BCG Daily Tuesday 21st April 2015
News
Press clippings
The Alternative Comedy Experience, Series 2 review
The Alternative Comedy Experience is one of those programmes that reminds me of the reasons behind my love of comedy.
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 21st April 2015Expose your psychotic hallucinations, live on stage?
Last month, Juliette Burton started a 'new material' comedy club in London - Juliette Burton's Happy Hour.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 21st April 2015Manchester Club marks birthday with special plaque
Legendary Manchester comedy club the Frog and Bucket is to mark its 21st birthday in May with the unveiling of a blue plaque to commemorate acts that have 'died' on its stage.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st April 2015Peter Kay creates radio station for background noise
Peter Kay created his own radio station from scratch just to play in the background of his new sitcom.
Mark Jefferies, The Mirror, 21st April 2015Drink - Father Ted celebrates 20 years
When artist Spencer Tunick got hundreds of volunteers to strip naked at Blarney Castle in Co Cork, a small group of young men, dressed as priests, warned those taking part to be "careful now". And during student protests in Dublin in 2010, home-made 'Down with this sort of thing' placards featured in almost every demonstration. Students who were even not born when Father Ted was first broadcast happily shouted "feck fees".
Claire Simpson, The Irish News, 21st April 2015Holly Walsh interview
We grabbed a quick natter with Holly Walsh, a talented stand-up who has made awkward the new cool. Well, kind of cool.
Standard Issue, 21st April 201520 classic moments from Father Ted
There has never been a sitcom quite like Father Ted.
Chris Hallam, Metro, 21st April 2015Radio Times review
Bored and unamused by the election? Well, this new comedy from Drop the Dead Donkey and Outnumbered creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin may cheer you up. It takes you onto the battle buses of the Tories, Labour, Ukip and Lib Dems (the Greens appear to have been snubbed), with key scenes written and performed close to transmission. The idea is to insert highly topical material at the very last minute, something which worked so stunningly in Drop the Dead Donkey.
And with great performers like Ben Miller, Hattie Morahan and Sarah Hadland to call on and a rich collection of characters including press officers, empathy consultants, special advisers (aka "spads"), IT wizards, social media monitors, political analysts, interns and of course bus drivers, chances are this may well get your vote.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 21st April 2015Eddie Izzard campaigns for Labour in Grimsby - in heels
Eddie Izzard warned Labour's rivals that the battle for Grimsby was turning towards Labour.
The Grimsby Telegraph, 21st April 2015In Review: Noel Fielding
At 41, Noel Fielding probably is too old to be wearing a plastic cup on his chin, however there were laughs galore and I was sad to step back into the reality of my cold Canberra night.
Erika Bacon, Canberra Times, 21st April 2015Father Ted at 20: Why its legacy will go on, go on...
It's hard to believe, but it's been 20 years since we first met Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire, Father Jack Hackett and Mrs Doyle.
Frances Taylor, Digital Spy, 21st April 2015Stewart Lee Arts Centre fundraiser makes £45k
A fundraising event for Battersea Arts Centre raised more than £45,000 towards the restoration of the venue's Grand Hall.
David Hutchinson, The Stage, 21st April 2015Father Ted's Mrs Doyle recalls the unholy fun of it all
The Irish actress who played the priests' housekeeper in comedy series Father Ted has confessed that she has had real difficulty offering anyone a cup of tea ever since.
BBC News, 21st April 2015Ben Miller interview
"We're in completely virgin territory for British elections, and it's absolutely hilarious. That'' why it's such a good subject to tackle"
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 21st April 2015TV preview: Peter Kay's Car Share, iPlayer/BBC1
The return of Peter Kay to TV sitcomland is an undeniable event, but this is a weird one. The whole series of Car Share is going to be available on iPlayer for a limited period and then shortly after that it starts on BBC One, old school.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st April 2015Review: The Showstoppers, Udderbelly
With years of experience and an incredible talent providing the foundation to its shows, it is no surprise that The Showstoppers never ceases to prove itself as being at the forefront of improvised comedy.
Andy Smith, A Younger Theatre, 21st April 2015Russell Howard talks social media and selfies in trunks
Comedian Russell Howard's got an army of followers on Facebook and Twitter and now he'll be fielding questions from viewers on social media for his new show Russell Howard's Stand Up Central. Ahead of the 10-part series, the Bath star shares his social media likes and gripes with Jeananne Craig.
Jeananne Craig, This is Gloucestershire, 21st April 2015Seamus Cassidy - the Derry man who made TV history
The Derry man who made television history by commissioning Father Ted for Channel 4 has spoken of his own favourite moments on the 20th anniversary of the show.
Brendan McDaid, The Derry Journal, 21st April 2015Laurel & Hardy on big screen for Stan's 125th birthday
Cinemas across the UK will be showing Sons of the Desert and County Hospital in tribute to Laurel and Hardy.
Martin Chilton, The Telegraph, 21st April 201511 things Father Ted taught us about male friendship
20 years after the first episode of Father Ted aired, the classic TV 'bromance' can still teach us a lot about male bonding.
The Telegraph, 21st April 201513 British comedy stars lured to Hollywood in the 1990s
Hollywood went hunting for lots of British comedy talent in the 1990s - and lured the likes of Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson...
Simon Brew, Den Of Geek, 21st April 2015Ballot Monkeys review
If any of the writers of Newzoids are paying attention, THIS is how you write a topical comedy show.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 21st April 2015Tim Vine review - high-class Christmas-cracker gags
The current Edinburgh's funniest joke incumbent proves his mastery of the obscure pun - but doesn't seem to have much personal stake in his material.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 21st April 2015TV review: Ballot Monkeys brings decent satire at last!
I enjoyed Ballot Monkeys and it packed a far stronger satirical punch than ITV's Newzoids. Not only were the jokes better but Newzoids dabbled too much in celebrity whereas this was hard-core politics, dealing with spads and PR, which is clearly where the power behind the throne lies.
Julie McDowall, The Herald, 21st April 2015Ballot Monkeys: all too believable & all the funnier
Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin's election campaign comedy lives up to the hype with help from an impressive comedy cast.
Isabel Mohan, The Telegraph, 21st April 2015TV review: Ballot Monkeys, C4
Even if the quality was not always brilliant though you couldn't fault the quantity.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st April 2015Inside No. 9 season 2 episode 4 review: 'Cold Comfort'
Like all the films in this series, the backstories will creep around the darkest corners of your mind for days afterward.
Andrew Allen, Cult Box, 21st April 2015Father Ted 20th Anniversary quiz
Test your Father Ted knowledge in our 20th anniversary quiz. How well do you know the show?
The Mirror, 21st April 2015Videos
TV & radio
The Casebook Of Max And Ivan
Series 1, Episode 3Max and Ivan investigate a spate of sporting injuries. With guest star Jessica Hynes.
Ross Noble Freewheeling
Series 2, Episode 5Inspired insanity with the biking Geordie. Where else on TV would you see arm-wrestling OAPs, crab-taunting and multiple Chris de Burghs? Marcus Brigstocke tries potato sports.
Ballot Monkeys
Episode 1The Conservatives are trying to work out how to target women voters; the Labour turn to social media to promote a positive image of Ed Miliband; Kevin Sturridge is frustrated that the Lib Dems aren't in the newspapers; and UKIP's Gerry Stagg tries to undo Kate Standen's unguarded telephone remarks.