BCG Daily Thursday 31st October 2019

Press clippings

How Europe Stole My Mum. Image shows from L to R: Mr. Librarian (Harry Enfield), Kieran Hodgson

The lighter side of the (former) Brexit deadline

A comedian, author and musician tell BBC News why they wanted to mark the date the UK was to have left the EU.

Neil Smith, BBC, 31st October 2019
Ben Elton

Ben Elton, Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall review

Magnificent return to stand up.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 31st October 2019
Guilt. Image shows from L to R: Jake McCall (Jamie Sives), Max McCall (Mark Bonnar). Copyright: Happy Tramp Productions

Guilt: bonny murder thriller with surreal twists

Guilt (BBC2), starring Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives as two Edinburgh brothers who can't bear the sight of each other, is a murder thriller that might have escaped from the imagination of Billy Connolly. Convoluted, paranoid and hypnotic, it was also mordantly funny.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 31st October 2019
Guilt. Image shows from L to R: Jake McCall (Jamie Sives), Max McCall (Mark Bonnar). Copyright: Happy Tramp Productions

Guilt review

Plenty of guilty pleasures from darkest Scotland.

Joe Clay, The Times, 31st October 2019

Sajeela Kershi talks strength in the face of adversity

"Laughter in these circumstances is a necessary and important release."

Blizzard Comedy, 31st October 2019

The finalists in this year's Beat The Frog World series

The finalists have been announced for this year's Beat The Frog World Series - the new act competition run by Manchester's Frog and Bucket comedy club.

Chortle, 31st October 2019

Women of improv month - Trynity Silk

This month I chatted to over 30 female improvisers from all over the UK to celebrate the talent that we have - we also discuss some of the important debates surrounding this topic as well. Today I talk to an improviser that is part of City Impro and Plus Support - Trynity Silk.

Holly, Phoenix Remix, 31st October 2019
The End Of The F***ing World. Image shows from L to R: Alyssa (Jessica Barden), James (Alex Lawther)

Jessica Barden: 'Alyssa is dealing with depression'

The actress reveals that Alyssa is "dealing with depression and doesn't understand it" following the dramatic season one finale.

Flora Carr, Radio Times, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

Review: God's Dice

David Baddiel isn't the first creative person to have learned about quantum physics in all its weirdness and come to the conclusion that it requires an almost-religious leap of faith to believe this is the way unseeable particles actually behave.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 31st October 2019
Sophie Duker

Review: Sophie Duker

This show feels a bit like a whistle-stop tour of Sophie's life and experiences, and therefore can come across a little scatter-gun and hard to invest in. With a touch more tightening up, a stonger focus on specific talking points and ideally a few more impressions -- which she's excellent at -- this has the potential to be an award-winning show.

Hannah Foulds, Londonist, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

God's Dice review

Baddiel's big ideas fall flat on the stage.

Nick Curtis, Evening Standard, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

God's Dice review

David Baddiel's play starring Alan Davies as a scientist who inadvertently becomes a religious icon is intriguing but woefully heavy-handed.

Tom Whicker, Time Out, 31st October 2019
Damned. Al Kavanagh (Alan Davies). Copyright: What Larks Productions

God's Dice review

It ends up being about too much and not enough.

Arifa Akbar, The Guardian, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

God's Dice review

Slick but slight new play.

Dave Fargnoli, The Stage, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

God's Dice review

As a piece of theatre, it works wonderfully well. As a sort of amusing after dinner intellectual game, it has its merits. As a serious piece of thinking you will either find yourself able to 'buy' what it has to sell or be left wondering why it never occurred to anyone involved that they were maybe barking up the wrong Jesse's Tree.

Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com, 31st October 2019
Damned. Al Kavanagh (Alan Davies). Copyright: What Larks Productions

God's Dice review

God's Dice is ultimately too wide-ranging and complex to be 100 per cent successful but it is wonderful to encounter new writing that isn't afraid to take on huge themes and refract them back through the prism of relatable human circumstances.

Alun Hood, What's On Stage, 31st October 2019
David Baddiel

God's Dice review

Baddiel, as one might expect, is very good with words and the ideas here are intriguing too. Maybe a slightly different version would have more impact.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st October 2019
The Unexplainers. Image shows from L to R: John Rutledge, Mike Bubbins. Copyright: Zipline Creative

The Unexplainers review

Like Mulder and Scully played by Laurel and Hardy.

Robin Ince, The Big Issue, 31st October 2019
Flo & Joan. Image shows from L to R: Nicola Dempsey, Rosie Dempsey

My Perfect Podcast: Flo & Joan

The musical double act tell us about their favourite podcast.

Brian Donaldson, The List, 31st October 2019
The End Of The F***ing World. Image shows from L to R: Alyssa (Jessica Barden), James (Alex Lawther)

Charlie Covell interview

"I thought I was making something small and niche."

i Newspaper, 31st October 2019
Dave Cohen

So... what is a joke?

