BCG Daily Wednesday 25th March 2020

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Press clippings

Kate & Koji. Image shows from L to R: Kate (Brenda Blethyn), Koji (Jimmy Akingbola). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Kate and Koji serves up an odd couple for our times

Interviews with stars Brenda Blethyn and Jimmy Akingbola.

Georgia Humphreys, The Sunday Post, 25th March 2020
Bec Hill. Copyright: Steve Ullathorne

Comedy and the art of STEM communication

Interview with comics Bec Hill and Harriet Braine, who with Professor Lucy Rogers present The DesignSpark Podcast, which explores modern tech from a comedy perspective.

Benjamin Page, The Engineer, 25th March 2020
Friday Night Dinner. Image shows from L to R: Jackie (Tamsin Greig), Adam (Simon Bird), Martin (Paul Ritter), Jonny (Tom Rosenthal)

Friday Night Dinner creator denies series end rumours

Simon Bird, who plays Adam, recently suggested that the upcoming sixth series was "probably the end" of the show - even more upsetting for loyal viewers than when Wilson died. But we have good news! Speaking to RadioTimes.com, series creator/writer Robert Popper has suggested that Friday Night Dinner might not be ending after all.

Morgan Jeffery, Radio Times, 25th March 2020
Mark Thomas. Copyright: Steve Ullathorne

Review - Check Up: Our NHS @ 70

As our already cash-strapped NHS is being pushed way beyond its limits by the current coronavirus crisis, it's a very good time to look again (although I missed it first time round) at Mark Thomas's passionate and meticulously researched show celebrating our health service's seventieth anniversary, which appeared in Edinburgh in 2018 and subsequently toured the UK. He's made it easier to do that by making this recording of a performance at Theatre Royal Wakefield during that tour 'free' to download for a limited time, conditional on a donation to the food bank charity the Trussell Trust, "anything from a quid to a million."

David Chadderton, British Theatre Guide, 25th March 2020
Mister Winner. Lesley Winner (Spencer Jones)

TV review: Mister Winner, BBC Two

Comedy fans who have seen Jones onstage or enjoyed Clunkerdunk may be surprised by this. There is no laugh track or studio laughter giving it a slightly flat feel. But Jones is great and is always watchable, even when you can see the punchlines coming a miles off. It just seems like an odd fit for someone who is so imaginative, creative and talented.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 25th March 2020
Mister Winner. Lesley Winner (Spencer Jones)

Mister Winner, episode 1 review

Spencer Jones is one of the funniest, most inventive comedians to have emerged in recent years - which is why it's so disappointing to see him in this most lukewarm of sitcoms. It's like putting Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of a Reliant Robin.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 25th March 2020
This Country. Image shows from L to R: Kerry Mucklowe (Daisy May Cooper), Lee 'Kurtan' Mucklowe (Charlie Cooper). Copyright: BBC

Top 20 British sitcoms of 21st century: This Country

This Country is not a series that benefits from extensive hype: it is perhaps best discovered for yourself, either on DVD or on the BBC iPlayer. But it is nevertheless, quite brilliant, a wonderful, low key, comic delight.

Chris Hallam, Chris Hallam's World View, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen review

While Hitmen isn't perfect, the likability of its stars, the intrigue of their situation and the unpredictability of the oddballs that come into their orbit make offer intriguing possibilities.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen review

Killing people - is it funny? Not just now, when the news is filled with a rising death toll, but ever? I was racking my brain on that one as I gritted my teeth through the painful opening episode of Hitmen, in which Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc set out to show they can still cut it in comedy after veering off into presenting travelogues and the like.

Keith Watson, Metro, 25th March 2020
Mister Winner. Lesley Winner (Spencer Jones)

Mister Winner, review

This good-natured comedy is just the tonic we need right now.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Review: Hitmen has perfect casting, but comedy misses

Sure, it's not un-funny. It's an enjoyable half hour. But I wanted so much more.

Emma Bullimore, Radio Times, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen review

The well-loved duo Mel and Sue bring much-needed laughter as incompetent assassins in this slightly plotted but enjoyable sitcom.

Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen: review

The Bake Off duo reunite as a pair of killing machines in this new Sky series, where the biggest crimes committed are the boring jokes

Ellie Harrison, The Independent, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen, Sky One, review

Half-baked comedy from Mel and Sue needs killing off.

Rupert Hawksley, i Newspaper, 25th March 2020
The Trouble With Maggie Cole. Image shows from L to R: Jill Wheadon (Julie Hesmondhalgh), Maggie Cole (Dawn French). Copyright: Genial Productions

Maggie Cole and Friday Night Dinner crossover

In last week's episode of The Trouble With Maggie Cole, Mark Heap gave a nod to his other alter ego in a scene with Dawn French as he said "Shalom".

Jill Robinson, The Sun, 25th March 2020
Hitmen. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Sue Perkins), Jamie (Mel Giedroyc). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Hitmen, review

Mel and Sue as contract killers? They're better off sticking to presenting.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 25th March 2020
Feel Good. Mae (Mae Martin). Copyright: Objective Productions

Mae Martin's quietly charming comedy Feel Good

A comedy tackling drug addiction and coming out, Feel Good is neither patronising nor fluffy.

Anna Leszkiewicz, The New Statesman, 25th March 2020
Little Britain. Matt Lucas. Copyright: BBC / Little Britain Productions

Netflix offer £3 million for uncensored Little Britain

Netflix is set to pay around £3 million to the stars of Little Britain to create new episodes.

The streaming giant hopes to poach writers and stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas from the BBC.

Ellie Henman, The Sun, 25th March 2020

Podcasts

TV & radio

Class Dismissed. Copyright: BBC

Class Dismissed

Series 5, Episode 8 - GCSE Options

Year 9 are choosing their GCSE options - with a Dragons' Den twist!

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
Mark Watson

Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life

Series 3, Episode 4 - Winter

In this final programme in the series, Mark and his guests look at the pros and cons of winter. Pros - Christmas. Cons - the end of the year reminds us that all things must die.

YouTube
6:30pm
2 min
Georgina's Isolation Diaries!. Georgina (Anna Morris)

Georgina's Isolation Diaries!

Episode 6 - Day 6

Today Georgina discusses beauty tips and has some 'procedures' done at home.

Kate & Koji. Dr. Ayesha Radwan (Meera Syal). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Kate & Koji

Series 1, Episode 2

With Kate and Koji's undercover clinic in full swing, the last thing they need is a visit from Dr Radwan. Medium keeps Koji calm, and Kate cooks up a surefire way to get back at an adversary.

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

The Trouble With Maggie Cole

Episode 4

Peter has to contend with a campaign for his resignation and journalists are calling trying to dig up family skeletons...Fortunately, his ever dependable secretary is watching his back.

BBC Two
10pm
30 min
Mister Winner. Lesley Winner (Spencer Jones)

Mister Winner

Episode 1 - The Piano

While is Leslie on a house clearance job with his father-in-law Chris he finds an abandoned piano and quickly comes up with a scheme to make some money from it. But will music be the food of love?

Feel Good. Image shows from L to R: George (Charlotte Ritchie), Mae (Mae Martin)

Feel Good

Series 1, Episode 2

Mae and George are so loved-up they haven't spent a moment apart since they met. But when George goes away to a wedding, Mae realises that she's forgotten how to be on her own.

Radio 4
11pm
30 min
Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme. Key (Tim Key). Copyright: BBC

Tim Key's Poetry Programme

Series 5, Episode 2 - Rome

Tim Key broadcasts live from his trailer in Rome, where he is shooting a film directed by the legendary Sir Hayden Higgins.

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