BCG Daily Wednesday 15th April 2015

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Features

Press clippings

Lee Ridley on the representation of disabled people

Award-winning comedian Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy, says jokes help people to understand how he lives with disabilities, at a time when discrimination and prejudice are rife.

Mary O'Hara, The Guardian, 15th April 2015

Pauline McLynn hopes for reunion with Ardal O'Hanlon

It's been nearly two decades since they starred together in Father Ted, but Pauline McLynn has revealed that she would love to work with co-star Ardal O'Hanlon again.

Sharon McGowan, Irish Herald, 15th April 2015

Radio Times review

"I have had the same training as all the women," protests Darren Boyd's male midwife Matthew, a bloke in a very female-centred environment. In Green Wing writers Robert Harley and James Henry's old-fashioned comedy he has to cope with quite a lot of sexism, but doesn't help himself by being quite an irritant, which detracts a little from a sitcom packed with decent lines and excellent supporting stars (Fay Ripley and Aisling Bea among them).

There is also little sense of Matthew's back story - apart from the fact he used to be a policeman - although the signs are that we will be seeing a lot more of Paddy McGuinness as his even more annoying (and slightly unhinged) former colleague and flatmate.

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 15th April 2015

Jo Brand interview

How do people remember bits of advice they've been given? I can't even remember what happened last week.

Standard Issue, 15th April 2015

Blake Harrison & Georgina Campbell pictured filming

Pictures of Blake Harrison handcuffed to co-star Georgina Campbell on the set of E4 comedy Tripped.

Daily Mail, 15th April 2015

Ophelia Lovibond interview

Ophelia Lovibond, who counts Caroline Flack and Jack Whitehall among her friends, said she also hopes to achieve success on stage: "Oh my God, I would love to go on stage so much. I'm undignified with how badly I want it."

Evening Standard, 15th April 2015

Dara O Briain review

Playing in front of a large Town Hall crowd, the experienced comic demonstrates his comfort on stage by performing an accomplished relaxed set filled with wry observational humour.

Ian McNeal, Teesside Gazette, 15th April 2015

ITV's new show is 'spikier, edgier' than Spitting Image

Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson discuss how Newzoids is different from Spitting Image.

Catriona Wightman, Digital Spy, 15th April 2015

Simon Amstell interview

Simon Amstell is back in the States this month for a series of stand-up shows.

Josh Modell, The AV Club, 15th April 2015

How left wing writers helped Thatcher win an election

"Margaret Thatcher probably did more to help alternative comedy than anyone else."

John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 15th April 2015

TV preview: Inside No. 9 - Cold Comfort, BBC2

It's the CCTV that gives this episode its haunting flavour.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th April 2015

Live review: Holly Walsh, Soho Theatre

There are some particularly well-crafted set-pieces.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th April 2015

Spike Milligan: Man of Letters, review

Comedian Spike Milligan was a prolific letter writer and had witty correspondence with royalty, pop stars and the man in charge of round tea bags.

Martin Chilton, The Telegraph, 15th April 2015

Catriona Knox interview

Catriona Knox is one of the most hilarious LGBTI comics working in the UK today. She's battled the streets of Edinburgh for the fringe festival for years, leading to a sell-out, critically acclaimed run of her show Thinks She's Hard Enough in August 2014. A character comedian, she is the star of BBC Radio 4's Sketchorama and Mission Improbable among others, and is now bringing the show back for a short run in London.

Joe Morgan, Gay Star News, 15th April 2015

Info on new Alan Partridge book revealed

Aha! There's another Alan Partridge book in the works, due to hit your bookshelves, tablets, e-readers and audio players (with his close friend Mr Coogan reading it aloud) in October 2016.

Tim Glanfield, Radio Times, 15th April 2015

''Newzoids is no Spitting Image'' say Twitter viewers

Newzoids has arrived on ITV and the reaction was mixed.

