BCG Daily Friday 9th August 2013
Press clippings
Nigel Planer: My family values
The actor, currently in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, talks about being the arty one in a family of scientists.
Nikki Spencer, The Guardian, 9th August 2013Words are still speaking louder than actions
The Meaning Of Liff was a very popular little paperback when it came out in 1983.
Keith Bruce, The Herald, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Festival 2013: Lucy Porter's diary August 9
Lucy Porter explains how comedians stay sane in the Edinburgh Fringe bubble ahead of the first 'proper' weekend of the festival.
Lucy Porter, The Telegraph, 9th August 2013My Edinburgh: John Lloyd is having the time of his Liff
The Fringe is a bit like a day at the races, 26 days in a row. Thrills, spills, wild fun, impossible glamour, terrible disappointment, tearing up your ticket, getting caught in the rain, drinking till you can't take any more, laughing till you cry - you may even find love if you're lucky.
John Lloyd, The Independent, 9th August 2013Armando Iannucci on helping Peter Capaldi
Armando and Peter - both Glasgow born Italian Scots - go way back together and it was the writer's casting of Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker on BBC show The Thick of It which helped relaunch the new Doctor Who's career.
Siobhan Synnot, Daily Record, 9th August 2013Opinion: Injury time on the Fringe
2013's Wimbledon tournament was notable for the number of injuries to players. Comedians don't usually perform at high speed on grass so in theory they should be safer. But not, it seems, this year.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 9th August 2013Don't Panic!
After years battling with anxiety and panic attacks, comedian Felicity Ward has never been better. She chats to Evan Beswick about her journey - and how Adam Hills and Toy Story 3 helped her along the way.
Evan Beswick, Fest Mag, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe interview: Festival of the Spoken Nerd
They're at the Fringe this year to educated and entertain with a show that puts the 'fun' into basic fundamentals of science. It also puts the other letters in their too. Because that's what it's teaching you really.
Laugh Out London, 9th August 2013Joz Norris' Edinburgh Fringe blog: 03
I am dancing atop Arthur's Seat in a kimono when suddenly it occurs to me that I came to Edinburgh to do a show and I've been so busy taking advantage of the local sights (not to mention the night-life - weeeyyyy, lads lads lads, what goes on tour stays on tour) that I have yet to even think about the show in any way.
Joz Norris, Laugh Out London, 9th August 2013Joz Norris' Edinburgh Fringe blog: 04
Oh boy! Did somebody say 'Private Member's Bar?! Watch out, Hollywood, because a wide-eyed and amazed Joz Norris had his first taste of glitz and glamour tonight! That's right, guys, I went to the private members' bar for Underbelly performers, without even being one, the idiots!
Joz Norris, Laugh Out London, 9th August 2013Chris Harcum: Guns, politics and taking a risk on stage (Link expired)
Chris Harcum, star of American Gun Show, explains how comedy came from a personal tragedy and why he took the risk of appearing at the Fringe.
Chris Harcum, WOW247, 9th August 2013Rhys Mathewson: A nutritional guide to the Fringe (Link expired)
Award-winning Kiwi comedian Rhys Mathewson shares his tips on eating better for less, for those fellow Fringe performers whose wallets and livers are beginning to show inevitable signs of wear and tear.
Rhys Mathewson, WOW247, 9th August 2013Chris Stokes: From the belly of the Fringe beast (Link expired)
Chris Stokes, winner of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show in 2012, explains why all of the Fringe survival guides and top ten tips articles have got it wrong and why the truth about what happens in Edinburgh every August is 'out there'.
Chris Stokes, WOW247, 9th August 2013The best Edinburgh Festival podcasts and broadcasts (Link expired)
Whatever the reason, there is plenty of Fringe-related chat and comedy to keep you entertained thanks to the magic of radio/podcasting.
Milo McLaughlin, WOW247, 9th August 2013Just a normal girl doing a cool video about her show
An exclusive video for Edinburgh is Funny - here is Pattie Brewster introducing her show, and just about holding it together ...
Amy Hoggart, London Is Funny, 9th August 2013Brett Goldstein: Contains themes of an adult nature
Brett Goldstein takes on pornography in his latest Fringe show, not particularly as part of any moral agenda, but because his efforts to prove his love for porn was all good and healthy sort of did the reverse. As he explains in his guest column for ThreeWeeks.
Brett Goldstein, ThreeWeeks, 9th August 2013Move over Miss Piggy: New 'Muppets' take over BBC1
The seeds of the series lie in Puppet Up!, an improvised 2006 Edinburgh Festival show staged by Brian Henson, who inherited the puppeteering business from his father Jim Henson, who died in 1990.
Adam Sherwin, The Independent, 9th August 2013That Puppet Game Show: Night of the living thread
Singing sausages, a crab called Clyde, a cow with an enigmatic private life... it's the weird world of That Puppet Game Show.
Olly Grant, The Telegraph, 9th August 2013Radio 4 at the Edinburgh Festival 2013
Caroline Raphael, Commissioning Editor for Radio 4 & Radio 4 Extra discusses Radio 4's involvement with the Edinburgh Festival 2013.
Caroline Raphael, BBC Blogs, 9th August 2013Alistair McGowan: tethering Placido Domingo with chains
The impressionist talks about his typical festival experience, and explains why it is like Wimbledon for performers.
