BCG Daily Wednesday 11th March 2020

News

Features

BCG Pro

Press clippings

Blithe Spirit. Jennifer Saunders. Copyright: Nobby Clark

Blithe Spirit, Duke of York's Theatre review

Even Saunders's performance is more fussy than funny. Sure, she has great stage presence, with her swirling windmill arms and her frantic drumming on the furniture, her school teacher mien and her high-pitched invocations of the spirit world. It's a great character study, but for all its eccentric glee it struggles to raise a smile.

Aleks Sierz, The Arts Desk, 11th March 2020
Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle review

Touring for the first time in seven years, it's clear that the standup veteran hasn't lost any of his sharp humour.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 11th March 2020
Alex Lowe

Review - Clinton Baptiste: The Paranormalist Returns!

If you want to catch this tour and you are a fan of Phoenix Nights or Baptiste in particular, then I would highly recommend grabbing a ticket. Seats are selling fast and you certainly won't be disappointed with this great evening of comedy.

John Johnson, British Theatre Guide, 11th March 2020
Military Wives. Image shows from L to R: Lisa (Sharon Horgan), Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas). Copyright: Lions Gate

Review: Military Wives

If its plotting is as pioneering as a treble clef, this unassuming little number was never pretending to be anything but a tra la to grace under pressure.

Andiee Paviour, Nobody's Reading This But Me, 11th March 2020
Paul Foot

Review: Just the Tonic at Leamington Spa

Just the Tonic's comedy night returns for its second instalment at Leamington Spa's Assembly, with Tom Toal, Simon Wozniak and Paul Foot.

Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 11th March 2020
Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle review - serrated yet genial comeback

Who is this old Liverpudlian gent with the white goatee, one moment raging with four-letter finesse against Tories and the mainstream media, the next doing milder material about cruise holidays and daytime television?

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 11th March 2020
Breeders. Image shows from L to R: Ally (Daisy Haggard), Paul (Martin Freeman). Copyright: Avalon Television

It is hard to feel anything for Breeders parents

It may be that I'm getting a bit soft in my old age, but I think the tone is all wrong.

Rachel Cooke, The New Statesman, 11th March 2020
Ken Dodd

Sir Ken Dodd: Murals unveiled in comic's home city

Two murals honouring Liverpool's best known funnyman Sir Ken Dodd have been unveiled in the city on the second anniversary of his death.

BBC, 11th March 2020
Blithe Spirit. Jennifer Saunders. Copyright: Nobby Clark

Blithe Spirit is more Ham Dram than Ab Fab

Seventy years on from its record-breaking wartime run, Noel Coward's light comedy Blithe Spirit haunts the West End again.

Jennifer Saunders does well with the dated script to bring out the humour and despite director Richard Eyre allegedly asking her to tone down the physical comedy from the tour in Bath -- still camps it up too far otherwise. Overall more ham dram than Ab Fab, her over-the-top style of acting does little to endear us to one of the play's more sympathetic characters.

Franco Milazzo, Londonist, 11th March 2020
Richard Gadd

Interview: Richard Gadd on Baby Reindeer

"I'm looking forward to the experience of being part of the West End, it's the holy grail of British theatre, being in the Ambassadors which has so much history, I just want to soak it up."

Theatre Weekly, 11th March 2020
Breeders. Image shows from L to R: Ally (Daisy Haggard), Paul (Martin Freeman). Copyright: Avalon Television

Chris Addison interview

Chris Addison talks about the limits of satire, the trials of being a parent and his new show, Breeders.

City AM, 11th March 2020

Inside No.9 Series Five BFI Preview transcript

Complete and unedited transcript of the panel discussion and Q&A.

Dodo's Words, 11th March 2020

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
Mark Watson

Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life

Series 3, Episode 2 - Summer

This week, Mark and his guests look at summer - the prime of life, the highpoint of the year, and soon to be the only season we'll have!

The Trouble With Maggie Cole. Image shows from L to R: Maggie Cole (Dawn French), Peter Cole (Mark Heap). Copyright: Genial Productions

The Trouble With Maggie Cole

Episode 2

Maggie wants to apologise to everyone she's upset, whilst Peter attempts to hide the interview having gone viral. Jill bonds with fellow members of the "outed-six".

Home. Image shows from L to R: John (Oaklee Pendergast), Sami (Youssef Kerkour), Peter (Rufus Jones), Katy (Rebekah Staton). Copyright: Channel X

Home

Series 2, Episode 6

While Katy faces an uncertain future at work, John is keen to make amends with Sami - but first, the family must track him down. Sami seems to have disappeared and has not replied to messages for more than two weeks. When the trail heads in an unexpected direction, John is determined to follow. What he really needs now is a dad, but is Peter up to the job? Will they find Sami?

Radio 4
11pm
15 min
Ken Cheng: Chinese Comedian. Ken Cheng. Copyright: BBC

Ken Cheng: Chinese Comedian

Series 2, Episode 4 - Status

Ken Cheng explores British Chinese culture and social status.

Breeders. Image shows from L to R: Jackie (Joanna Bacon), Paul (Martin Freeman), Ally (Daisy Haggard). Copyright: Avalon Television

Breeders

Series 1, Episode 1 - No Sleep

The children won't sleep - Paul and Ally thought these nights were over. Paul spends the night fighting his own anger and his children's inability to go the f**k to sleep.

Breeders. Image shows from L to R: Michael (Michael McKean), Ally (Daisy Haggard), Young Ava (Jayda Eyles), Young Luke (George Wakeman). Copyright: Avalon Television

Breeders

Series 1, Episode 2 - No Places

Luke's parents evening and the surprise arrival of Ally's estranged father cause Paul and Ally to examine their hopes and dreams for Luke and Ava and discover how far they are willing to go for the sake of their children.

Share this page