BCG Daily Monday 24th May 2021

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Press clippings

Kerry Godliman. Copyright: Off The Kerb

Kerry Godliman on her new seaside thriller

Actress and comedian Kerry Godliman stars in new thriller Whitstable Pearl. We found out more about noseying around the seaside town...

Danielle de Wolfe, The Irish News, 24th May 2021
Joanna Scanlan

Joanna Scanlon: I don't see conformity as a good thing

Joanna Scanlon shares moments and memories that have made her a regular feature on our TV sets for years.

Alastair Reid, The Big Issue, 24th May 2021
The Stanley Baxter Series. Stanley Baxter. Copyright: London Weekend Television

Celebrating Stanley Baxter as comedy giant turns 95

Scots comedy giant Stanley Baxter is celebrating his 95th birthday on 24 May and we thought it would be a good opportunity to celebrate the life of the man who brought us 'Parliamo Glasgow' as well as a whole host of comedy moments.

Bev Lyons, Daily Record, 24th May 2021
Dave Gorman

Crossword blog: meet the setter - Dave Gorman

A setter who first appeared during the pandemic is Bluth, whose sometimes topical clues have appeared in our round-ups. Bluth is now also Django, as well as the comedian Dave Gorman, and is many puzzles in to his setting career.

Alan Connor, The Guardian, 24th May 2021
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Felix Hughes (Steve Pemberton), Eric (Reece Shearsmith)

TV preview: Inside No. 9, Lip Service, BBC Two

One of the many takeaways from this week's episode, Lip Service, is that it's so different to the last two episodes in the current series of Inside No 9.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 24th May 2021
Bill Bailey

Hundreds call for Bill Bailey to enter Eurovision

Almost 1,000 people have signed Chortle's petition for Bill Bailey to represent the UK at next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Chortle, 24th May 2021
Spitting Image

Spitting Image heads to Germany

Sky orders local-language version of Avalon cult show.

Alex Farber, Broadcast, 24th May 2021
The News Quiz. Andy Zaltzman

Freedom of laughter: are there limits to comedy?

It was a recent episode of The News Quiz which set me thinking about the limits of comedy - or, I'd be more honest to say, so incensed me that I started to think about it once I'd calmed down. First, though, let me step back and consider comedy more generally.

John Humphrys, Market Screener, 24th May 2021
Zoom

I'm not mourning the end of online gigs

As venues reopen, maybe now we'll finally be rid of the troublesome Zoom version of stand-up, the worst substitute since 1985's New Coke. Hopefully this is the last gasp of this time-mangled, laugh-strangled comedy medium.

Ben Heal, Chortle, 24th May 2021
Ghosts. Image shows from L to R: Robin (Laurence Rickard), Humphrey (Laurence Rickard), Mary (Katy Wix), Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Kitty (Lolly Adefope), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), Captain (Ben Willbond), Pat (Jim Howick), Lady Button (Martha Howe-Douglas), Julian (Simon Farnaby). Copyright: Monumental Pictures

Ghosts: Basement characters axed due to coronavirus

'We did [have to axe some scenes],' Mathew Baynton said. 'There are certain characters who by their nature are constantly in a massive group so we've left them in the basement where they live and we'll have to see them again in Series 4."

Metro, 24th May 2021
Funny Women Awards

Introducing stage award producer Kathleen Price

In April we launched registration for the Funny Women Stage Awards and it is amazing to already see people flooding in with their submission videos in the hopes of following our legacy for the 19th year and becoming the next Ones to Watch, Finalists or even Winner.

Kathleen Price, Funny Women, 24th May 2021
The Trip. Image shows from L to R: Steve (Steve Coogan), Rob (Rob Brydon). Copyright: Baby Cow Productions / Arbie

Why The Trip is one of best comedy franchises of 2010s

The series' documentary approach helped maintain a joyful spontaneity through all four series, which were also adapted as films.

Liam Gaughan, Collider, 24th May 2021
Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain

Improv corner - improv in the media - Mock The Week

Panel shows are not really the first place you think of when it comes to improv, especially since a lot of the jokes and reactions are written by scriptwriters. However, there is one particular game on Mock The Week that is a great one to watch for improv as it is sort of based on one of the short form games - Scenes We'd Like To See.