Nosheen Iqbal, The Guardian, 9th August 2013Amnesty Secret Comedy Podcast episode 3
Recorded live at the Edinburgh fringe, the latest edition of our all-star Amnesty podcast features standup from Janey Godley, Ivo Graham and Neil Delamare. Plus Greg Proops explains evolution, Fred MacAulay takes pride in Scottish pride, and Andrew Maxwell tells us where fans of extreme theatre should be booking their holidays.
The Guardian, 9th August 2013This is what we call That Puppet Game Show
The successor to The Muppet Show will see celebrities battling it out in bizarre challenges to win £10,000 for charity.
The Guardian, 9th August 2013Q&A with That Puppet Games Show host Dougie Colon
That Puppet Games Show host Dougie Colon (pronounced Cologne) answers some questions.
The Independent, 9th August 2013My Edinburgh by Zoe Lyons
Comedian shares her thoughts on Embra.
Zoe Lyons, The List, 9th August 2013Letterboxd: The World's End (2013)
In many ways, it's harder to live up to expectations with the third entry in a body of work.
Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 9th August 2013Joz Norris' Edinburgh Fringe blog: 05
I head to the Pleasance Igloo to meet the strange bearded man of the day before and find that he is a jolly old cove called Harry Deansway.
Joz Norris, Laugh Out London, 9th August 2013Jo Caulfield's Fringe diary: August 9th 2013 (Link expired)
Edinburgh--based comedian Jo Caulfield shares her experiences of the Fringe Festival along with her pick of shows and events.
Jo Caulfield, Edinburgh Festivals, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe: The hot tickets
One week into the Edinburgh Fringe, this year's hit shows are beginning to emerge. Here are the plays and comedians that are attracting the most acclaim from critics.
BBC News, 9th August 2013Should comedians be more serious?
What's the right balance between thought-provoking and laugh-inducing? Plus: Jewish Mom jokes on the fringe and why money is the root of all evil.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 9th August 2013A word for it
Thirty-five years ago, John Lloyd and the late Douglas Adams liked to distract themselves by playing a game in which one asked of the other what the real meaning of a British place name might be.
The Telegraph, 9th August 2013Review: 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
The show that really benefits from this hybridisation is 8 Out of 10 Cats, because its own format is comparably weak.
Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe interview: Guilt & Shame
An interview with comic duo Guilt & Shame about their show.
The New Current, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe 2013 interview: Courtney Cooke
An interview with Courtney Cooke, the woman behind Funny Women Pop Up Fringe.
The New Current, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe 2013 interview: Red Bastard
An interview with Red Bastard about his Fringe show.
The New Current, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe 2013 interview: Suzy Bennett
An interview with Suzy Bennett about her Fringe show Dancing On Thin Ice.
The New Current, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe 2013 interview: Ruaraidh Murray
Something in a league all to itself and a true slice a originality in Ruaraidh Murray Bath Time. We spoke with Ruaraidh ahead of the Fringe run about the play and what the audiences can expect.
The New Current, 9th August 2013Edinburgh Fringe 2013 interview: Greg Proops
After seeing Greg's stand up last year and being in attendance at two of his Podcast recordings I think I reconnected with comedy in a whole new way. Breathtakingly funny his shows had the charm and wit of a real comedy pro - and his podcasts have to be listened to really appreciate what he does!
The New Current, 9th August 2013First review of Richard Curtis's About Time
The new film from Richard Curtis, this celebration of family is like a big, sloppy hug from a stranger. And like most unsolicited hugs, it's well-meaning but not entirely welcome.
Wendy Ide, The Times, 9th August 2013Review - Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
The North Norfolk Digital DJ's transfer to the multiplex is as smooth as the suede of his beige blouson jacket.
Kate Muir, The Times, 9th August 2013Birdman flies back to the Fringe
Comedian Markus Birdman talks about how his past brush with death has given him a new outlook.
Jemma McGuffie, Festival Journal, 9th August 2013Ready to rumble
A tag team on the stage, sworn enemies in the ring - Max and Ivan invite Lyle Brennan onto the mat as they hit pause on their sketch adventure for a legendary special event.
Lyle Brennan, Fest Mag, 9th August 2013Eleanor Thom in Edinburgh to give Bev her big chance
As seen in Lady Garden, Eleanor Thom is coming to the Fringe to give South Yorkshire character Bev her Edinburgh debut. Can she make it as a 'a full-time vocalist''
STV, 9th August 2013Podcasts
TV & radio
10:30am90 min
MacAulay And Co
Edinburgh 2013, Episode 5Live from the Edinburgh Festival with guests including Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons, Omid Djalili and Ian Lavender.
3:30pm30 min
Bad Language
Episode 5Richard Herring hosts another episode of the panel show about language. Des is joined by Eleanor Tiernan, while Keith enlists the aid of Mark Nelson.
6:30pm30 min
The News Quiz
Series 81, Episode 7In the chair is Sandi Toksvig, joined by panellists Jeremy Hardy, Susan Calman, Matt Forde and Justin Edwards, for a tongue-in-cheek examination of the week's news while Zeb Soanes reads out a selection of cuttings.
6:30pm30 min
9pm60 min
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Series 1 (C4: 2), Episode 3This week, Jimmy, Sean and Jon are joined by celebrity guests Sarah Millican and Humphrey Ker. Countdown regular Susie Dent is in with Rich Hall, while the country's favourite boffin, Rachel Riley, provides the letters and numbers with a little help from comedian Joe Wilkinson.