Dave Cohen tries to answer a simple question.

Chortle, 31st October 2019
How Europe Stole My Mum. Kieran Hodgson

How Europe Stole My Mum review

The mix of educational and humour is a bit like a Horrible Histories for grown-ups, but with a wit that's sharp as the insight it makes for a wonderfully entertaining and eye-opening piece of television.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 31st October 2019

TV review: How Europe Stole My Mum, C4

I presume this comedy-slash-documentary was scheduled for the late night slot on C4 on Halloween night because that was the point when Britain was scheduled to leave the EU.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st October 2019
Little Britain. Image shows from L to R: David Walliams, Matt Lucas. Copyright: BBC

Radio review: Little Brexit, Radio 4

I'm not sure if they said it would never happen, but it didn't seem likely to happen. Yet Brexit may not have brought the country together but it did bring Matt Lucas and David Walliams back together for a special one-off Little Britain reunion 20 years after their Radio 4 debut, complete with numerous familiar characters, old cast members and the booming voice of Tom Baker bellowing "Everybody loves Brexit".

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st October 2019

Review: Little Brexit

News that David Walliams and Matt Lucas had reunited after more than a decade sparked mixed reactions - from fans happy that the once all-conquering partnership was returning to those concerned that some elements of their comedy, especially regarding race, would be more troublesome than ever.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 31st October 2019

Lou Sanders review

Sanders is genial company in her new hour, Say Hello to Your New Step-Mummy, but this isn't a big-hitting show.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 31st October 2019

Little Britain review: neutered by impartiality rules

The delay to Brexit plus strict pre-election guidelines left few chances for trenchant jokes in David Walliams and Matt Lucas's sketch show.

Mark Lawson, The Guardian, 31st October 2019

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

So Awkward. Copyright: Channel X North

So Awkward

Series 5, Episode 8 - None Of Your Business

Ollie manages Mugshotsz, Lily and Jas go on strike and Mr Malone and Lou are trapped.

GiggleQuiz. Justin Fletcher. Copyright: BBC

GiggleQuiz

Series 1, Episode 4 - Keith Fitt's Quiz Fit

Professor Muddles's new invention, the Quiz Fit, causes chaos for Keith as he tries to exercise and quiz at the same time. Meanwhile, Nana catches cabbages in her Panto Showdown.

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
Little Britain. Image shows from L to R: David Walliams, Ashley Blaker, Matt Lucas. Copyright: Ashley Blaker

Little Britain

Special - Little Brexit

Brexit. Brexit. Brexit. The referendum has united this country like never before. Everybody loves Brexit. But how will Brexit affect the ordinary people of Britain? Matt Lucas and David Walliams return for a special episode of their much-loved sketch show, where Brexit is explained by Vicky Pollard, we learn why Daffyd Thomas voted to leave, and we find out that Sebastian Love is not keen on the new Prime Minister.

Comedy Central
8pm
30 min
Blockbusters. Copyright: Thames

Blockbusters

Series 2, Episode 6

The contestants this week are in their early twenties; team of two from Kent, Lynette and Ayo, take on Salford University student Joe.

There's Something About Movies. Brendan Fraser

There's Something About Movies

Series 2, Episode 4

Joining Alan and team captains Michael Sheen and Jennifer Saunders for another bought of movie flavoured trivia and challenges are Hollywood star and California Man Brendan Fraser, comedian Guz Khan and star of After Life and Derek, Kerry Godliman. Plenty of jokers, but can they solve Alan's riddles?

Pants On Fire. Image shows from L to R: Katherine Ryan, Maya Jama, Emma Willis. Copyright: Fulwell 73 Productions

Pants On Fire

Episode 4

Emma Willis hosts the show in which three daredevil teams try to convince celebrity jury Katherine Ryan and Maya Jama that they have carried out dangerous stunts.

Frayed. Image shows from L to R: Sammy Burbeck (Sarah Kendall), Jean (Kerry Armstrong). Copyright: Merman

Frayed

Series 1, Episode 6

Sammy gets good news about her husband's estate. But as she plans their escape, things prove far more complicated than she imagined.

Guilt. Image shows from L to R: Jake McCall (Jamie Sives), Max McCall (Mark Bonnar)

Guilt

Series 1, Episode 2

Max does his best to take control, while Jake finds himself falling in love with Angie, the dead man's niece.

BBC Radio 4 Extra
10:30pm
15 min
Newsjack Unplugged. Copyright: BBC

Newsjack Unplugged

Series 4, Episode 2

In this Halloween special, Newsjack Unplugged host Darren Harriott and guest Chiara Goldsmith find themselves stuck in a Brexit time loop and need to find a way out!

Radio 4
11pm
30 min
The Skewer

The Skewer

Special - The Halloween Skewer

Jon Holmes's immersive, topical, mind-twisting satirical river of sound returns to Radio 4 for Halloween, after a successful pilot earlier in the year.

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