BCG Daily Friday 24th July 2015
Press clippings
Interview: meet Simon Brodkin
Tossing $600 at the Fifa president has brought Simon Brodkin's pranks to world attention. He tells Benji Wilson how and why he does it.
Benji Wilson, The Telegraph, 24th July 2015The Legend Of Barney Thomson review
This black comedy from Robert Carlyle is a solid first go in the director's chair...
Andrew Blair, Den Of Geek, 24th July 2015Alex Owen: The Pin are coming to Radio 4
Martin Walker talks to Alex Owen of double act, The Pin. Alex talks about he and partner Ben's new Radio 4 series, and the intriguing concept behind their new Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, The Pin: Ten Seconds with The Pin.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015James Veitch: 'I enrolled a gerbil at Eaton once'
James Veitch delivered one of the great word-of-mouth successes of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year. But despite his new found triumph he is yet to find the right girlfriend. Martin Walker (rather unsuccessfully) tries to help him out.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Austentatious interview
Broadway Baby comedy editor, Martin Walker speaks to Charlotte from Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel. Martin knows nothing about Jane Austen, but apparently the show is still for him.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Joel Demmett interview
Joel Demmett met a lady on the tube. As a result he scrapped his planned Edinburgh Festival Fringe show and wrote a new hour based on his perusing of her. Martin Walker chats to the loved up comic. Maybe she'll turn up in Edinburgh?
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Darren Walsh quickfire punster at large
Darren Walsh delivers improvised high paced puns. Rather than describe what he does in this interview with Martin Walker, he demonstrates. Enjoy. Then go and book yourself a seat at his Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Punderbolt.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Freestyle rap? You got it.
Chris Turner is keeping the contents of his solo Edinburgh show under wraps. So he decides to deliver a freestyle rap instead. What he did tell Martin Walker is that at age fifteen he was told by doctors that he had ten years to live. He has now turned twenty-five.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Larry Dean: I thought being gay was completely illegal
Scottish Comedian of The Year Award 2013 winner Larry Dean returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his debut hour, Out Now! As he tells Martin Walker, he's a Glaswegian 'bender' who, aside from having a terrible diet, doesn't fit the stereotypes.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Edinburgh Fringe interview: Emma Bentley
'Frailty thy name is woman?! Oh get stuffed Will!' Armed with her record player, a fake moustache, some rudimentary feminism and a lot of questions, Emma Bentley is here to find out exactly why she can't play Hamlet. Or Macbeth. Or Iago. Or even just a downright Fool. And not just on stage but in real life!
The New Current, 24th July 2015Daniel Sloss reveals his dark side
The 24-year-old can't wait to return for his stand-up shows but insists his 'edgier' material is not a change in direction and he is just being himself.
Rick Fulton, Daily Record, 24th July 2015Laura Lexx and Joz Norris won't tell me things
"Why is this going to be your first Edinburgh Fringe show?" I asked comedian Laura Lexx yesterday.
"Because I've never wanted to do one before."
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 24th July 2015Disability groups don't want Frankie Boyle to perform
The appearance of a controversial comedian at a Belfast festival risks setting back awareness of disability issues here, it has been warned.
Belfast Telegraph, 24th July 2015Paul Chowdhry interview
Paul Chowdhry is full of questions as he hacks his way through the jungle of political correctness.
Charles Hutchinson, The York Press, 24th July 201510 Fringe survival tips from comedians in the know
Heading to this summer's Edinburgh Festival Fringe (7-31 August)? Take a few (survival) tips off three very different comedians in the know. And LOL in the process. Take it away Jack Whitehall, Viv Groskop and Luisa Omielan...
Marie Claire, 24th July 2015Patrick Marber interview
After early success writing for the National Theatre and for Alan Partridge, Patrick Marber's career stalled. As he returns with two plays, he explains how Lewes FC, Turgenev and an escape from country life helped him rediscover his voice.
Andrew Dickson, The Guardian, 24th July 2015York to host Great Yorkshire Fringe comedy festival
A ten-day festival of comedy, music and dance will kick off its inaugural year in York later.
