BCG Daily Thursday 14th May 2020
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Press clippings
Extras is still irreverent, clever fun
As cringe-inducing as The Office, Extras lampoons Hollywood with great cheer while paying mournful tribute to failed dreams.
Amal Awad, The Guardian, 14th May 2020Billy Connolly: 'I never set out to shock'
Scotland's best-known comedian says he has always wanted to make people laugh but he never set out to deliberately shock anyone.
BBC, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker interview
The creator of Black Mirror is back with a lockdown version of satire show the Wipe, he tells Dominic Maxwell.
Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 14th May 2020Stath Lets Flats future 'up in the air'
Natasia Demetriou says it's unclear whether the cult estate agent sitcom will return for a third series - but she's glad they managed to create a mini-episode for fans in lockdown.
Huw Fullerton, Radio Times, 14th May 2020Sh**ged Married Annoyed hits 25 million downloads
Despite - or maybe because of - the current lockdown, Chris and Rosie Ramsey's award-winning hit podcast Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed. produced by Avalon, has continued to entertain its loyal fanbase and attract a growth of 700,000 listens week on week as it hits the staggering 25 million downloads mark, as well as consistently topping the charts since launching in February 2019.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th May 2020Daniel Kitson to release his 2009 Fringe show
Daniel Kitson is to release his 2009 Edinburgh Festival show The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church online. However, he's doing it in a way he concedes might be considered 'needlessly contrary' - with a series of limited capacity screenings across next week.
Chortle, 14th May 2020Sarah Kendall's Frayed heads to the US
Her 1980s-set show, in which she plays a wealthy Londoner as she travels back to the suburban Australian home she escaped as a teen, is to launch on HBO Max on July 30.
Chortle, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker on coronavirus - interview
Satirist Charlie Brooker spoke to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis about the magnitude of coronavirus, life imitating fiction and his new show, Antiviral Wipe.
Emily Maitlis, BBC, 14th May 2020The Red Dwarf chronicles - Series III
While the differences between Red Dwarf series I and II were miniscule, the changes between series II and III could not have been greater. In all truth, it would probably be quicker to list what didn't change between these series. It was one of the greatest shifts in Red Dwarf history, but the risk paid off.
Jazzy Janey, The Comedy Blog, 14th May 2020TV review: Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe, BBC Two
Well at least one good thing has come out of this bloody pandemic. We've got another Wipe.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe review
There's no surer sign that the hairline cracks in the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' all-in-this-together, good-old British pluck response to Covid-19 has fissured into more open derision of government failures than having cynic-in-chief Charlie Brooker return to our screens.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe, review
Brilliant, topical comedy that burns with a necessary rage.
Adam White, The Independent, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe review
Brooker is never better than when at home, shouting at the TV, so perhaps it's little wonder the lockdown finds him on his best-ever form.
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian, 14th May 2020After Life - a heavenly return or a hellish flop?
Once I had discovered After Life was returning for a second season, I felt both excited and intrigued. I thought the first season was brilliant and had potential to develop plots further, but I also wondered how Ricky Gervais could expand upon the first season's rather conclusive ending. Nevertheless, once the highly-anticipated wait was over, I involuntarily binge-watched season two, and I have to say the show has been taken to new heights.
Ollie Birchall, The Boar, 14th May 2020Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe, BBC2, review
A bullet train of sarcasm through two months of coronavirus.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 14th May 2020Antiviral Wipe, review
Charlie Brooker takes no prisoners but this format is old hat.
Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 14th May 2020TV review: Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe
This was fantastic stuff then, both fascinating and funny, and it deserves a huge amount of credit for dealing with a topic that many are sick to death off in an original, honest and consistently hilarious manner.
Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 14th May 2020Review: Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe
"Antiviral Wipe should be considered an essential service."
Chris Edwards, Digital Spy, 14th May 2020Review: Antiviral Wipe
The quick-paced satirical special makes Brooker's return to our screens well worth the wait, says Lauren Morris.
Lauren Morris, Radio Times, 14th May 2020How Down The Line fooled the nation
As the spoof phone-in show returns for a lockdown special, Rhys Thomas, Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse remember their closest calls.
Tom Fordy, The Telegraph, 14th May 2020Theatres on verge of cancelling panto season
Theatres are on the verge of cancelling Christmas shows and the panto season as fears grow they won't reopen until Easter next year.
Venues around the country have been shut since the coronavirus lockdown was enforced on March 23.
Tom Newton Dunn, The Sun, 14th May 2020Ten of the best comedy films to make you laugh
Ed Potton picks his favourite movie comedies, including Monty Python's Life Of Brian and Paddington 2.
Ed Potton, The Times, 14th May 2020Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
Stuart Goldsmith's Infinite Sofa
Episode 13Laura Lexx, Anna Mann, Alfie Brown and Spiky Will join Stuart.
Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe
Charlie Brooker returns to our screens for the first time since his BAFTA Award-winning 2016 Wipe to take a look at life under lockdown.
The Treason TV Show
Series 1, Episode 2The Treason Show continues it's TV offering, with its trademark satirical wit and fast, punchline driven satirical comedy.
Think The Fast Show meets Spitting Image via HIGNFY.
Brassic
Series 2, Episode 2 - A Nice Day OutVinnie is tasked with collecting a guy called Tony Tillerton. It seems like a simple task... Meanwhile, a booze cruise to France is under way.
Celebrity Juice
Series 23, Highlights Special - Let's See Your Best BitsIn this "Let's See Your Best Bits" special, Keith Lemon says goodbye to Holly Willoughby whilst she puts her leg over her head. Mel B, John Barrowman and Joey Essex help Keith take a look back at their highlights from past series too.
Billy And Us
Episode 1 - Stupid But SaveableBilly Connolly starts the series with his childhood and growing up in post-war Scotland. He reflects on the freedom children of his generation had to roam wild, but also harsh teachers and getting the belt. And for good measure, there are some lines from The Janny Song and If It Wisnae For Your Wellies.
Down The Line
Lockdown SpecialOne-off edition of the spoof phone-in show, focusing on the Covid-19 crisis.
May Contain Nuts
Series 2, Episode 1 - PsychicsComedy chat show. Stuart Condy, Russell Miller, Chris Miller and Craig-James Moncur discuss the subject of psychics.