BCG Daily Wednesday 30th January 2019
News
TV
Features
Quiz
Press clippings
Kirstie Swain: "You can't be a little bit OCD."
The writer of coming-of-age comedy drama Pure, starting tonight on C4, talks to us about depictions of mental illness and sex on TV...
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 30th January 2019Freddie Flintoff: David Haye a 'bully' on ALOTO
The former England cricket captain labelled the ex-heavyweight champion of the world "disgusting" following a TV skit on A League of Their Own, aired in 2013. The Hayemaker landed 33 punches in 20 seconds on comedian Jack Whitehall, who had been wrapped in a punch bag.
Alex Richards, The Mirror, 30th January 2019Even woke comics aren't safe
Russell Howard claims the BBC asked him to tweak a routine in case it offended ISIS. Seriously. In the latest episode of his Sky One show, The Russell Howard Hour, the Bristol comic did a routine about freedom of speech, in which he told this remarkable story from his time working for the Beeb.
Tom Slater, Spiked, 30th January 2019Welcome to the Stage... The Glee Club, Glasgow
The Scottish comedy circuit's in the midst of an explosion, and adding another spark to the scene is the opening of The Glee Club in Glasgow this month. We speak to the club's founder, Mark Tughan.
Polly Glynn, The Skinny, 30th January 2019Review: Trial by Laughter
With so much crammed into the play, director Caroline Leslie struggles to set a consistent tone. There is no sense of the terror arising from a merciless, out-of-touch ruling class setting out to crush resistance and the tension one associates with plays set in a courtroom is absent. Rather there is a bemused Alice in Wonderland environment: poking fun at the powerful but avoiding showing the consequences of their abuse of power.
Trial by Laughter may leave audiences much better informed but not necessarily entertained.
David Cunningham, British Theatre Guide, 30th January 2019Review: Benidorm Live
The humour is fairly obvious, but, despite the fact you can see the jokes coming a mile off, the lighthearted banter, constant puns and some seriously outrageous lines delivered with aplomb by Janine Duvitski make it impossible not to be swept into the merriment.
The crowds at Woking prove Benidorm might have had its TV day, but the mix of OAPs, teens and plenty of middle-aged couples are keen to get their Spanish fix. This sun-soaked silliness is the perfect antidote to the January blues.
Louise Lewis, British Theatre Guide, 30th January 2019Leicester Comedian of the Year anniversary line-up
At the heart of the Leicester Comedy Festival is the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.
To mark 25 years of discovering new talent, a 'mega' comedy show is taking place at De Montfort Hall on Tuesday, February 19, featuring nine previous winners plus special guests.
Becky Jones, Leicester Mercury, 30th January 2019Underbelly announces first Edinburgh Fringe shows
Underbelly has put its first batch of Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows on sale.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th January 2019Major Edinburgh Fringe shows announced
Major Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows have been announced for Daniel Sloss, Jimeoin and Craig Hill.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th January 2019Interview: rarely asked questions - Paul F Taylor
Offbeat, quirky and often delivered at breakneck speed, take a leap into the unknown with Paul F Taylor's blend of daft character comedy, animal impersonations, and surreal story-telling.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th January 2019Review - Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Showstoppers! can be used as an argument that buying a show that 'doesn't exist' is often more risk-free than most ready-made.
Nicole Darvill-Batten, West End Wilma, 30th January 2019Rob Newman's comedy of ideas
In a world gone mad can philosophy help? Comedian Rob Newman *thinks* he has the answer. He spoke with Alex Spencer about his new show Total Eclipse of Descartes and the dangers of macho pop science.
Alex Spencer, Cambridge Independent, 30th January 2019Pure review
Has the potential to deepen our understanding of mental health.
Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent, 30th January 2019Pure, Channel 4, review
A startlingly bold and very funny comedy about mental health.
Sarah Carson, i Newspaper, 30th January 2019Pure review - masterly comedy about sex & mental health
Marnie has a form of OCD called Pure O, which manifests as constant invasive thoughts about sex. But this comedy-drama never resorts to cheap laughs. It is brave, bold and barely short of a miracle.
Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 30th January 2019Pure episode 1 review: frank, funny & boundary-pushing
Channel 4's Pure is a bold comedy-drama led by shock, laughs and a compelling lead performance.
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 30th January 2019Pure, episode 1, review
Naked bodies and extreme emotions make this new comedy an excruciating success,
Helen Brown, The Telegraph, 30th January 2019Bruce Springsteen's take on the film about his career
As he watched her movie, Gurinder Chadha inched closer and closer to the musician so she could see his reactions. At times he smiled. At other moments, he laughed. And then there were moments when he looked genuinely surprised.
