BCG Daily Wednesday 29th June 2016

Press clippings

Whisky Galore - but not so many laughs ...

A remake of the Scottish classic, Whisky Galore!, has been panned by critics following its screening at the opening of the Edinburgh festival.

The National (Scotland), 29th June 2016

The Vernon Brothers deny sex assaults on boy

A former comedy duo were among several men who targeted and sexually abused a teenage boy for years in Bolton, a court has heard. Norman Vernon, now aged 80, and entertainment partner Geoffrey Axford, aged 76, who used to perform as The Vernon Brothers, are accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting a care home boy when he was aged 14 and 15 in the early 1980s.

This Is Lancashire, 29th June 2016

Fringe preview: Stewart Lee

These are dark days indeed. David Bowie dead, Brexit and the BBC not recommissioning Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle. It is precisely at times like this that we need Lee on a major mainstream platform.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2016

Hugh Laurie receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hugh Laurie is to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

BBC News, 29th June 2016

Video: Ab Fab stars on growing old disgracefully

BBC Breakfast spoke to Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders about the film adaptation of their hit TV series Absolutely Fabulous.

BBC News, 29th June 2016

Why studio laughter has no place in modern sitcoms

From Friends to Father Ted, some of the greatest sitcoms of all time have had laughter included on the soundtrack. But audiences have grown more sophisticated - and TV needs to follow their lead.

Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 29th June 2016

Adam Buxton launches bike-powered show

For a lot of people, 7.30am is a little too early. But whilst some people will just be getting up at this time on July 11, others will be spinning away in hope to gain some laughs early on Monday morning. Comedian Adam Buxton will be hosting a breakfast show in Shoreditch's The Truman Brewery, but there's a catch: you have to cycle to make it happen.

Cerys Kenneally, Evening Standard, 29th June 2016

Lembit Opik tries comedy again

The former Liberal Democrat MP stars in Rocking Your Vote! which uses his 'heroic failures' for some of its inspiration, and comes six years after Opik made a well-publicised attempt to turn his hand to stand-up.

Chortle, 29th June 2016

Fringe 2016 interview: Tom Neenan

At previous Edinburgh Festivals he's covered haunted houses and extraterrestials and this year he promises to bring to you tales of "magic, malevolence and misfortune" in the world of vaudeville.

Laugh Out London, 29th June 2016

Eddy and Patsy make a strong comeback

Was Absolutely Fabulous of its time, or blazingly ahead of it? The show's nerve seemed to falter further with every comeback, and it slowly settled into its status as one of British comedy's heritage brands. The film, directed by Mandie Fletcher, a stalwart of the later series, charts a safe but satisfying course between the two.

Robbie Collin, The Telegraph, 29th June 2016

Kate Moss joins all the stars on the gold carpet

As London's Leicester Square fetes the long-awaited premiere of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, see which stars have turned out to grace the golden carpet with series stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley.

The Telegraph, 29th June 2016

Line up for English Comedian of the Year final

The line-up has been announced for this year's English Comedian of the Year Grand Final.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2016

Edinburgh Podcast: ask Andy Askins

Stand up comedian, Andy Askins, is a well known headliner across the UK. Despite being a comic of ten years experience, it's in 2016 that he makes his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut. Martin Walker finds out more.

Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2016

'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie': film review

An endearing shambles, much like the original show.

Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter, 29th June 2016

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - review

British sitcoms face particular challenges when they attempt the big screen, since the charm of our comedy is that it tends to be small scale, low-budget and full of interestingly unglamorous people. Ab Fab largely escapes that parochial feel thanks to its implausibly wealthy fashion setting, yet this chaotic stumble onto the big screen somehow still comes close to disaster.

Helen O'Hara, Empire, 29th June 2016

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - wearing its yeas well

The plotting is lazy, but this big-screen reboot of the much-loved sitcom gets by thanks to its stars and to the endless goodwill cameos.

Donald Clarke, The Irish Times, 29th June 2016

BWW Q&A - Yeti's Demon Dive Bar

BWW speaks to the creators of Yeti's Demon Dive Bar ahead of their 2016 Edinburgh Fringe run.

Natalie O'Donoghue, Broadway Baby, 29th June 2016

BWW Q&A - Harriet Dyer

BWW speaks to comedian Harriet Dyer about the two shows she is bringing to this year's Edinburgh Fringe.