, Nana's Party, BBC2

Don't bother trying to do a Columbo and second-guess what is in store. Needless to say the normal setting makes what occurs all the more disquieting.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 23rd April 2015

BBC Four's 'Puppy Love' cancelled after one season

BBC Four has cancelled Puppy Love, the latest comedy series from Getting On co-creators Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine, after airing one six episode season, TVWise can reveal.

Patrick Munn, TV Wise, 23rd April 2015

Irvine Welsh and Jesse Armstrong on how to write comedy

Want to write comedy? At an event for Guardian members Irvine Welsh and Jesse Armstrong offered their advice. From making playlists for characters to finding inspiration in the people around you, here's what they shared.

Sian Cain, The Guardian, 23rd April 2015

W1A: can a BBC satire about the BBC ever really bite?

If W1A were made by ITV or Channel 4, the storyline would have shown BBC executives desperately wondering whether they could get away with exonerating Clarkson for alleged violence - or, as satire works by exaggeration, even murder - because of his commercial value to the organisation. External writers might also have had fun with the negotiations between PR and legal teams that presumably led to the use of the antique term "fracas" to describe his actions.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 23rd April 2015

W1A preview: Goes like an arrow to the heart of the BBC

A storyline about censoring Jeremy Clarkson/p] in Top Gear provides comedy gold, says Ben Dowell, even if the double-length opening episode is a little too much of a good thing

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 23rd April 2015

Hugh Bonneville on W1A

The BBC mockumentary's Head of Values on filming the second series and the future of Downton Abbey.

Kirsty Lang, Radio Times, 23rd April 2015

Reading Fringe Festival 2015: the comedy line-up

Acts include Joey Page and Maxine Jones.

Jennie Slevin, Reading Post, 23rd April 2015

Review: Dara O'Briain, Crowd Tickler, Newcastle

It is not difficult to see how O'Briain's sharp wit, natural charisma and clearly honed skill keeps ever-larger audiences returning to his shows year after year.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 23rd April 2015

Review: Inside No. 9, Nana's Party

Like series opener La Couchette, Nana's Party is steeped in the old Sartre sentiment; "Hell is other people."

Nic Wright, Giggle Beats, 23rd April 2015

Inside No. 9 series 2 episode 5 review: Nana's Party

What's more horrifying than vampires, psychos, or zombies? Family gatherings, as we saw in this week's Inside No. 9.

Phoebe-Jane Boyd, Den Of Geek, 23rd April 2015

W1A episode 1, review: Clarkson's now played for laughs

W1A is a curious show: a comedy about the absurdity of the BBC, broadcast by a BBC that claims to be nothing of the sort. It is either an example of the corporation's supreme self-awareness, or the exact opposite. I suspect they're not entirely sure which.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 23rd April 2015

W1A is back, and its aim is as sharp as ever

The mockumentary's second season opens with an hour long special - but some of it hits a bit too close to home.

Rachel Cooke, The New Statesman, 23rd April 2015

BBC's self-flagellating satire finally hits its stride

In its first series, W1A often felt like it was trying to do too much in 30 minutes, and breaking from the restrictive half-hour format allows the dynamics between characters to develop more organically, with longer set-pieces. As Ian himself would say, it's all good.

Kate Goodacre, Digital Spy, 23rd April 2015

Ophelia Lovibond blog

Actress Ophelia Lovibond - hardworking PA Izzy - tells us what she loves about the comedy.

Ophelia Lovibond, BBC Blogs, 23rd April 2015

W1A premiere review

BBC's self-flagellating satire finally hits its stride.

Kate Goodacre, Digital Spy, 23rd April 2015

W1A: series 2 returns roaring its timid BBC head

W1A roars back on to our screens with a laugh a minute. Okay, cool, yeah.

The Gay UK, 23rd April 2015

TV review: W1A

Why W1A reminds me of an embarrassing Geography teacher.

Julie McDowall, The Herald, 23rd April 2015

Noel Fielding interview

It might be years since the end of The Mighty Boosh, but the local following that Noel Fielding earned from the surreal show will be welcoming him to this year's comedy festival.

Chris Schulz, The New Zealand Herald, 23rd April 2015

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

Celebrity Juice. Image shows from L to R: Gino D'Acampo, Leigh Francis

Celebrity Juice

Series 13, Episode 6

Guests this week are Pointless creator and co-presenter Richard Osman, the ultimate Essex girl, actress Denise Van Outen, and the one and only Eamonn Holmes.

BBC Two
10pm
30 min
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Pat (Reece Shearsmith), Jim (Steve Pemberton). Copyright: BBC

Inside No. 9

Series 2, Episode 5 - Nana's Party

It is Nana's special day: it isn't every day you get to be 79.

The Last Leg. Image shows from L to R: Alex Brooker, Josh Widdicombe, Adam Hills

The Last Leg

General Election Specials, Episode 1

After Alex Brooker fired the starting gun in the race to rid political campaigning of 'bullshit' during his interview with Nick Clegg, the team reunite at this crucial time with their upbeat, unjaundiced brand of satirical comedy.

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