BCG Daily Monday 16th March 2020
News
Features
Press clippings
Interview: Meera Syal
Meera Syal on why laughter is the best cure for prejudice.
Stevie Gallacher, The Sunday Post, 16th March 2020David Jason says modern comedy is ruined by producers
The actor has been in the comedy industry for decades but admitted that modern comedy falls flat when bosses have already given away the punch lines prior to the show.
Tamara Davison, The Mirror, 16th March 2020John Cleese on Monty Python, Terry Jones and farce
Now, at the age of 80, Cleese has made his stage-writing debut with Bang Bang!, based on a classic French farce written by Georges Feydeau, starring Tessa Peake-Jones and Wendi Peters.
Chris Bond, The Yorkshire Post, 16th March 2020Reviews & recommendations - Kerry Godliman: Bosh
I bloody love a bit of 'bosh' don't you? Only those of us who mete it out, really understand what it is and quite a lot of us are fans of Kerry Godliman.
Lynne Parker, Funny Women, 16th March 2020Glasgow Comedy Festival's biggest shows called off
All events at the King's Theatre, including Stewart Lee, Jerry Sadowitz, Janey Godley, John Shuttleworth, Fascinating Aida, Susie McCabe and Jim Smith, are to be postponed.
Chortle, 16th March 2020Kathy Maniura wins Sketch Off 2020
Kathy Maniura was the winner of Leicester Square Theatre's Sketch Off final. Second place went to sketch duo The Awkward Silence. Third place went to Roger Clammy.
Beyond The Joke, 16th March 2020Ashley Storrie: I get called ugly daily by strangers
I am a human who posts things on the internet; therefore, it goes without saying that I get called "ugly" by strangers daily.
Ashley Storrie, Glasgow Evening Times, 16th March 2020Roy Hudd obituary
For much of his long career, it could be a little difficult for people to get an exact fix on Roy Hudd, who has died aged 83. What was he - a comedian, an author, a radio satirist, a serious actor, a soap star, an archivist, or a leading authority on British music-hall and variety entertainment?
Stephen Dixon, The Guardian, 16th March 2020Alex Edelman & Tom Rosenthal postpone their tours
Alex Edelman has postponed the rest of his Just For Us UK tour. Tom Rosenthal has also postponed his tour with immediate effect.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th March 2020Obituary: Roy Hudd
Comedian who combined slapstick, music hall gags and goofy expressions to become one of Britain's best-loved entertainers.
The Times, 16th March 2020Review - Clinton Baptiste: The Paranormalist Returns
Corpse-bothering capers lag slightly but peak with gallows humour.
Jay Richardson, The List, 16th March 2020Review - David Baddiel: Trolls - Not The Dolls
Entertaining and ultimately hopeful dissection of the pleasures and pitfalls of social media.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 16th March 2020Roy Hudd: 'I was just trying to make 'em laugh'
The most traditional of entertainers, who has died at 83, harked back to a vanished age.
Jasper Rees, The Arts Desk, 16th March 2020Obituary: Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd worked hard to maintain a safe place in the nation's affections for more than half a century.
Nick Smurthwaite, The Stage, 16th March 2020Ahir Shah interview
"Making a room full of people experience happiness makes you happy".
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 16th March 2020Roy Hudd: a star immediately embraced by audiences
A versatile master of stage, radio and TV, Hudd survived changes in popular taste through his good-hearted skill.
Michael Billington, The Guardian, 16th March 2020Darling Buds star is 'sad' at 'unnecessary' reboot
Philip Franks, tax inspector Cedric 'Charley' Charlton in the Nineties ITV original, says news that it was coming back made him "slightly sad".
Andy Halls, The Sun, 16th March 2020Sketch Off! Final 2020 review
For a sketch comedy competition, there weren't a lot of sketch groups. Instead, the Leicester Square Theatre's Sketch Off! final last night was dominated by solo character acts - either wise to the fact that they won't have to share the usually meagre financial rewards of the genre by going it alone - or taking no chances by not performing within two metres of anyone else.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 16th March 2020Roy Hudd who has died aged 83 was the comedy king
Roy Hudd had been around so long, he used to call himself 'the Anglo-Saxons' favourite comedian'.
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 16th March 2020Mae Martin: 'Getting laughs is not the same as therapy'
The Canadian comedian has written and stars in a new comedy, Feel Good, exploring addiction to both drugs and romantic relationships.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 16th March 2020Cancel Edinburgh Festivals over coronavirus, councillor
Edinburgh's world-famous Festival and Fringe must be cancelled now as Covid-19 fears grow, a city councillor claims.
Kirsteen Paterson, The National (Scotland), 16th March 2020Improv corner - be someone you always wanted to be
Improv is a funny thing, it allows you to be anything or anybody you want on stage. Sometimes, it allows you to be someone you always wanted to be. Not sure what I mean? Then let me explain.
Holly, Phoenix Remix, 16th March 2020Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
Class Dismissed
Series 5, Episode 1 - Snake!Warren is excited to start Year 9 (again), while Miss Aviary loses a very hungry friend.
Nature Table
Series 1, Episode 6This week Sue Perkins is joined by special guests zoologist Lucy Cooke, crustacean expert Miranda Lowe and actress and writer Sally Phillips.
The Musical Life Of...
Series 1, Episode 2 - Shirley BasseyAnother mostly untrue re-telling of just why Shirley Bassey should never have worked in a Chamber Pot factory, which did actually happen.
This Country
Series 3, Episode 5 - The StationKerry and Kurtan visit the local train station to welcome the vicar home from a trip to Bristol. In his absence, they have been handling lots of village admin, including looking after the parish chickens.
The Stand Up Sketch Show
Series 2, Episode 4Routines by comedians Stephen Bailey, Aaron Simmonds, Lily Phillips, Tom Lucy, Elf Lyons, Glenn Moore, Michael Odewale, Helen Bauer, Dane Baptiste and Lloyd Griffith are reconstructed as sketches.