BCG Daily Tuesday 14th July 2015
Press clippings
John Lloyd and the comedy of words, water and science
John Lloyd agrees with me a little more quickly than I had expected.
Keith Bruce, The Herald, 14th July 2015Interview: Danish Bagpipe Comedian
Despite being tacky tourist-bait outside Waverley station and the butt of a thousand jokes, there is something uplifting about the skirl of the bagpipes, especially for a sentimental old Caledoniophile like our editor Robert James Peacock. Imagine his delight at learning there was such a thing as a Danish Bagpipe Comedian, and he was coming to the Fringe. This called for an interview. So, here it is, a chat with Mr Danish Bagpipe Comedian himself, Claus Reiss...
TV Bomb, 14th July 2015Derby Arena venue is no laughing matter
"Terrible" acoustics and a "massive" queue for one bar has been the verdict for Derby Arena's first major entertainment performance. And the headline act of the comedy festival, comedian Jimmy Carr, even took a side swipe at the choice of venue during his performance there on Friday night. The TV funnyman joked to the audience: "Whose idea was it to hold this gig here?"
Martin Naylor, The Derby Telegraph, 14th July 2015Brennan Reece wins English Comedian of the Year
Brennan Reece had been crowned English Comedian of the Year.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th July 2015BBC launches iPlayer radio downloads
BBC radio listeners will soon be able to download programmes to their smart phones or tablets for the first time using the iPlayer Radio app.
BBC News, 14th July 2015Michael Palin on his diaries
The comedian on how Monty Python baffled America, why he can't function without worrying - and his struggle to say something no one else will say.
Paul Fleckney, The Guardian, 14th July 2015TV preview: The Javone Prince Show, BBC Two
A fresh new face for British comedy gets his own show.
Henry Northmore, The List, 14th July 2015BBC1 comedy output falls by 25%
The amount of comedy on BBC1 fell by a quarter last year.
The Guardian, 14th July 2015Francesca Martinez inspires everyone with her attitude
The 37-year-old appeared on This Morning chatting about her attitude to life as a comedian with cerebral palsy, and explained that her stint on Grange Hill helped her accept who she is.
Katie Baillie, Metro, 14th July 2015Edinburgh preview: Joe Lycett
To be perfectly honest I don't know why I'm bothering to tip Joe Lycett. Partly because I've only just run a fabulous interview with him here, but mainly because he hardly needs my help.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th July 2015Lewis Schaffer knocks himself
After yesterday's blog appeared, Lewis Schaffer - a man who knows a thing or two about effective promotion using 'self-knocking copy' - issued a double press release.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 14th July 2015Jonny Awsum is bigger, better, funnier
Feel-good musical comedian, Jonny Awsum tells Martin Walker that when it comes to his new Fringe show, Everything is Awsum. He's promising a bigger, better, funnier show than last year's critically acclaimed Edinburgh solo debut.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 14th July 2015Review: English Comedian of the Year, Udderbelly
The English Comedian of the Year Final is the kind of concept that prompts jokes itself. Is it the first comedy competition sponsored by UKIP? Is Nigel Farage one of the judges? The answer is no to both of those questions. Though, as it was pointed out on the night, the organiser, Alan Anderson, is Scottish and the host Andrew Maxwell was Irish. Insert your own punchline.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Immigrant Diaries
Immigration is a hot topic dividing Brits. How many are there? How does it effect us? Who are these bloody immigrants? Isn't it time we heard from them?
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Steve Hall: Zebra
The best-educated third of beloved Fringe losers, We Are Klang, and one of the main writers on Russell Howard's Good News, Steve Hall's latest solo Fringe show is not about zebras.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Nick Hall to make character debut
Nick's captivating and inventive style has already marked him out as one to watch.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Aatif Nawaz
Award-winning comedian and TV presenter, Aatif Nawaz, brings his brand new stand-up comedy show, Muslims Do It Five Times A Day, to Freestival at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Franks and Skinner
A world of bizarre and chaotically skewed comedy.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Meet Paul Dance - Ed Fringe 2015
My name is Paul Dance and I play a character called Henry von Stifle (Philanthropist, Author, Historian, pimp and amateur vet).
Paul Dance, Short Com, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015- Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones, returns The Herbert on equally hapless form.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Kelly Kingham: Inside Out
In his latest Fringe hour, rising star Kelly Kingham tells the story of a man who, no matter how he tries, can't stop the inside from bubbling out.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe 2015 - Colin Leggo: Leggoland
In May last year comedian Colin Leggo became a below-the-knee amputee. For a stand up this could be an occupational disaster, but instead Colin has embraced this situation and created his debut one man show Leggoland.
