BCG Daily Wednesday 30th December 2020
Features
Press clippings
Rory Bremner 'saved John Major's bacon' amid MPs revolt
Impressionist Rory Bremner "saved John Major's bacon" when he inadvertently thwarted a Tory revolt against him, newly released files show. Documents from the National Archives tell how Bremner impersonated the then-PM when he phoned Eurosceptic Tory MPs in 1993, asking for their support.
Sanchia Berg, BBC, 30th December 2020How Only Fools sex doll episode was almost axed
Only Fools And Horses writer John Sullivan kept the plot of the classic episode secret from BBC bosses as he felt certain that they wouldn't allow it to even be filmed.
James Brinsford, The Mirror, 30th December 2020Habits of highly effective writers #3: making notes
Writers don't just write. They read. They listen.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 30th December 2020Best of 2020: Comedy
Outdoor venues and podcasts to the rescue.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 30th December 2020Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling now worth almost £2m
Love Island power couple Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling are now worth almost £2million after making a million in a year.
Stephanie Soteriou, The Sun, 30th December 2020Spare us Frankie Boyle's lecture on offensive comedy
That Gervais's unwoke material has caused outrage is hardly surprising. These days it doesn't take much. That Frankie Boyle - a man who made his name off of sixth-formerish sick jokes - has also decided to pile in is another story entirely. For whatever you might allege about Gervais, it can doubly be said of Boyle.
Tom Slater, The Spectator, 30th December 2020It's Eddie Izzard's right to define however she wants
Comedian and Labour campaigner Eddie Izzard sparked a wave of "collective gender euphoria" when she was referred to with she/her pronouns throughout a recent TV appearance.
Vic Parsons, Pink News, 30th December 2020Thursday Murder Club is 2020's final week number one
Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club (Viking) has notched up a second consecutive week in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, with 72,913 copies sold.
Kiera O'Brien, The Bookseller, 30th December 2020Review: Pandemonium
As what's hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime disruptor, the coronavirus pandemic is an unusual hook for a sitcom's pilot episode. Lockdown is certainly not a 'sit' you'd want to return to time and again.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 30th December 2020Review: Billy Connolly & Micky Flanagan documentaries
It's been a good festive season for comedy documentaries, particularly if you like your comedians with long flowing hair. Christmas has been bookended for me by two docs about two fantastic comedians who are among the best in the game. In the case of Billy Connolly, probably the best. Though Micky Flanagan is certainly no slouch either.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th December 2020Review: Not Going Out
Well I guess if one sitcom title sums up 2020 it's this one. And they've given us a sort of socially distanced lockdown episode to see out the old year and see in the new (albeit a day early) with the entire cast including Bobby Ball all in one room throughout the special.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th December 2020Stewart Lee still in race to be Brexit No. 1
A campaign was launched earlier this month (December 12) in a bid to get the song to Number One when the Brexit transition period ends, with 100% of the band's share of sales going to frontline refugee and migrant support groups.
Will Lavin, NME, 30th December 2020John Bishop struck down by coronavirus on Christmas Day
John Bishop has revealed he's been struck down with coronavirus, calling it "the worst illness I have ever had".
Jamie Downham, The Sun, 30th December 2020Tom Allen Goes To Town review
The hectic pace and near-frantic blending of formats is a shame, because it suggests a lack of confidence in what seems like a great and welcome idea, one that did not necessarily need so much tarting up.
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian, 30th December 2020Tom Allen Goes To Town review
Tom Allen travelled to Wakefield where he visited Britain's largest rhubarb farm and the National Coal Mining Museum.
Ed Power, i Newspaper, 30th December 2020Pandemonium review
It's a wise sitcom that gives Alison Steadman all the best lines.
Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 30th December 2020Pandemonium review
A lockdown comedy special with gallows humour.
Flora Carr, Radio Times, 30th December 2020Not Going Out Christmas special review
Old-school festive chuckles, with the late Bobby Ball as cheeky as ever.
Catherine Pearson, Radio Times, 30th December 2020Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud
Series 2, Episode 3 - Chow WowDave enters Fuzzypeg into a competition to become the face of a new brand of dog food which he unexpectedly wins, but as Fuzzypeg embarks on a glamorous new lifestyle, Dave misses his pal and seeks a way to terminate his contract.
The Cold Swedish Winter
Series 5, Episode 3 - Crayfish Require These DrinksGeoff is bewildered by Swedish summer rituals that involve building furniture, dressing his son up as a boiled crustacean and drinking shots washed down with whipped cream.
Conversations From A Long Marriage
Series 2, Episode 1 - Just The Way You AreRoger gives Joanna a masterclass in dishwasher stacking while Joanna instructs him on how to wave goodbye to departing guests. As the turbulent year turns, Joanna makes some New Year Resolutions - for Roger - and suggests their marriage needs a re-boot. 'Out the door?' is his response.
Tom Allen Goes To Town
Spending a week in Wakefield - a city, not a town - Tom sees the sights and meets some of Wakefield's extraordinary characters, before putting on an end of week show to celebrate everything and everyone he's encountered.
Not Going Out
New Year Special - ResolutionsWhen parlour games are suspended in favour of a no-holds-barred round of New Year's Resolutions, the fireworks might be in the house...
Here We Go
Christmas Special - PandemoniumWith their summer holiday to California having been cancelled and their finances devastated due to the pandemic, family morale is at an all-time low. But the Jessops make one final stab at trying to salvage something from 2020 with a trip to Margate in the middle of October.
The Moments That Made...
Episode 3 - Jack DochertyJack Docherty is one of the country's most innovative comedy talents, loved for his portrayal as Chief Miekelson in Scot Squad and his cult classic characters in Absolutely. But despite having a cult classic TV series and becoming a late-night host, launching a channel with none other than the Spice Girls, he nearly gave it all up.
The Russell Howard Hour
Series 4, Highlights Special - Goodbye 2020Join Russell for a look back through the biggest laughs and best interviews from 2020's episodes of The Russell Howard Hour.
Felicity Ward - Appisodes
Series 2, Episode 4 - WeddingsIn the final episode of this series, Felicity explores the world of wedding help in the form of app "I do this all the time" (voiced by Tom Allen).