BCG Daily Saturday 2nd July 2016
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Press clippings
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - review
Producers did not release the Ab Fab film to the critics ahead of its release yesterday, which is rarely a vote of confidence. Add to that the fact that it's a big-screen adaptation of a sitcom - a genre with a patchy track record, The Inbetweeners Movie notwithstanding - and that it uses the tired and tested plot device of plonking their characters somewhere foreign, and the signs are not encouraging. Yet despite such portents, Absolutely Fabulous is as much of a fun, raucous romp as fans would have hoped for - director Mandie Fletcher throwing proceedings into the preposterous story and high camp with as much vigour now as there was when the series started a rather incredible 24 years ago.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd July 2016Interview: Greg McHugh on Gary: Tank Commander
As Greg McHugh prepares his live show of Gary: Tank Commander, the actor and writer tells Janet Christie about the enduring appeal of his comic creation and why it's time to get serious.
Janet Christie, The Scotsman, 2nd July 2016Review - Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
I am not sure quite why Saunders chose to make this film as it is clearly way past its peak and although she and Lumley are as brilliant as ever in their roles there is a feeling they are sleepwalking their way through them; they even on occasion throw out a few greatest hits moments. The thing is, due to re-runs and box sets, these are not as funny as they should be as familiarity alongside predictability are the curse of any comedy.
The Quotidian Times, 2nd July 2016Michael Gove was in a comedy called A Stab in the Dark
Vote Leave's EU referendum campaign felt like a stab in the dark at times. It's quite fitting then that Michael Gove once appeared in a TV series of the same title. And it was a politics-based comedy. The satire was actually a fairly serious affair in that it appeared on Channel 4 and also featured David Baddiel.
Toby Meyjes, Metro, 2nd July 2016Review: Comedy Garden, Bristol
Does a festival truly exist without mud? Another rainy evening in June, another chance to traipse through the boggy grounds of Queen Square in search of laughs at the Comedy Garden. Featuring Milton Jones, Richard Herring, Shappi Khorsandi and Danny Bhoy.
Serena Cherry, Bristol 24/7, 2nd July 2016Caroline Aherne bestrode Nineties TV like a colossus
It has already been a tragic year for TV comedy, with the deaths of Ronnie Corbett, Carla Lane and Victoria Wood. Now 2016 has grown darker still with news of the sad passing of Caroline Aherne, the funniest woman of her generation, aged just 52.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 2nd July 2016Steve Coogan on Caroline Aherne
'She used to make me cry with laughter', Coogan pays tribute to his friend of over 20 years.
Steve Coogan, The Guardian, 2nd July 2016How Aherne ensured The Royle family became a classic
Studio executives wanted The Royle Family to have either have an audience or laughter track, something that Aherne fought against. They also pushed to expand the series from it's iconic central location of the Royle's living room - slouched on the sofa in front of their beloved television set - with the mindset of introducing bigger storylines to the series. Fortunately, Aherne opposed these ideas also allowing her creativity to win out over studio exec's short-sightedness.
Jacob Stolworthy, The Independent, 2nd July 2016Chris Stokes - a man delusion?
After taking an extended break from stand up, Chris Stokes made a triumphant return to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015. As he explains to Martin Walker, this year's show is all about keeping that momentum going.
Martin Walker, Broadway Baby, 2nd July 2016Review: Comedy Garden July 2nd
Based on such narrow and myopic stereotyping, Fin Taylor's material goes down poorly partly because it feels discomfortingly like a torrent of racist abuse, even if the race he's caricaturing and attacking is his own.
Toby O'Connor Morse, Bristol 24/7, 2nd July 2016Floss at Fringe
Floss is a new Cambridge Footlights sketch show by Eleanor Colville, Orlando Gibbs and Dillon Mapletoft that is going to Edinburgh now in August. We met up to do a poster photoshoot at Trinity College. Here is a selection of photos from the evening.
Hjorth Med H, 2nd July 2016TV & radio
11am60 min
Fighting Talk
2016 Summer Specials, Episode 1Georgie Ainslie is joined by Fulham footballer Matt Smith, sports broadcaster Lynsey Hooper, journalist Jim White and comedian Justin Moorhouse.
10:30pm30 min
Sam Delaney's News Thing
Episode 24 - BrapocalypseSam surveys the blood-spattered ruins of post-Brexit Britain, Vince Cable explains why a Lib-Dem/Labour coalition is the only way forward, and Jeremy Corbyn worries that his roses needed pruning.