BCG Daily Friday 10th January 2020
Features
Press clippings
Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre review
Mischief Theatre's "Goes Wrong" oeuvre is now well established: broad humour combined with physical comedy and slapstick mishaps. Magic Goes Wrong, though, is the company's first outside collaboration - with American magicians Penn & Teller, themselves purveyors of fine spoof comedy of the ta-da! kind.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 10th January 2020I talk Sick Of It (Series 2)
Sick Of It balances humour and heart brilliantly, delivering big laughs alongside moments of real poignancy.
Elliot Gonzalez, I Talk Telly, 10th January 2020Angela Barnes & John O'Farrell start history podcast
Angela Barnes has teamed up with comedy writer and author John OFarrell to produce a series of weekly 'less-than-serious' history podcasts entired We Are History.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 10th January 2020BBC defends controversial episode of Gavin & Stacey
The BBC has issued another statement defending the use of the word "faggot" in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, after it was revealed that the incident drew more than 800 complaints.
Roisin O'Connor, The Independent, 10th January 2020Eleanor Colville on exploring the sinister & the social
"People are never more honest than in their Google search bars."
Blizzard Comedy, 10th January 2020Ivo Graham in minor sponsorship deal with Swindon Town
When devoted Swindon Town fan comedian Ivo Graham spotted that it was possible to sponsor individual players in his beloved team it was an opportunity that he deemed too good to miss.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 10th January 2020TV review: Sick Of It, Sky One
I've read that Karl Pilkington has said that Sick Of It is "not meant to be that funny", but I'm more than happy to review it on this comedy website. It's a lot funnier than a lot of television shows that bill themselves as comedies.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 10th January 2020Comedy club worker Pete Fitzmaurice dies of cancer
Stand-ups have lined up to pay tribute to Laughterhouse Comedy Club worker Pete Fitzmaurice, who has died of cancer. He spent a decade looking after the comedians who played the Liverpool venue, from when it was established in 2008 until he became ill.
Chortle, 10th January 2020Josie Long interview
The writer and stand-up comedian on the things that make her laugh the most.
Harriet Gibsone, The Guardian, 10th January 2020Trygve Wakenshaw review
The New Zealander's minimalist Only Bones v1.4 combines the spellbinding and ridiculous but ultimately seems unsure what it wants to be.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 10th January 2020Tom Davis on his sitcom King Gary
The Murder In Successville star talks toxic masculinity, his love of British sitcoms and writing about his beloved hometown.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 10th January 2020Frank Skinner interview
"I talk about sex the way a Battle of Britain veteran might talk about the war."
Andrew Billen, The Times, 10th January 2020Magic Goes Wrong at Vaudeville Theatre
A few gags get repetitive, predictable sendups and thin mawkishness do slightly flatten the production's sparky energy. This does raise some questions over the longevity of the Mischief brand - surely not Musical Gone Wrong next? Nevertheless, despite the magic going so wrong here, the show's spell of naughtiness and amazement feels so right.
The Upcoming, 10th January 2020Comedy sisters Flo & Joan on their new show
Musical comedy sisters Flo and Joan are back in the Capital with their latest show.
London Live, 10th January 2020King Gary review
Despite there already being a pilot last Christmas, this first of six new episodes still feels like a sitcom trying to find its feet - drawn between being big, bold and lowish-common-denominator with more imaginative moments and not quite achieving either, despite some winning casting.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 10th January 2020The Tuckers review
The BBC Wales comedy is full of valleys clichés and not enough laughs.
Kathryn Williams, Wales Online, 10th January 2020Behind-the-scenes on First & Last
We instinctively knew a blend of innovative games and silliness would define our gameshow, says Peter Holmes.
Broadcast, 10th January 2020Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
The Good, The Bad And The Unexpected
Series 4, Episode 1Mark Nelson hosts as panellists Hal Cruttenden, Jo Caulfield and Stephen Buchanan attempt to decipher the good from the bad, with a few unexpected twists along the way.
My Dad's Wardrobe
A comedic adventure about a 12-year-old boy's attempts to recover his dad's clothes. But there's much more to Louie's mission than merely getting out of trouble.
The News Quiz
Series 101, Episode 1The first episode of the Series 101 begins with new host Nish Kumar, and guests Alun Cochrane, Mark Steel, Helen Lewis and Lucy Porter.
The Goes Wrong Show
Series 1, Episode 3 - A Trial To WatchThe Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society tackles a legal drama, with Dennis in the lead role as unscrupulous defence lawyer Karl McKennon.
King Gary
Series 1, Episode 1 - Lee BensonGary has a building site prankster to deal with, but he turns out to be the local lunatic and hard man Lee Benson. Can Gary muster the courage to sack the terrifying Benson, or will his dad, Big Gary, have to get involved?
The Tuckers
Series 1, Episode 1Someone has swiped Glyn's wing mirrors and he's out for revenge. Meanwhile, family head Peggy is having the time of her life - but with who?
Billy Connolly: Life, Death And Laughter
Billy Connolly is interviewed by Will Gompertz at Glasgow's Kings Theatre.
Sick Of It
Series 2, Episode 1 - The BiscuitAfter Aunt Norma replaces Karl with a young sparky care worker called Ruby to replace Karl, it triggers a bout of soul searching about how little he's achieved in his life. Karl being Karl, he seeks to rectify this by bingeing on biscuits before attempting to dislodge Ruby in Norma's affections.
Sick Of It
Series 2, Episode 2 - The En-SuiteAfter being locked out the bathroom by Norma and Ruby, Karl decides to upgrade his job by moving into personal chauffeuring. The aim - to earn enough money to move out of Norma's into his own flat with his own en-suite bathroom.
The Graham Norton Show
Series 26, Episode 15 - Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Sharon Horgan, Craig DavidMiriam Margolyes says she loves Call The Midwife, Daniel Radcliffe says he was mistaken for a homeless person, Alan Cumming talks about the downside of being a superhero, Sharon Horgan sheds light on Catastrophe's dark ending and Craig David performs live in the studio.