BCG Daily Wednesday 26th August 2015
News
Features
Press clippings
Meet Grace the Child: 12-year-old standup wowing Fringe
She started at eight years old and is now the youngest comedian to appear on the funniest jokes of the fringe list. But she's taking fame and stardom in her stride.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 26th August 2015The inspiration of Harry Houdini
Paul Zenon discovered the wonders of Harry Houdini as a child growing up in Blackpool.
Jill Castle, The Herald, 26th August 2015Fringe Q&As: Steve Bugeja
Steve Bugeja on crepes and a milestone.
The Herald, 26th August 2015Reviewer review: Nick Awde (The Stage)
Nick Awde has been around since gaslighting, writing about theatre and working on a string of large stage productions, some of them at the Fringe. This pedigree may explain the aloofness with which he told Phil Ellis's Funz and Gamez Tooz to fuck off.
Edmund Rumania, FringePig, 26th August 2015Reviewer review: Dominic Cavendish (The Telegraph)
Dominic Cavendish is perhaps best known, among comedians anyway, as the man who walked out of a Stewart Lee gig. Appalled by Lee's apparent contempt for his audience, Cavendish asked why "the capacity crowd didn't mutiny at this sardonic onslaught". The reason, in the heads of most comedygoers, was that they understood the context of the contempt. To which Cavendish replied that he understood that his fans understood, but it was getting a bit tired. And anyone who has seen Stewart Lee's website will know that the appalled outbursts of reviewers are simply collected and put on display like little trophies. It's hard to win an argument with someone hellbent on self-deconstruction.
Mister Kipper, FringePig, 26th August 2015Bill Bailey interview
We met the actor and comedian Bill Bailey (the same person), to talk about his role as Baloo in a new Jungle Book audio production...
Rob Leane, Den Of Geek, 26th August 2015Comedian claims best Fringe gag 'was my joke first'
A judging panel gave the award to Darren Walsh for the one-liner: "I just deleted all the German names off my phone. It's Hans free." But fellow comic Pete Cunningham said he had been using the joke in his own routine for many years.
BBC News, 26th August 2015Ten songs to soundtrack your Fringe
David Elms is the selector.
David Elms, Chortle, 26th August 2015'What YouTube was invented for...'
Luke Toulson chooses his Perfect Playlist.
Luke Toulson, Chortle, 26th August 2015Ukip musical cast among The Stage's award winners
Hell Bent Theatre's production at the Space was one of three ensembles to win a prize, alongside This Theatre's Police Cops at Zoo Southside and the National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre's co-production of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour.
Georgia Snow, The Stage, 26th August 2015Fringe risking comedy reputation by becoming tour date
More than a third - 34% - of the Edinburgh Fringe 2015 programme is comedy - the largest of any section. This has been a continued growth market at Edinburgh since the '90s which saw the rise of alternative comedy into the mainstream.
Richard Jordan, The Stage, 26th August 2015DVD review: Bad Education series 3
It is doubtful many viewers will feel as emotionally involved as the over-sentimental finale expects us to. Still, this remains enjoyable stuff.
Chris Hallam, Chris Hallam's World View, 26th August 2015Top Coppers: Introducing a new wave of comedy talent
For pretty much all of the regular Top Coppers cast, it's their first kind of big outing.
Cein McGillicuddy and Andy Kinnear, BBC Blogs, 26th August 2015Phil Nicol visits the #WOWwagon (Link expired)
Comedian and actor Phil Nicol somehow found some time in his Fringe schedule (he's doing four shows) to stop by the #WOWwagon to talk about his favourite Edinburgh hangouts, the Comedians' Theatre Company and his post-festival plans.
Matthew Dunne-Miles, WOW247, 26th August 2015Chris Dugdale on revealing magic tricks (Link expired)
Any underling can do a trick but it takes a showman to perform it. Chris Dugdale argues that presentation is everything in magic - the skill is all in the delivery.
Chris Dugdale, WOW247, 26th August 2015Sacha Baron Cohen: 30 best lines
Some selected jokes told by Sacha Baron Cohen's characters.
The Telegraph, 26th August 2015Boy Meets Girl - Episode 1 review
Obvious comparisons are going to be drawn with Gavin & Stacey - but, rather than being a rip-off, Boy Meets Girl is an educational, sentimental, funny and heart-warming tale of an unlikely love between a boy and a girl.
Emma Jewkes, Cult Box, 26th August 2015Generation Game with Miranda Hart 'very much on hold'
BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore says a pilot of the show has been made with discussions still ongoing but actor wants to focus on acting and writing.
