BCG Daily Thursday 28th May 2020
Features
Press clippings
Ministry of Silly Walks comes to Berkshire village
The residents of a Berkshire village have been filmed re-enacting one of British comedy's most famous sketches.
Monty Python fan James Ruffell put up signs outside his house in Sonning informing people they were entering the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Silly Walks.
He filmed the results with a motion-controlled webcam and uploaded the subsequent silliness to Facebook.
BBC, 28th May 2020Billy Connolly reveals his deep embarrassment about sex
Sir Billy Connolly has opened up on how his taboo-busting routines about sex were inspired by his own "deep embarrassment" about his lack of knowledge as a teenager and his failure to get women to take him seriously.
Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman, 28th May 2020Celebrity Juice bosses in talks about show's future
Celebrity Juice bosses are said to be 'holding crunch talks' over the future of the ITV show after the departure of star Holly Willoughby.
Lisa McLoughlin, The Sun, 28th May 2020The First Team writers interview
Damon Beesley and Iain Morris tell us all about new BBC sitcom The First Team, set behind the scenes of a top level football club...
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 28th May 2020Ncuti Gatwa on his experience of homelessness
Writing exclusively for The Big Issue, actor Ncuti Gatwa, star of Netflix hit Sex Education, recalls how he became one of the thousands hidden homeless and imagines how tough it would be to be sofa surfing during lockdown.
Adrian Lobb, The Big Issue, 28th May 2020Keith Lemon's lockdown TV
The Celebrity Juice host on his love for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and the awkwardness of filming lockdown shows.
Ammar Kalia, The Guardian, 28th May 2020TV preview - Comedians: Home Alone
Following E4's Remote Comedy From The Paddock the BBC launches with their own self-shot lockdown rapidfire sketch show. And on the basis of the first episodes - not that this is a competition - the BBC has the edge.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th May 2020Monkey Barrel launches new comedy record label
Sets from John Kearns, Olga Koch and Ari Eldjárn will be available for pre-order on vinyl, as part of the comedy club's crowdfunding campaign
Deborah Chu, The List, 28th May 2020The First Team review
Unlikely lads make this slow-burn sitcom not just for football fans.
Susannah Butter, Evening Standard, 28th May 2020Free Fringe responds to major venues' fund appeal
Luke Meredith, the CEO of The Free Fringe has written an open letter respnding to recent reports that major venues at the Edinburgh Fringe have asked the Scottish Parliament for financial support following the Covid19 pandemic.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th May 2020TV review: The First Team, BBC2
We might have to wait a bit longer for the real Premier League to start but you can get an early football fix with this new sitcom set in the world of soccer's top flight written by Inbetweeners writers Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. Although a word of warning if you are having really bad withdrawal symptoms, there is no actual football shown. This is pretty much a workplace comedy that happens to be set in the football world. Same shit, shinier cars.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th May 2020Review: The First Team
The Inbetweeners rightly raised Iain Morris and Damon Beesley to the comedy nobility. But with The First Team - another examination of young male relationships - they've missed the goal, certainly judging by a relatively flat opening episode.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 28th May 2020Limmy makes techno version of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
He has joined a host of people covering the song, from The Cure to Jose Gonzalez.
Tobi Akingbade, NME, 28th May 2020The First Team - a football sitcom fit for relegation
This new comedy from the writers of The Inbetweeners boasts Will Arnett and trademark 'banter' - but there's only so long you can watch bored footballers playing Fifa.
Rebecca Sayce, The Guardian, 28th May 2020The First Team, review: second division comedy
The German Bundesliga and reruns of classic matches have been trying valiantly to fill the football-shaped hole in our lives. Could new pitchside sitcom The First Team (BBC Two) further plug the gap? No, it couldn't. Viewers were left sick as a parrot, rather than over the moon, Clive.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 28th May 2020The First Team review: boys, balls and banter
Is The First Team football's answer to The Inbetweeners? Luckily for the BBC Two sitcom, yes it is.
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 28th May 2020The First Team review: football sitcom hits the post
New comedy series from the creators of The Inbetweeners fails to score big laughs.
Patrick Cremona, Radio Times, 28th May 2020Videos
TV & radio
Just William Pursuing Happiness
Episode 4 - The RevengeBoy Scout William surprises his family when he commits to a daily good deed and appears to take his obligation most seriously. However, an encounter with a very small, extremely objectionable boy tests his resolve to breaking point.
Go Jetters
Series 3, Episode 36 - The Blarney Stone, IrelandKyan has to use some smooth talking to save the tourists and protect Blarney Castle.
Ankle Tag
Series 3, Episode 1 - Bob's DadBob reconnects with a long-lost family member and Gruff looks to atone for his sins.
QI
Series R, Episode 1 - RudeThe show has now reached the letter R, and begins with a rather Rude episode. Joining Sandi are John Barrowman, Phill Jupitus, Aisling Bea and regular panellist Alan Davies.
Stuart Goldsmith's Infinite Sofa
Episode 17Josh Widdicombe, Tom Binns, Damian Clark and Athena Kugblenu are the guests.
The Treason TV Show
Series 1, Episode 3TS TV released into the wild. Satirical sketch comedy and parody songs from the long running smash hit Brighton show and performed in show creator Mark Brailsford's inimitable style.
The First Team
Episode 1 - Selling ShirtsNew signing Mattie Sullivan arrives at the club, but a meeting with eccentric chairman Mark Crane leads him to wonder if he's been signed by mistake. As if that wasn't bad enough, club hard-man Petey Brooks takes a dislike to him and legendary Italian manager Cesare is nowhere to be found.
Brassic
Series 2, Episode 4 - The IntruderSuffering from insomnia, Vinnie decides to have a chilled night in at the local pub, but things take a sinister turn when a stranger breaks in.
Billy And Us
Episode 3 - Dirty BitsFeaturing some very frank chat from Billy as he looks back at his youthful sex education, or lack of it, and getting an idea of the basics from toilet walls. There is winching in closes and lots more, as the programme shows how Billy dealt with his own embarrassment, by shining a light on it, and inadvertently challenged the sexual mores of the time. And some noted Scottish female entertainers reveal how his comedy routines were a force for liberation at the time.
May Contain Nuts
Series 2, Episode 3 - GhostsIn this episode, the subject of ghosts is selected for investigation. Do they exist? Would you like to be one?