BCG Daily Tuesday 18th August 2020

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Spitting Image

Politically correct Spitting Image would be a turn-off

The good news is that Spitting Image, the satirical puppet show that lampooned politicians and celebrities, is back on our screens this autumn. The bad news is that the current climate of fear around causing offence means the new show could be a politically cowardly imitation of the original, which gloried in pushing the boundaries of the acceptable.

Jawad Iqbal, The Times, 18th August 2020
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. Image shows from L to R: Paul Whitehouse, Bob Mortimer. Copyright: Owl Power

Mortimer: Whitehouse becomes his 'dad' when filming

As Gone Fishing returns to our screens, star Bob Mortimer has claimed that Paul Whitehouse is like a father figure for him when filming the show.

Mark Jefferies, The Mirror, 18th August 2020
The Pin. Image shows from L to R: Alexander Owen, Ben Ashenden. Copyright: BBC

Pin sharp: interview with The Pin

Dominic Maxwell talks to the double act behind The Pin, the lockdown sensation heading for the theatre.

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 18th August 2020
The Fast Show. Image shows from L to R: Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day, Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne, Charlie Higson, Mark Williams. Copyright: BBC

Why the genius of The Fast Show will never be repeated

As a documentary celebrates the Nineties sketch show, Paul Whitehouse and the cast talk to Chris Bennion.

Chris Bennion, The Telegraph, 18th August 2020
Vic And Bob's Lucky Sexy Winners. Image shows from L to R: Bob Mortimer, Vic Reeves. Copyright: Pett Productions

One and done: Vic and Bob's Lucky Sexy Winners

Being a huge fan of Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer meant that before watching this 2012 pilot from the duo I presumed by the end of it I'd be shaking my fist at the injustice of it not being given a full series, and indeed that was the case. It's not as if Vic and Bob are exactly newcomers to tv either, presumably Channel 4 knew exactly what they'd be getting from the deranged duo and so it feels odd that it wasn't picked up.

Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 18th August 2020
Mark Olver

Bristol Old Vic to re-open with comedy night

Five months after its forced closure on 17 March, Bristol Old Vic is set to reopen with a series of performances this August and September.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th August 2020
Richard Herring

Richard Herring: 'The Simpsons should stop now'

The comic expounds on his love for Rick and Morty, as well as the questionable sexual politics of How I Met Your Mother.

Ammar Kalia, The Guardian, 18th August 2020
Semi-Detached. Stuart (Lee Mack). Copyright: Happy Tramp Productions

Why Semi-Detached is the most stressful TV show of 2020

Hallucinatory hummus! Hostages! Hyperventilation! Lee Mack's latest series is a masterclass in chaotic comedy, with a multitude of disasters unfolding in real time.

Stuart Heritage, The Guardian, 18th August 2020
Gyles Brandreth

This Morning slammed over Gyles Brandreth's covid joke

Gyles Brandreth made a Covid-19 joke on This Morning, amusing Eamonn Holmes, but some viewers said it was in 'bad taste'.

Charlotte Tutton, The Mirror, 18th August 2020
Andrew Doyle

Twitter's purge of the anti-woke satirists

Titania McGrath and other accounts which make fun of wokeness have been censored.

Spiked, 18th August 2020
Ian Stone

Book review: To Be Someone by Ian Stone

You don't have to be a Jam fan to appreciate Ian Stone's reminiscences about his formative experiences following the band, but you possibly have to be of a similar age. And quite probably a bloke, where love of a group or a football team can help forge an identity and a friendship group for many a socially awkward teenager.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 18th August 2020
Dead Pixels. Megan 'Meg' Jefferies (Alexa Davies)

Dead Pixels review

From what I've seen of Dead Pixels, I can assure you this is an inviting import with plenty of promise. Bawdy, incisive, timely, and inventive, Dead Pixels is exactly the kind of show we need to pep up the summer TV lineup.

Allie Gemmill, Collider, 18th August 2020
Don Ward

Times Radio: The future of comedy

A Times Radio discussion on the future of comedy with Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Steve N Allen and Don Ward. Starts 6 minutes, 45 seconds in.

The Times, 18th August 2020

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