John Plunkett, The Guardian, 26th August 2015'I'd be embarrassed to call myself PC'
Sarah Franken talks to spiked about ISIS, censorship and the perils of being pigeon-holed.
Tom Slater, Spiked, 26th August 2015Performers offered hypnosis to help with nerves
Hypnosis is being offered on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe to help performers with stress and morale.
Jessica Wilson, A Younger Theatre, 26th August 2015Sofie Hagen: bubblewrapped
Lots of real life, and a little Westlife-themed fan fiction, fill Sofie Hagen's first full hour show at the Fringe, and what a gem of a show it really is.
Chris Cooke, ThreeWeeks, 26th August 2015Three to see on 27 Aug
Three recommended shows for Thursday at the Edinburgh Festival 2015.
ThreeWeeks, 26th August 2015Fresh Fringe 24: Mark Forward
A chat with Mark Forward.
Michelle Conlin, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Interview: Jenny Lee, Heartbeats and Algorithms
A chat with Jenny Lee.
Hannah Whitcombe, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Interview: Larry Dean, Out Now!
A chat with Larry Dean.
Hannah Whitcombe, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Interview: Austentatious
A chat with the cast of Austentatious.
Hannah Whitcombe, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Interview: John Robertson, Let's Redecorate
A chat with John Robertson.
Hannah Whitcombe, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Interview: Marny Godden, Flap 'em on the Gate
A chat with Marny Godden.
Hannah Whitcombe, Fresh Fringe, 26th August 2015Fringe Q&As: Neil Henry on Magical Mindsquirm
Neil Henry on Magical Mindsquirm and his rider.
The Herald, 26th August 2015Fringe Q&As: Colin Cloud
Colin Cloud on being a 'Forensic Mind Reader'.
The Herald, 26th August 2015A financial bribe to win a Malcolm Hardee Award
Yesterday, with the increasingly prestigious Malcolm Hardee Comedy Award nominations announced, I bumped into performer Joz Norris in the street, who tried to persuade me it was not too late for him to win for a Cunning Stunt Award.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 26th August 2015Preview: Chris Stokes - Altruism In Birds
"I heard he went loopy and started driving a van."
Chris Stokes, Edinburgh Evening News, 26th August 2015Cold Feet: a classic 90s drama & it should stay there
The thirtysomething comedy drama is rumoured to be returning for a new series. It should follow the example of Friends and stay on ice.
Hannah Verdier, The Guardian, 26th August 2015I'd love to see Kieran Hodgson grab the glory
The comedian's show Lance would be a worthy winner, if he can triumph over four-time nominee James Acaster and the inventive Joseph Morpurgo.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 26th August 2015Comedy Awards: 'an impressive but lumbering list'
The point is that the shorter the list, the more kudos a nomination has. As last year's panel chair, I was frustrated to wind up with a main list of seven, as opposed to the usual and far tauter five. Eight, however, feels like pushing it, and it devalues the award: the panel should have been harder on themselves, though I know all too well how tricky the whittling-down can be.
Mark Monahan, The Telegraph, 26th August 2015Blackadder: 8 brilliant moments
Talk of a possible Blackadder comeback has got us all excited, even if this isn't the first time we've been told a revival for Rowan Atkinson's devious anti-hero is on the cards.
Morgan Jeffery, Digital Spy, 26th August 2015Armando Iannucci's Edinburgh speech in full
Unless you want TV by diktat, defend the BBC.
Armando Iannucci, The Guardian, 26th August 2015Videos
TV & radio
In And Out Of The Kitchen
Series 4, Episode 4 - The BabyDamien and Anthony look after Marion Duffett's baby when she is called away on family business. Meanwhile, Damien is forced to go to a music festival for his TV series.
Sketchorama
Series 4, Episode 4Isy Suttie presents three up-and-coming sketch groups from the live UK comedy circuit, featuring an exciting new generation of sketch writers and performers.
Top Coppers
Episode 2 - The Girdle Of Randall RogersWhen the ageing star of hit sci-fi show Future Space starts receiving anonymous death threats, Mahogany finds himself coming face to face with his childhood hero. Meanwhile, in spite of his hatred for actors and the profession, Rust decides to chase fame and fortune and become an actor.
Elvis McGonagall Takes A Look On The Bright Side
Series 2, Episode 1Elvis is being photographed for an interview in a style magazine, but will his tartan dinner jacket cut the mustard? And does that shade of mustard really suit him?