The Edinburgh Reporter, 14th July 2015Fringe preview: Laughing Horse
With Christmas-like anticipation the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now less than 30 days away. Laughing Horse is one of the three free festival organisers with venues all over the city from pubs and restaurants to venues that only see the light of day one month a year.
TV Bomb, 14th July 2015Meet Steve Bugeja - Ed Fringe 2015
Hello, I'm Steve Bugeja I am a stand-up comedian, writer and excellent dancer.
Steve Bugeja, Short Com, 14th July 2015Meet Markus Birdman - Ed Fringe 2015
I am Markus Birdman, regional playboy (years active '11-'15), Essex table tennis champion '92, 103rd in line to the throne of Brunei, direct descendent of Napoleon's wife and the Duke of Wellington, with a blood-line from Mary Magdalene, but more recently stand-up comedian extra-ordinairre and visual artist.
Short Com, 14th July 2015Meet Gay Furnish - Ed Fringe 2015
I'm Gay Furnish, Sexologist and Flirting Guru.
Charlotte McDougall, Short Com, 14th July 2015Interview: Jena Friedman - American C*nt
'No one is stealing my abortion jokes'
Brian Donaldson, The List, 14th July 2015Interview: Stephen Tobolowsky - The Tobolowsky Files
Stephen Tobolowsky has been in everything from Glee to Groundhog Day and Community to Curb. Now, he's making his Fringe debut and reckons the internet has changed comedy forever.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 14th July 2015Fawlty Towers play sets off the smoke alarms
An amateur theatre production of Fawlty Towers turned into farce when a fake gunshot triggered a fire alarm and the packed theatre had to evacuated.
Catherine Varney, The Mirror, 14th July 20156 of the most hilarious moments from Bad Education
Whether you're already a massive fan of the original series or if it completely passed you by the first time around, here are a few moments that sum up why Bad Education was a great comedy.
Tom Eames, Digital Spy, 14th July 2015Stephen Merchant 'exhausted' but relieved by Mentalists
Stephen Merchant described his West End debut as "exhausting", but claimed it was not as terrifying as stand-up comedy.
Alistair Foster, Evening Standard, 14th July 2015Stephen Merchant in The Mentalists review
Delightfully quirky but lacks a punch.
Tom Eames, Digital Spy, 14th July 2015Review of The Mentalists starring Stephen Merchant
Two-hander 2002 The Mentalists is hardly top-drawer Richard Bean, and is the sort of thing I'd have expected to see revived at the smaller studio spaces at either the Park or the Southwark Playhouse, not one of the West End's most prestigious, heavily booked theatres.
Mark Shenton, London Theatre Guide, 14th July 2015James Cary's Top 10 Sitcoms, #10: Bread
Given it moves slowly, takes its time over jokes and has lots of characters, one would imagine Bread was not a great success. And yet its one of the most successful sitcoms in BBC history.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 14th July 2015Interview with Charlie Baker
We caught up with the multi-talented Charlie Baker to talk about his upcoming Edinburgh Fringe show, his run in London's West-End and much more!
The Angry Microwave, 14th July 2015Festival preview: the best of Edinburgh in Edinburgh
Our favourite local festival acts, including the Mac Twins, Lucy Ribchester and Iain Stirling.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 14th July 2015Interview: Alex Horne
Alex Horne bills himself as the country's premier comedian, writer, band leader, gambler, bird watcher and potential neologist, and he might also be one of the hardest-working stand ups in the country at the minute.
Matthew Brown, Narc Magazine, 14th July 2015Five fast Fringe questions with... Spencer Jones
A quick interview with Spence Jones.
The Public Reviews, 14th July 2015Five fast Fringe questions with... Faulty Towers
A quick interview with Faulty Towers.
The Public Reviews, 14th July 2015Five fast Fringe questions with... Ria Lina
A quick interview with Ria Lina.
The Public Reviews, 14th July 2015Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
Wussywat The Clumsy Cat
Episode 17 - PlayWussywat wants to help Eli have some adventurous fun so he sets about making her an adventure playground in the Garden. But what will he use for play equipment?
Dani's Castle
Series 3, Episode 2 - The GhostelGabe returns with a unique business idea to turn Bogmoor Castle into the very first hotel for ghosts.
It's Not What You Know
Series 3, Episode 3Miles Jupp discovers how well a panel of celebrity guests know their nearest and dearest.
Brotherhood
Episode 7 - WorkDan is sick and tired of Toby not having a job but learns to 'be careful what you wish for' when he starts working at his office! Jamie is ill and at the mercy of Auntie Debbie.
Not Safe For Work
Episode 3The minister's aide, Martine, arrives from London to pile the pressure on the Northampton team.