BBC News, 24th July 2015Greg Davies, Alex Horne and Tim Key talk Taskmaster
'I can't believe I actually cared.' That was the verdict of Greg Davies after one of the challenges set in the new gameshow Taskmaster.
Chortle, 24th July 2015Review: The Last Sparks Of Sundown
On stage, the Pajama Men create multi-stranded filmic epics in their nightwear, so a transfer to the big screen seems long overdue. However their first foray into features, The Last Sparks Of Sundown, though sporadically amusing, lacks both the ambition and the consistency of their stage shows.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th July 2015John Bishop waxwork to be unveiled at Madame Tussauds
Scouse comedian will be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds Blackpool.
Tina Miles, Liverpool Echo, 24th July 2015Fringe 10x10 - 5. Sick humour
Ten Edinburgh shows about health or disability.
Chortle, 24th July 2015Edinburgh Young Critics scheme 2015 winners announced
After reading countless applications we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Edinburgh Young Critics Scheme winners.
A Younger Theatre, 24th July 2015Meet Ria Lina - Ed Fringe 2015
I am me. I have a tendency to say the wrong thing, but I don't always understand why.
Short Com, 24th July 2015This week's new live comedy
Previews of Stand Up For Satire, Ian Smith and Susan Harrison Presents Jennie Benton Wordsmith.
James Kettle, The Guardian, 24th July 2015Edinburgh preview: Mitch Benn
Everyone must surely know Mitch Benn by now. It feels as if he has doing topical songs on The Now Show since we last had a genuinely left wing government.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 24th July 2015Frayer Parker interview
Martin Walker talks to Frayer Parker from the character comedy double act, Lazy Susan. The 2014 Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee's latest Edinburgh Festival Fringe show is entitled, er, 'Double Act'. Feel free to reread that sentence if you have time.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Eric Meat has no proof, only memories of pasta
Ali Brice waxes lyrical to Martin Walker about the lovey Bob Slayer, curator of the 'Heroes of the Fringe.' He also explains what the most fascinating show title on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe actually means, Ali Brice presents: Eric Meat Has No Proof, Only Memories of Pasta.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 24th July 2015Interview: rarely asked questions - Terry Alderton
Terry Alderton has had one of the most varied careers in stand-up.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 24th July 2015Meet Darren Walsh - Ed Fringe 2015
My name is Darren Walsh and my show is called Punderbolt. It's fast-faced hour of gags, videos and nonsense.
Short Com, 24th July 2015Zen interviewing, with Ben Target
Edinburgh intros #9: Who says the Fringe is stressful for comics? For Ben Target, it simply involves choreographed lunging, games of Mahjong, and a goat called Sunshine.
London Is Funny, 24th July 2015Rob Auton - water guy
Edinburgh intros #10: he's done delightful shows on all the big topics - yellow, the sky, and faces. This year, Rob Auton's all about the wet stuff.
London Is Funny, 24th July 2015Interview: Sarah Callaghan - Elephant
'The comedy circuit is quite addictive'
Murray Robertson, The List, 24th July 2015Fringe preview: the best comedy newcomers
Six of the best debutants seeking to make audiences wet themselves in August.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 24th July 2015Interview: Sam Simmons - Spaghetti for Breakfast
'They'd say, "oh, the stuff you do, it's weird, it makes no sense". It makes total sense for me, and this is why I do absurd comedy.'
Neil Cooper, The List, 24th July 2015Interview: Joanna Neary - Faceful of Issues
'I really love very dark, very rude humour. I didn't want an hour of sweetness.'
Henry Northmore, The List, 24th July 2015Fringe preview: Alex Edelman - Everything Handed to You
Last year's Best Newcomer talks about winning, influences and being self-aware.
Kirstyn Smith, The List, 24th July 2015Signed performances at the Edinburgh Fringe
Theatre, comedy, spoken word and children's shows with British Sign Language.
Rowena McIntosh, The List, 24th July 20155 best show titles at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe
With the myriad of posters, flyers and publicity stunts littering the streets of Edinburgh during August's Fringe Festival, it can feel like you're shouting into a vacuum. One way to get an edge however, as a comedian drowning in a sea of drama groups and interpretive dance, is an intriguing title. Here's five to take a punt on based on a nifty moniker. No puns please.