Holly, Phoenix Remix, 24th May 2021
Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird reveals his fantasy track listing

The comedian and podcasts picks some of his favourite pieces of music.

Fran Jolley, Reyt Good Magazine, 24th May 2021
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith

Inside No. 9: Lip Service review

One of the more subdued entries in the Inside No 9 canon, Lip Service takes place in a gloomy and uninviting hotel room where Felix, a sad data entry manager, is holed up.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th May 2021
Timewasters. Image shows from L to R: Lauren (Adelayo Adedayo), Nick (Daniel Lawrence Taylor), Horace (Samson Kayo), Jason (Kadiff Kirwan). Copyright: Big Talk Productions

Timewasters to air on IMDb TV in US

IMDb TV has picked up Timewasters, the British comedy about a jazz band who time travel via a urine-soaked elevator in a dilapidated block of flats.

Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24th May 2021
Motherland. Image shows from L to R: Liz (Diane Morgan), Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), Kevin (Paul Ready)

Motherland series three review

Sharon Horgan's angry baby is as biting as ever when skewering narcissistic middle-class mums. But it could make its white characters squirm a bit more.

Chitra Ramaswamy, The Guardian, 24th May 2021
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith

Inside No. 9 series 6 episode 3 review: Lip Service

Do not disturb? Too late. Fleabag's Sian Clifford joins Inside No. 9 for a slippery episode that repeatedly sheds its skin. Spoilers.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 24th May 2021
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith

Inside No. 9 review

Lip Service continues a run of classic episodes.

Sophie Davies, The Custard TV, 24th May 2021
Alexei Sayle

Things learned from Alexei Sayle's Desert Island Discs

Here's what we learned from Alexei Sayle on Desert Island Discs.

BBC, 24th May 2021
Robin Ince. Copyright: Timothy Ginn

Who are these comedians getting cancelled?

One of the great tricks of the powerful is to hold all the power while also playing the part of the oppressed.

Robin Ince, Robin Ince's Blog, 24th May 2021
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith

Inside No 9, episode 3, review

Brimming with bent coppers, this gripping episode satirised corruption and the deep state. If only Andrew Scott's Hot Priest had showed up.

Ed Power, The Telegraph, 24th May 2021

Inside No. 9 review: Lip Service

After an ambitious opener and an overly safe episode last week, Pemberton and Shearsmith get the balance just right with this episode.

Nick Bartlett, Critical Popcorn, 24th May 2021

Next Level Sketch interview

One group that are excited to be returning to Hoopla is none other than sketch group Next Leve Sketch who are returning to The Miller on the 25th May for two sets! I caught up with Muireann to find out all about it.

Phoenix Remix, 24th May 2021

Videos

Podcasts

TV & radio

London Live
8:15am
10 min
The Theo The Mouse Show. Wendy (Wendy Abrahams)

The Theo The Mouse Show

Episode 6 - Music

Theo learns about how sound is created but will his anxiety stop him from singing the final song.

Radio 4
6:30pm
30 min
Sue Perkins

Nature Table

Series 2, Episode 4

Sue Perkins is joined at London Zoo by zoologist Billy Heaney, science writer Dr Claire Asher, and comedian and writer Josie Long.

Welcome Strangers. Copyright: BBC

Welcome Strangers

Series 3, Episode 1

In this new series of the sketch show performed by an all-female cast, you'll meet a fairy tale Princess fending off a presumptuous Prince and a pushy Mam who never gives up.

BBC Two
9pm
30 min
Motherland. Image shows from L to R: Amanda (Lucy Punch), Felicity (Joanna Lumley)

Motherland

Series 3, Episode 3 - Mother's Day

Mother's Day leaves Julia feeling ignored while Meg gets spoilt rotten. Amanda endures a passive aggressive lunch with her appalling mother Felicity.

BBC Two
9:30pm
30 min
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Felix Hughes (Steve Pemberton), Eric (Reece Shearsmith)

Inside No. 9

Series 6, Episode 3 - Lip Service

Felix is pretty certain his wife is up to something with her boss Dmitri, so he decides to hire some help to prove things either one way or the other. When professional lip-reader Iris arrives with her powerful binoculars, the pair stake out in a hotel bedroom and start to gather their evidence. With Sian Clifford.

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