BCG Daily Monday 29th June 2015
News
Features
Press clippings
Review: John Shuttleworth & Friends, Palladium
I'm not sure if I have ever been to a gig as contradictory as this one. People were walking out while others were rushing to the stage to show their devotion. One act was surly while others were adorable. It was all very strange, but also great fun.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2015It Is Rocket Science! wins Royal Society Radio Prize
The best scientific radio programme of the year has been named - and it's a stand-up comedy show.
Chortle, 29th June 2015Stephen Fry: 12 of his best screen performances
From the definitive Countdown spoof to Oscar Wilde and General Melchett - here are some of our favourite Stephen Fry performances...
Cameron K. McEwan, Den Of Geek, 29th June 2015Radio Times review
There are sparky, laugh-out-loud moments in tonight's episode but the plotting is, by Man Down standards, low-key. Dan is, as always, hoping to impress fellow teacher Emma, so he makes a great show of taking troubled student Dennis - the kid in his class who always shouts obscenities - under his wing for the weekend. "I had an idyllic childhood," Dan lies, "and I'm not going to allow a broken society to steal Dennis's from him."
This results in a series of attempts to entertain the boy that backfire and lead to a confrontation with football hooligans. Meanwhile, Jo's latest business venture is Execu-Stress: motto "Stress: do one!"
David Butcher, Radio Times, 29th June 2015Radio Times review
Jealous studio boss Helen Basch (Andrea Savage) hates Tamsin Greig's Beverly because she thinks she loves her girlfriend Carol (Kathleen Rose Perkins). Helen also hates the oily Merc Lapidus so she sets him up to do a game show with his sworn enemy, the cash-strapped Matt LeBlanc. Matt's not talking to Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly either, because the Brit abroad writers snubbed his services for their hot new show.
Packed with brilliant lines, this is an eventful episode that shows how nimbly plotted this suave, assured, knowing, skilled and very funny comedy is - and the surprising directions it can take you. A joy.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 29th June 2015Comedy review: Whose Line is it Anyway?
Whether you remember it from TV or not, catching the live stage version of Whose Line is it Anyway? is an absolute must - warning: will make your face hurt/
TNT Magazine, 29th June 2015Interview: Jena Friedman
With over 3,000 shows during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it can be hard for performers to come up with a name that stands out. Jena Friedman has managed to find one that's both cutting and patriotic. Friedman is currently a producer for The Daily Show with John Stewart and has also written for The Late Show with David Letterman. Come see Friedman in her Edinburgh Festival Fringe initiation for a handful of dick jokes and a raid on the US body politic with American C*nt. It's about to get real.
Tabatha, TV Bomb, 29th June 2015Seven questions with... Joel Dommett
Stand up comic and Impractical Joker Joel Dommett is returning to the Edinburgh Festival this year with a new hour of comedy in his show Conquer. Having appeared on Sweat The Small Stuff and Russell Howard's Good News in recent times as well as working as a presenter for MTV and team captain on Reality Bites, Joel is now an instantly recognisable face on the entertainment circuit. I asked Joel these seven questions to learn more...
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 29th June 2015Edinburgh Ppreview: Nick Revell
Nick Revell has been doing stand-up for so long he could probably do it in his sleep, but he is anything but dozy.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2015Aidan Strangeman interview
Aidan Strangeman is a long-time musician and songwriter and relative newcomer to stand-up comedy. As he explains to Martin Walker, he's delighted to be bringing his debut comedy show to The Gilded Balloon after winning So You Think You're Funny in last year.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Kirsten MacGregor interview
According to the Fringe programme, there are two types of people in the world - and eighteen year old stand-up newcomer Kirsten Macgregor hates them both. Kirsten talks to Martin Walker about her first hour at the Fringe, premature old age and why she feels suicidal at train stations.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Poster released for The Bad Education Movie
The poster has been released for The Bad Education Movie. It'll be in cinemas on the 21st August.
Facebook, 29th June 2015Jason Manford in Facebook racism row
Comedian Jason Manford has become embroiled in a Facebook row after claiming he deleted three old school friends from the social network because they shared 'racist' videos.
Jennifer Newton, Daily Mail, 29th June 2015Merchant: BBC would be too scared to make Office now
The comedian Stephen Merchant has claimed The Office could not be made now due to the liberal Left deciding what we should - and shouldn't - find funny.
