BCG Daily Monday 13th August 2018

Stephen Carlin Fringe diary, day 10

Too many people, and then I try too hard...

Damo is the new hot chocolate

A cartoon by Damian Clark.

Reviewer-review: Lynne Geoff (One4Review)

Lynne is the latest of the Geoff family, who are sort of like that family in The Hills Have Eyes, except these fun-loving maniacs are constantly craving some meaty human comedy to butcher.

Reviewer-review: Brett Mills (Fest)

Brett Mills is a virtual pick 'n' Mix of allusions and metaphors which, like the ones we used to get at Woolworth's, could be delightful. But inevitably, like Woolworths, it ends up rather bankrupt.

Reviewer-review: Sophie Cartman (Chortle)

I can't remember... is Sophie Cartman the underprivileged London one or the feral Scottish winner of the Steve Bennett Lower Class Munificence Outreach Award? At any rate she is producing reviews for Chortle at the rate of one a week, so we're tempted to tell Steve he's on a losing wicket here. YOU JUST CAN'T HELP THESE PEOPLE, STEVE!

Interview: Dylan Moran

Moran spoke with Brian Donaldson to give us a peek at what's to come.

BBC New Comedy Award final 2018 review

Mark Watson's an old hand at hosting the BBC New Comedy Award final now, and even he's anxious, more so than his usual shtick.

Christopher MacArthur-Boyd chooses comedy favourites

'Incredible writing and a super-distinctive voice'

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress explored

Oxford based Gold Thread Productions took their sell-out show to the world's biggest festival of arts this summer. Lara Marks, a student at New College, dives deep into the heart of the story, and tells us how their play is giving back to the community.

Heavy metal band had Nish Kumar on the run

"By the time I got on, it was well into the slot that the band were due and they weren't messing about."

Fringe 'Bad Boss Awards' will expose top offenders

Campaigners fighting the "exploitation" of workers at Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues are to stage their own alternative awards at the end of the month to highlights the worst offenders.

Seven life lessons from Dad's Army

Dad's Army needs no introduction. The misadventures and charming incompetence of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard not only formed a perfect little microcosm of the way everyday life in Britain was fractured during the Second World War, it also told us something about ourselves. So, what lessons we can all learn from the characters and antics of this nation's would-be last line of defence?

Video: Rose Matafeo

Rose Matafeo took some time out of her busy Edinburgh Fringe run to chat to us at EdFestMag.com.

Interview: Improv comedy troupe Hivemind

Hivemind is a London-based improv comedy group, back at the Fringe after a hugely successful 2017 debut.

Matthew Highton recalls his most memorable gigs

'There was a whole section just throwing dolls around to Bowie's Magic Dance'

Jack Whitehall in gay Disney character row

A row has broken out on social media after reports that Jack Whitehall will play the first major openly gay character in a Disney film.

Chris Ramsey reveals wife's miscarriage heartache

Chris Ramsey has praised his "warrior" wife after she was admitted to hospital following a miscarriage early on in her pregnancy, without knowing it had happened.

Edinburgh festival 2018: the 10 best jokes

From patriarchy and perineums to why Donald Trump is like a bikini wax ... the funniest gags so far from this year's standups.

Fringe comedians share their flat-share stories

The horror (and harmony) stories

The shows serious about accentuating the positives

Perhaps sensing that the news agenda has taken a dark turn, a number of shows are serious about accentuating the positive, writes David Pollock.

Joel Dommett to gatecrash 100 Fringe shows in one day

Joel Dommett is to attempt to gatecrash 100 Edinburgh Fringe shows in 24 hours this week in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

Ray Bradshaw interview

Why I'm performing the first Edinburgh show in English and sign language simultaneously.

Alex Edelman on meeting his antisemitic trolls

The 29-year-old Bostonian followed a string of racist tweets all the way to a white nationalist meeting - and turned the experience into his new Edinburgh show.

Fringe 2018: The comics who are getting a second chance

William Andrews, Matt Rees and Arnab Chanda were all tipped for big things, but life had other plans. Now they're older, wiser and trying again.

Zach & Viggo: Where Does The Love Go?

I expect good things, obviously, of this collaboration with LA based band Thumpasaurus, but I definitely wanted to talk to them about it, because I needed to get a handle on quite what to expect.

Stephen Carlin Fringe diary, day 11

I nailed it today so nobody will want to read this. For those who enjoy a train wreck look away now.

Fringe Festival - 2018 show dates

The annual festival is back with comedy, music and cabaret acts for all.

Roman Fraden: Back In The Closet interview

Since then he's taken a fairly long and circuitous route to a career in comedy, but it seems as though he's certainly found his niche. I arranged a chat to find out more about his life, his show, and the future.

The Festival, review

Joe Thomas makes a long weekend of elaborate misery consistently funny.

Could your child be a radio star?

If it was ever your ambition to be a radio presenter when you were a kid, well, this Fringe there's a great opportunity to relive that long-held dream vicariously through your very own budding little radio star.

Joe Jacobs interview