Danny Walker, The Mirror, 15th April 2015

12 funniest (and one not so funny) moments on Newzoids

It may not be the most original idea ever (Spitting Image, anyone?) but Newzoids proved entertaining on its debut.

Duncan Lindsay, Metro, 15th April 2015

Newzoids, ITV, review: Not quite hilarious enough

If only the gags on Newzoids were as sharp as the pointy-chinned marionettes populating this new satirical puppet show from ITV.

Ed Power, The Telegraph, 15th April 2015

The Delivery Man, ITV, review: 'punchy'

The Delivery Man (ITV) was ITV's latest attempt to create a broad sitcom of its own to rival Miranda and Mrs Brown's Boys on the BBC. And it wasn't half bad.

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 15th April 2015

Newzoids, TV review

A forgettable start - but it was the same for Spitting Image.

Andy McSmith, The Independent, 15th April 2015

Newzoids review

The big problem with this show however, is that no matter how good this show can be, it will always be judged against Spitting Image, and Spitting Image was such an iconic programme it's hard to come up with an impression show that can be as good.

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 15th April 2015

Newzoids is funny, but its satire lacked real bite

More hits than misses, and that's a pretty good for a debut comedy. However, with its satire based on well-established views of its targets, whether it's going to make anyone see the world in a different light, is another matter.

This is Gloucestershire, 15th April 2015

The Delivery Man review: best ITV laughs in a long time

It's no Green Wing, but for a very mainstream sitcom it's pretty good.

Will Dean, The Independent, 15th April 2015

The Delivery Man: woeful ITV sitcom fails to deliver

I kept thinking about what would happen if there had been a sitcom about a woman taking a job that is stereotypically masculine and then being portrayed as completely incompetent on her first day. I personally think that there would be a massive backlash if this were to happen although I don't believe that many people will have the same reaction with The Delivery Man. Of course The Vicar of Dibley had a similar joke at its core but every episode saw Geraldine Granger getting one over on her bumbling congregation.

Matt D., Unreality TV, 15th April 2015

Newzoids: meet the impersonator behind the puppets

Dead Ringers' Jon Culshaw lampoons the latest generation of politicians in ITV's impressionist show.

Sean Cronin, Radio Times, 15th April 2015

TV Review: Newzoids, ITV1

The easiest way of describing Newzoids is to say that it is probably quietly hoping to be the new Spitting Image. Or at least have some of that show's acclaim. The trouble is that Spitting Image is such a hard act to follow. Over the years Headcases and 2DTV have tried to pick up the animated satire baton and failed. So could Newzoids succeed? Well, with the first episode just finished, guess what, the jury is still out.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th April 2015

Review: Jesting About, Live Theatre, Newcastle

Jesting About has already featured such comedy luminaries as Gavin Webster, Ben Crompton, Holly Burn, Rob Gilroy and John Scott, and some stand out performers from this round of talent search are surely destined for a very bright future.

Elliott Clarke, Giggle Beats, 15th April 2015

Nish Kumar interview

The fantastic Nish Kumar brought his completely brilliant 2014 show, Rumination on the Nature of Subjectivity to Manchester last week. We caught up with him before his stint at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, previewing his new show Long Word... Long Word... Blah Blah Blah... I'm So Clever.

Molly Stewart, Giggle Beats, 15th April 2015

Paul Abbott interview

Paul Abbott's brilliant new series No Offence is a 'comedy for a crime-addicted audience'. He talks about writing Shameless, his family and his battle with bipolar disorder.

Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, 15th April 2015

Newzoids - not its fault it can never be Spitting Image

ITV has been doing its darnedest to persuade everyone that its satirical show Newzoids, starting tonight, should not - repeat NOT - be regarded as the new Spitting Image. Needless to say, this hasn't stopped the media from calling it exactly that.