David Trayner, The Independent, 29th June 2015DVD review: "Festival of the Spoken Nerd"
Full Frontal Nerdity is utterly original comedy; where else will you find the world's first self-correcting binary scarf?
Elaine Downs, The Edinburgh Reporter, 29th June 2015Submit your show to be reviewed by A Younger Theatre
This year we're streamlining the way we review shows during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
A Younger Theatre, 29th June 2015Interview: Nish Kumar
'Why am I stressed about something so fundamentally useless?'
Brian Donaldson, The List, 29th June 2015Adrienne Truscott interview
Stand-up comedian, Adrienne Truscott chats to Martin Walker about feminism, Andy Kaufman, wrestling and gearing up for her second Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Adrienne Truscott's A One-Trick Pony!
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Lou Conran interview
Self-confessed comedian and 'wierdo' Lou Conran, talks to dead people. This summer she'll be spending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on a makeshift stage in a caravan parked on the Assembly Gardens. She chats to a very much alive Martin Walker about her clairvoyant family, and a trip to 'weirdo' camp.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Episodes, BBC2 - TV review: LeBlanc is the real draw
In his best Episodes, LeBlank is the cable-friendly counterpart to Curb Your Enthusiasm curmudgeon Larry David.
Ellen E. Jones, The Independent, 29th June 2015Alistair Barrie interview
In January 2015, topical comedian, Alistair Barrie's wife, was diagnosed with breast cancer. His new Edinburgh show, No More Stage Three covers the downs and occasional ups of watching your partner go through treatment for a life-threatening disease. He tells Martin Walker about making it funny and the joys of chemo farts - officially the worst farts in the world.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Colin Leggo interview
This year, Colin Leggo is bringing his debut hour to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He talks to Martin Walker about finding the funny in being an amputee - and what it's like to have your own name suddenly become a pun.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Ria Lina interview
Comedian, Ria Lina's new Edinburgh show discusses racism, sexism and political correctness. As she explains to Martin Walker, she'll be asking some very awkward questions. Does PC do more harm than good?
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Sam and Helen interview
As seen on the BBC and as heard on Hoxton Radio, Funny Women Awards finalists, Sam Baines and Helen Sorren are coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sam chats to Martin Walker about the show - and Professor Brian Cox.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Steve Hall interview
Comedian Steve Hall talks to Martin Walker about writing for Russell Howard's Good News and Mock the Week, performing for We Are Klang and his new Edinburgh Festival Fringe show entitled Zebra.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2015Robin Ince on quitting comedy
Robin Ince on what he will and won't miss about stand-up comedy.
Ben Williams, Time Out, 29th June 2015Videos
TV & radio
Wussywat The Clumsy Cat
Episode 6 - EggWhile Wussywat is playing catch with Oggy, he encounters a funny-shaped stone.
So On & So Forth
Episode 4One of the rising stars of the live sketch group circuit, So On and So Forth, bring their particularly British style of sketch comedy to Radio 4 in this new series.
Horrible Histories
Series 6, Episode 6 - Crafty CleopatraEgyptian queen Cleopatra clashes with her brother, seizes power and hooks up with great Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Meanwhile, across the world, we catch up with the thoughts of famous Chinese philosopher Confucius and encounter the less glamorous side of life in Rome.
Just A Minute
Series 72, Episode 7Nicholas Parsons hosts the perennially popular panel game in which guests Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Lucy Beaumont, and Marcus Brigstocke attempt to talk for 60 seconds with no hesitation, repetition or deviation.
Vicious
Series 2, Episode 5 - FlatmatesAfter Freddie and Stuart have a falling out, Stuart moves in with Ash and Violet moves in with Freddie.
It's A Funny Old Week
Episode 3Jason Manford presents the topical comedy news review show. This week he is joined by comedian Paul Sinha.
Episodes
Series 4, Episode 8Beverly and Carol are forced to hide their friendship from an increasingly jealous Helen. Matt is caught between a financial rock and hard place: either sell the beach house or take a job as a game show host.
Man Down
Series 2, Episode 5 - DennisDan - primarily motivated by impressing Miss Lipsey - volunteers to look after Dennis for a weekend.
My Mad Fat Diary
Series 3, Episode 2 - Chapter 2: RewindRae takes drastic action that could jeopardise her future when Chloe's parents ban her from seeing their daughter in hospital. As Rae tries to get things back on track, her A-levels and relationship with Finn hangs in the balance.