Nic Wright, Giggle Beats, 24th July 2015Lee Nelson: how I gatecrashed Kanye West's Glastonbury
In June, Glastonbury hosted its most controversial headliner for several years. But the man who upstaged even Kanye West was a 38-year-old comedian known as Lee Nelson.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Simon Brodkin, the man behind the persona, explains how he got past Glastonbury's security to invade the Pyramid Stage during West's set, proving that persistence is key if you are trying to get into high security areas.
Alice Vincent, The Telegraph, 24th July 2015Steve Coogan's US comedy Happyish is cancelled
Steve Coogan's comedy series Happyish has been axed by Showtime after one season.
Justin Harp, Digital Spy, 24th July 2015Interview: comic Limmy on new short stories book
Variously featuring death, psychosis and 'things that are out of order', internet star Brian Limond's first collection of short stories is as provocative as the comedian's Bafta Scotland winning cult TV creation, Limmy's Show, which transfers to the stage next year. Jay Richardson meets him.
Jay Richardson, The Scotsman, 24th July 2015Interview: Matt Abbott
Despite only being 26 years old, Matt Abbott has over eight years of experience as a poet and musician. This year he makes his Fringe debut with the Spoken Word show Matt Abbott is Skint & Demoralised, at Sweet Grassmarket from 17 - 23 August. We chat to Matt about his influences, the UK Spoken Word scene and why he is coming to Edinburgh.
Steven Fraser, TV Bomb, 24th July 2015Blag a comedy expert: The Pin
With rave reviews, sell out shows and a successful radio series in the offing, mark our words, these ones are going far.
Bad Scents Of Humour, 24th July 2015Kerry Godliman interview
Kerry Godliman is bemoaning the state of the modern day social media-obsessed culture.
Laura Enfield, Enfield Independent, 24th July 2015Fringe Q&As: Lloyd Griffith
Lloyd Griffith discusses cheap beer, Lee Mack jokes and being Grimsby's most talented export.
The Herald, 24th July 2015Fringe Q&As: Ria Lina
Ria Lina discusses Taboo Raider, riders and the Scottish sense of humour.
The Herald, 24th July 2015Fringe Q&As: Luke Toulson
Luke Toulson discusses Hitler, the British weather and hecklers.
The Herald, 24th July 2015Fringe fresh: Shelf
Meet Rachel Watkeys Dowie and Ruby Clyde, a comedy double act who intersperse witty dialogue with sketches and songs.
Carrie Lyell, Diva Mag, 24th July 2015Blag a comedy expert part 42: The Pin
In 'blag a comedy expert' part 42 we welcome comedy double act The Pin, who are also known to their friends (and even some strangers), as Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen.
Bad Scents Of Humour, 24th July 2015Videos
TV & radio
Wussywat The Clumsy Cat
Episode 25 - SmallWussywat is too small to see the top of the sunflower so he builds some stairs out of the flowerpots with help from Eli and her stilts!
Clare In The Community
Series 10, Episode 3 - SistersClare and her estranged sister are forced to cooperate with one another.
Breaking The News
Series 1, Episode 8Des Clarke is joined by Susan Calman, Keir McAllister, Angela Barnes and author Louise Welsh.
The Now Show
Series 46, Episode 4The Now Show saves you from the trouble of keeping up with the news by providing a topical mix of stand-up, sketches and songs that tell you everything you need to know.
Siadwel
Series 2, Episode 3 - A Little Learning and Health and SafetySiadwel pays tribute to Dai Horribly, the health and safety expert who invented the fire exit, and bumps into Nan on her way to the Nearly Dead Club.
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Series 6 (Channel 4: Series 7), Episode 11Jimmy Carr is joined by Sean Lock and Mel Giedroyc and special guest captain Lee Mack with David O'Doherty. Susie Dent is joined by Adam Buxton in Dictionary Corner.
A League Of Their Own
Series 9, Out-takes - Unseen - Vol 1James Corden presents some previously unseen footage from the sports-based panel show.
The Last Leg
Series 6, Episode 5Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the week's main talking points, joined by a live studio audience and Jason Manford.