BCG Daily Wednesday 29th January 2020
News
TV
Press clippings
Sex Education: wish I knew sex could be fun growing up
You might remember a condom on a banana, or just a general sense that if you have sex, you'll either get A) pregnant or B) a disease. We're talking about sex education at school. The messy corners of growing-up were tiptoed around by teachers who couldn't even bring themselves to say "penis". So when the TV show Sex Education - which centres around two students who set up a sex clinic in their school - first debuted on Netflix last year, it was a breath of fresh air.
Kirsty Grant, BBC, 29th January 2020
Nicholas Parsons' important life lesson for us all
The arrival of so-called alternative comedy in the 1980s saw Parsons sometimes made the butt of the joke, but he took it in his stride and basically became part of the gang, appearing as himself in The Comic Strip Presents. And that, perhaps, is an important lesson he can teach us all - not to take ourselves too seriously, to take a joke and enjoy life.
The Scotsman, 29th January 2020
Daniel Sloss & Jimeoin announce Fringe 2020 shows
MZA Artists has just announced their first shows for the 2020 Edinburgh Fringe.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th January 2020
2020 Student Comedy Award is open for business
Entries have opened for the 2020 Chortle Student Comedy Award - and this year's prize is extra-special. For the winner our our nationwide hunt for the best up-and-coming talent will be flown to Perth, Australia for a run of gigs, with accommodation included.
Chortle, 29th January 2020
Barry Cryer remembers Nicholas Parsons
Taking a minute to remember Nicholas Parsons - a friend who always knew the score.
Barry Cryer, The Telegraph, 29th January 2020
Jenny Eclair: I will miss Nicholas Parsons terribly
He loved show business as much as those of us in show business loved him. From the audiences that adored him to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, he won't be forgotten.
Jenny Eclair, The Independent, 29th January 2020
Paul Merton's fabulous story about Nicholas Parsons
A story about a mix-up between two different famous Richards.
The Poke, 29th January 2020
Sian Davies on the importance of Best in Class
"Why did it take me to get this started?"
Blizzard Comedy, 29th January 2020
Hypothetical spreads to Tik Tok
Dave has launched a TikTok account, starting with a series tied in with James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe's panel show Hypothetical.
Chortle, 29th January 2020
TV producer confesses to adding laughs to stand-up sets
Jason Dawson, a freelancer who produces The Russell Howard Hour, has defended the practice of artificially 'boosting' the laugh tracks in the edit because it makes the comedians look good.
Jay Richardson, Chortle, 29th January 2020
Review - Alfie Brown: Imagination
Maybe if you need your comedy to have a punchline every 30 seconds, this isn't for you. But if you want thoughtful, absorbing insight into the human state, as seen through a wry comic lens, Brown delivers.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th January 2020
Robin Morgan's unforgettable five gigs
Worst gig: Jongleurs (RIP) in Covent Garden, June 2013. My first paid 20 for them. Front row: stag do. Second row: stag do. I went on stage and my opener got nothing. At that point, another stag do filed in.
Robin Morgan, Chortle, 29th January 2020
Simon Caine review
Flashes of ingenuity and an anxiety tick-list.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 29th January 2020
Laura Lexx: 'It's really hard to be a good person'
Award-winning rising star takes Knee Jerk on tour.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 29th January 2020
Lauren Pattison: The Big Show (headliner 2020)
We must stress at the outset that this is by no means intended to be a full review of Lauren Pattison, that will surely come at a later date.
Clownster, 29th January 2020
Dominic Frisby wants '17 Million F*ck Offs' to be No1
We can force the BBC to play this unofficial Brexit anthem on 31 January.
Dominic Frisby, Spiked, 29th January 2020
Comedy over the heads of honours system, critics claim
Following the recent deaths of British comedy greats questions have been asked of an honours system seemingly unamused by the nation's jokers, who have often been overlooked.
Craig Simpson, The Telegraph, 29th January 2020
Of course Mrs Brown's Boys beat Fleabag at the NTAs
Whatever the reason Mrs Brown's Boys beat out some of the most acclaimed TV comedies of the decade (and, in Fleabag's case, all time), the fact remains that it did. Rather than whinge about it, this should be a chance for those with the ability to determine what is "good" and what is "bad" to remember that our word is not gospel.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 29th January 2020Is Sex Education's US/UK mashup the future of TV?
The show's deliberate placement of British kids in an American high school shows genre is dead. And with it, witless compliance between viewer and storyteller.
Grant McCracken, The Guardian, 29th January 2020Simon Munnery interview
What has brought Alan Parker back out of Munnery's sizeable bag comedic tricks?
Victoria Nangle, Brighton Journal, 29th January 2020Podcasts
TV & radio
11:30am30 min
Conversations From A Long Marriage
Series 1, Episode 2 - Sally's Your FriendThe couples time together is severely hampered by their broken-hearted house guest and her dog.
6:30pm30 min
Obsessions
Series 2, Episode 4Today, Mary Berry shares her love for her dog, Darcy, and comedian Holly Walsh discusses her obsession with badgers.
11pm30 min
The Skewer
Series 1, Episode 4The last Skewer before Brexit sees the coverage of our preparations being somewhat akin to Pink Floyd's The Wall and the new 50p coin being collected by Super Mario, plus the story of Meghan Markle told to the tune of Common People and Prince Andrew doing the Dolly Parton meme.