BCG Daily Thursday 26th August 2021
News
Press clippings
Why shouldn't comedy be offensive?
Comedy should be transgressive, but John Cleese's crusade against cancellation misses the point.
David Waywell, Reaction, 26th August 2021How we killed comedy theatre: Nigel Planer interviewed
"We used to have a theatre of comedy in London but it got hijacked": the playwright and Young Ones star discusses the death of farce - and how he's trying to revive it.
Lloyd Evans, The Spectator, 26th August 2021Diane Chorley: Modern Love review
After months of being starved of social contact, David Selley's celebration of togetherness couldn't be better timed.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 26th August 2021Ash Atalla: white people now complain of TV struggle
Ash Atalla, the Bafta-winning TV producer behind The Office, says that he has overheard white people complaining that they can no longer get on television as the industry grapples with systemic diversity issues. The Egyptian-born producer, who runs the production company Roughcut TV, voiced surprise that white people were worried about being marginalised given that underrepresented communities have endured decades without a proper platform on TV.
Jake Kanter, The Times, 26th August 2021Ricky Gervais drops first spoilers for After Life 3
Ricky Gervais has revealed a big spoiler for After Life Series 3 - and fans all shared the same reaction.
Katabella Roberts, The Sun, 26th August 2021Russell Howard - Respite review
He's still a comedy king.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 26th August 2021Limmy posts 'grovelling apology' over Edinburgh comment
Limmy has issued a "grovelling apology" after his claim that "Edinburgh is England" during a stream.
Gregor Young, The National (Scotland), 26th August 2021Emily Atack stuns in baby blue PVC mini-dress
Emily Atack stunned in a baby blue PVC mini-dress after leaving her comedy gig in London. The Celebrity Juice star, 31, looked incredible as she left the Clapham Grand on Wednesday night.
Tom Capon, The Sun, 26th August 2021Q&A: Huge Davies
Huge Davies is part of the star-studded bill performing at the Evening Standard Big Comedy Night in association with Uber at the Underbelly Festival, Cavendish Square on September 7.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 26th August 2021Babatúndé Aléshé interview
A year ago Babatúndé Aléshé was working for Transport for London in the customer services department. One of his tasks was answering complaints about the ventilation on the number 38 bus and drivers not stopping. He had been a comedian since he was seventeen but his career had not quite taken off. "It was a side hustle," he jokes.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 26th August 2021London Hughes told she was "'too risky" for UK TV
The comedian London Hughes said she had to move to Los Angeles to become a star because a systematically racist UK television industry told her it was a "risk" to put a black female comic on air. She told the Edinburgh TV Festival: "It's shocking how far behind America the UK is on diversity. George Floyd shouldn't have to die for Alison Hammond to get a slot on This Morning." She was repeatedly rejected as a guest panellist by the Channel 4 show 8 Out Of 10 Cats.
Adam Sherwin, i Newspaper, 26th August 2021Ivo Graham on this year's Fringe
You enter with the knowledge that your professional life (or your self-esteem) could be in a radically different place when you cram yourself back into an equally packed and fatigued train one month later.
Ivo Graham, The Independent, 26th August 2021Five women TV comedians and their BBC stories
A feature looking at five women who've made a mark in comedy at the BBC, marking 85 years of the corporation's formal television services.
BBC, 26th August 2021History of the BBC: Saturday Night
Memories of Saturday night viewing - particularly in the 1960s and 1970s - can evoke a keen sense of nostalgia amongst viewers of a certain age. The schedule tended to follow a pattern, one which was carefully constructed and had something for the whole family.
Dr Jamie Medhurst, BBC, 26th August 2021History of the BBC: Comedy and Satire
In 1948, the BBC published its now infamous 'Green Book', a set of guidelines for writers and producers of comedy. According to the preface, 'Programmes must at all cost be kept free of crudities, coarseness and innuendo. Humour must be clean and untainted directly or by association with vulgarity and suggestiveness.' On that basis, and had BBC writers and producers stuck rigidly to these guidelines, some of the great comedy classics would never have seen the light of day.
Dr Jamie Medhurst, BBC, 26th August 2021Videos
Podcasts
TV & radio
Dr Phil's Bedside Manner
Episode 1Dr Phil Hammond visits and performs for the staff and patients at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh.
Joe Lycett's Got Your Back
Series 3, Episode 2The comedian gets fast and furious as he takes on black box car insurance. Regular contributor Mark Silcox and guest Stephen Mulhern go head to head in some Poundland bargain hunting, and ITV Political Editor Robert Peston delivers a special report on the rising price of Freddos. Plus, comedian Rosie Jones investigates the lack of diversity in children's toys.
Comedy Legends
Series 4, Episode 4 - Joyce GrenfellBarry Cryer pays tribute to singer, comedian and actress Joyce Grenfell, whose films included The Belles Of St. Trinian's, The Magic Box and The Happiest Days Of Your Life.
A League Of Their Own
Series 16, Episode 2Romesh Ranganathan is back in the hosting chair, as Jamie and Freddie are joined by Jamie Vardy, Chelcee Grimes, Jimmy Carr and Kerry Godliman.
Buffering
Series 1, Episode 5Rosie hosts a pop-up art gallery at the house, which is hijacked by Thalia - and Iain gets roped in as the mystery celebrity guest.
The Last Leg
The Last Leg Of Tokyo 2020, Episode 3Sophie Christiansen, Judi Love and Chris McCausland join the boys in the studio, whilst Josh and Alex challenge Adam and Kerry Godliman to a canoe sprint.
Edinburgh Unlocked
Series 1, Episode 2Mark meets Jack Docherty, Rachel Jackson meets the African Groove Machine, Jamie MacDonald talks to Queenz - The Show With Balls! and Joe Thomas from The Inbetweeners is starting a career in stand up comedy, so Mark goes down to the gardens to teach him a thing or two about heckling. Jay Lafferty hosts Late'ish'n'Live, this Fringe's version of the most notorious night of all. With performances from Stephen Buchanan and Buff and Sheen.