But when all was said and done, the words The Boss uttered were simple: "Thank you for looking after me so beautifully."
Lottie Peterson Johnson, Deseret News, 30th January 2019Chris Ramsey on how comedy keeps him up at night
Chris Ramsey talks to Gabrielle Fagan about his 'brilliant' wife, why it's important we talk about miscarriage, and how comedy keeps him up at night.
Gabrielle Fagan, The Shields Gazette, 30th January 2019Offbeat tone adds intrigue to dark comedy The Favourite
Opening to 17 rabbits followed by impassioned duck racing makes it very evident that this is not your typical cup of tea. The Favourite cleverly uses its time period to make a dark comedy that is as engaging as it is bizarrely fantastic.
Quinn Deitrick, Sun-Gazette, 30th January 2019Adam and Aimee are dating in real life
Sex Education stars Aimee Lou Wood and Connor Swindells are dating in real-life.
Lisa McLoughlin, The Sun, 30th January 2019Pure branded 'soft porn' by shocked viewers
Channel 4's new drama Pure has had a mixed reaction from fans after the first episode aired tonight.
The new six-part series follows 24-year-old Marnie, who battles a mental illness called purely obsessional OCD (pure O), a form of OCD characterised by repetitive sexual thoughts.
Rebecca Flood, The Sun, 30th January 2019Sh*t faced Shakespeare & Showtime bring 3 shows to LST
The smash-hit, internationally acclaimed, award-winning, multi sell-out fringe phenomena are back in London with no less than three shows to dominate the Leicester Square theatre like never before.
Theatre Weekly, 30th January 2019Sarah Hadland amongst cast announced for Admissions
Miranda favourite Sarah Hadland will join the cast of Admissions. Hadland will star opposite Alex Kingston in the award-winning comedy, which opens at London's Trafalgar Studios on 28 February.
Theatre Weekly, 30th January 2019Adam Riches interview
Adam Riches on his Unforgettable Five gigs.
Chortle, 30th January 2019Chris Ramsey interview
Chris Ramsey on starting out in comedy, being a parent and his wife's miscarriage.
Gabrielle Fagan, Newcastle Chronicle, 30th January 2019Charly Clive interview
Charly Clive, the star of Channel 4's taboo-busting new drama talks about how a brain tumour helped her find her comic voice.
Sarah Carson, i Newspaper, 30th January 2019Sarah Keyworth review
Sarah Keyworth's show Dark Horse is an absolute gem.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 30th January 2019How did Channel 4's Pure shoot those OCD naked scenes?
Filming Marnie's "intrusive thoughts" of sex and nudity proved quite a challenge for Channel 4's groundbreaking new drama.
Eleanor Bley Griffiths, Radio Times, 30th January 2019Podcasts
TV & radio
6:30pm30 min
ReincarNathan
Series 1, Episode 1 - SnailNathan Blakely was a popstar, but he died and was reincarnated as a snail. Will he ever make it back to human again? It's Quantum Leap meets Planet Earth meets an idiot.
10pm60 min
Russell Howard & Mum
Globetrotters - Series 1, Episode 2 - Ancient Arts In JapanRussell and his mum have arrived in Japan. They're stepping back in time to become the ultimate assassins: Ninette is going full Ninja, despite her camel toe, and Russell is throwing on a nappy and getting neck deep in some Sumo man-boob, as well as massacring some teeny tiny trees.
10pm30 min
Insert Name Here
Series 4, Episode 5 - HarrySue Perkins hosts the comedy panel show about people with just one thing in common - they all have the same name. This week Josh Widdicombe is joined by comedian Angela Barnes and historian Suzannah Lipscomb and Richard Osman is joined by film director Paul Feig and comedian Jon Richardson.
10pm45 min
Pure
Episode 1Witty, chaotic Marnie has been plagued by disturbing sexual thoughts for as long as she can remember. At the end of her rope, Marnie jumps on a bus to London on a mission to change her life and figure out what is wrong with her. Loose and alone in the big city, she tumbles into the lives of eccentric Shereen, sardonic Amber and charismatic Joe.
11pm15 min
Little Lifetimes By Jenny Eclair
Series 5, Episode 4 - Greta Doesn't Want to Wait for GodotGreta is Queen Bee of the local Am Dram society so when some members breakaway to form a rival group she is not best pleased. But can their production of Waiting for Godot really rival her latest triumph, Calendar Girls? With Amelia Bullmore.