Pat Stacey, The Independent (Ireland), 15th April 2015

Interview with Jacob Hawley

Usually it will start with a note on my phone, then I'll expand and mess around with it with a pen and paper to find the structure and the framework of the joke.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Interview with Tom O'Mahony

I gig full time now but past life (Jaysus that sounds like I've died) experiences definitely do come into my material.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Interview with Laughing Stock

We've been gigging for just over a year now. Our first gig was January 2014.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Interview with Bosh & Babbs

The three of us got together and created Bosh & Babbs in February last year and have been gigging since April last year.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Man With A Porpoise interview

Comedy is an instantly rewarding sort of performance, so as long as you're getting laughs, it's hard to dislike any moment of it.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Interview with Daphne

Interview with Phil Wang, Jason Forbes and George Fouracres from Daphne.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Interview with Norris and Parker

We met at the Manchester Met School of Theatre in 2009 and discovered a shared day of birth and a love of dark and surreal comedy.

Comedy Blogedy, 15th April 2015

Netflix suggested a show called Scrotal Recall

If you're signed up for Netflix, then you know the service frequently sends out emails updating users with new programming available for streaming. Sometimes, it even makes suggestions for shows it thinks you might enjoy. Well, that PR scheme kind of backfired today when subscribers found a suggestion for a show called -- wait for it -- Scrotal Recall sitting in their inbox. With a name like that, naturally it's a British series -- gotta love the Brits and their cheeky zero-damns-given humor. (It's also the title of a Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode.) No surprise, the reactions to the email were priceless.

Dee Lockett, Vulture, 15th April 2015

PSA: Netflix has a show about diseased dicks

This week, Netflix has apparently quietly launched the Classic Balls Puns Based on the Collected Works of Arnold Schwarzenegger segment of its Original Programming*. This is my way of telling you that you can now watch a show called Scrotal Recall.

Kate Knibbs, Gizmodo, 15th April 2015

Say hello to 'Scrotal Recall'

From creator Tom Edge comes a witty British comedy about lust, love, deceit, and yes, sex. Lots of sex.

Olivia Armstrong, Decider, 15th April 2015

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

4 O'Clock Club. Image shows from L to R: Dexter (Jason Callender), Isaac Rodgers (Layton Blake), Nero Johnson (Akai Osei). Copyright: BBC

4 O'Clock Club

Series 4, Episode 12 - Health And Safety

Nero fakes an injury to get out of cross country but discovers that playing the victim doesn't give him the easy ride he was hoping for.

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
Tim FitzHigham: The Gambler. Tim Fitzhigham. Copyright: BBC

Tim FitzHigham: The Gambler

Series 2, Episode 3

Can Tim FitzHigham cook a pudding underneath ten feet of water?

Newzoids. Copyright: Citrus Television

Newzoids

Series 1, Episode 1

Auditions for a new Top Gear presenter are held, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond reveal their true feelings, and Gary Barlow faces a hefty tax bill.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV
9:30pm
30 min
The Delivery Man. Image shows from L to R: Ian (Paddy McGuinness), Caitlin (Fay Ripley), Matthew (Darren Boyd), Lisa (Aisling Bea). Copyright: Monicker Pictures

The Delivery Man

Episode 1 - Youth

It's the first day on the job for male midwife Matthew, formerly a policeman, and he's met with a number of youthful problems.

You, Me & Them. Image shows from L to R: Ed Walker (Anthony Head), Lauren Grey (Eve Myles). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

You, Me & Them

Series 2, Episode 2 - The One Before The One

Ed's and Lauren's future looks threatened by his past when an ex shows up. Roles are reversed when a bandaged Emma has to place her trust (and home) in Clive's hands and Debs and Keith find themselves having to deal with their son's tricky new 'discovery'.

BBC Radio 3
10:45pm
15 min
Simon Heffer

The Essay: British Film Comedians

Episode 3 - Terry-Thomas

Simon Heffer discusses the life and work of Terry-Thomas who, with his monocle, his cigarette holder and familiar gap between his two front teeth, perfected the role of a particular type of British 'toff'.

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