BCG Daily Friday 14th January 2022
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Press clippings
After Life Series 3 review
Ricky Gervais's foul-mouthed comedy about grief and community returns for a final six-episode run. Despite its good qualities, however, it fails to pluck at heartstrings quite like it intends.
Louis Chilton, The Independent, 14th January 2022After Life Series 3 review
Only Ricky Gervais could get away with a show this toothless.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 14th January 2022After Life review
After Life's saving grace is the cast of lovable freaks around Ricky Gervais.
Ed Power, The Irish Times, 14th January 2022After Life, review: the emotional depth of a Post-It note
Ricky Gervais's Netflix project has gone from perfectly watchable to a soggy pudding of a series that wallows in its own thin-skinned misanthropy.
Chris Bennion, The Telegraph, 14th January 2022David Jason admits he was unimpressed with The Darling Buds Of May reboot
The screen star said: "It's not quite as good as the original. I didn't really need to give them advice though. It was a bit surreal to see it come through, deja vu-ish."
Daily Mail, 14th January 2022After Life review
Ricky Gervais's After Life is a conundrum. Viewers love it and critics can't figure out why at all. What makes it odd is that this isn't a Mrs Brown's Boys situation, where the consensus critical position is: "Nope, sorry, you people are stupid and wrong, this is actually terrible." It's more complex than that. It's more of a sort of: "What, this? From him? But why?"
Hugo Rifkind, The Times, 14th January 2022After Life Series 3 review
Its greatest strength is also its biggest weakness.
Abby Robinson, Radio Times, 14th January 2022I talk to Ricky Gervais
"I decided on that ending because it sums up what the series was about. It's uplifting. It's positive."
Elliot Gonzalez, I Talk Telly, 14th January 2022After Life Series 3 is proof that Gervais has lost his edge
If jokes are offensive shouldn't they also be funny?
Adam Bloodworth, JOE, 14th January 2022After Life Series 3 review
Ricky Gervais's humanist hit goes out on a high.
James McMahon, NME, 14th January 2022Gary Waldhorn obituary
Veteran stage actor who found wider fame through his role in the much-loved TV sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley.
Michael Coveney, The Guardian, 14th January 2022Six of UKTV's top ten shows now originals
Dave's Meet The Richardsons and Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable were among the top ten.
Jon Creamer, Televisual, 14th January 2022BBC Radio 4 comedy commissioner Sioned Wiliam to leave
A leaving date has not been announced and the post has not been advertised yet.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th January 2022Has Covid changed comedy forever?
The one good thing is that there are still people out there who want to make us laugh. And there are still plenty of us who want to go to their shows and laugh - even if we have to check with the venue that they are still on right up to the moment we leave the house.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th January 2022George Fouracres cast as Hamlet
Daphne sketch performer to star at Shakespeare's Globe.
Chortle, 14th January 2022How to be a bang average MC (and still get paid)
Recently, a number of newer comedy acts have asked me for tips on how to become or improve as an MC. Considering myself to be a bang-average compere at best; it's hard not to suffer from imposter syndrome when choosing to offer advice, but this is what I would suggest.
Stevie Gray, Chortle, 14th January 2022James Buckley says you couldn't pay him to play Jay in The Inbetweeners again
James Buckley has said that "there's not enough money in the world" to convince him to return to The Inbetweeners.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 14th January 2022Denis O'Dell obituary
Film producer and 'fixer' behind Beatles films including the comedy A Hard Day's Night.
Spencer Leigh, The Guardian, 14th January 2022First clip: Brian And Charles
Here's an amusing first clip from UK comedy Brian & Charles, which is debuting at virtual Sundance.
Deadline, 14th January 2022Ricky Gervais explains Roxy's absence
After Life season 3 features neither Roisin Conaty's sex worker Roxy or Mandeep Dhillon's publishing intern Sandy, but why?
Digital Spy, 14th January 2022Liz Kingsman: One-Woman Show review
This genius set of Fleabag-parodying metacomedy is the hottest ticket in London right now. Liz Kingsman's sublimely theatrical hour of meta-comedy One Woman Show both is and isn't a merciless takedown of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's ubiquitous Fleabag.
Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out, 14th January 2022Videos
TV & radio
No More Jockeys
Live Specials 2022 - Live Game 5A special live game, in which Alex Horne gets confused between concussion and a conker session, Mark Watson eats paper, and Tim Key drinks lager out of a badminton trophy.
The Train At Platform 4
Episode 2 - CatIt's Friday night and everyone's looking forward to their weekend plans. But the journey home is struck with disaster when a celebrity cat goes missing on the train - Artemis Montmorency Wolfhandle the Third is potentially the new face of Kitty Krunch Cat Food but is set to miss a crucial audition if the train crew can't track her down. Meanwhile, Dev's plans for a hot date are thrown into turmoil when he learns the bitter truth about his receding hairline.
The Good, The Bad And The Unexpected
Series 10, Episode 2This week the panel is full of icons! Lorraine Kelly reveals her inner geek and her journey to the final frontier, whilst Carol Decker tells a belter of a story about when she reached the stars in the 1980's. Comedian Fred MacAulay completes the line-up with some very happy news for the start of the year, and finds himself in some trouble in Glasgow.
Horrible Histories
Series 9, Episode 8 - Infectious InfluencersFrom Cleopatra's hairdo to Elizabeth I's flushing loo, meet history's biggest influencers.
The News Quiz
Series 107, Episode 3Andy Zaltzman is joined by Simon Evans, Paul Sinha, Ayesha Hazarika and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, as Andy looks back over the events of 20th May 2020 with Sue Gray-like focus. As well as Downing Street parties, the panel discuss rising energy bills, pig heart transplants, space telescopes and Michael Gove being trapped in a lift.
TV Flashback
Series 6, Episode 2 - PassionsThis time, Kiri's celebrating the passions of the Welsh public. From bird fancying to street lamp collecting, Kiri discovers there is an eclectic mix of things we enjoy in Wales.
Would I Lie To You?
Series 15, Episode 2Host Rob Brydon and captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack welcome Angellica Bell, Bob Mortimer, Suggs and Holly Willoughby to the comedy panel show on which the teams reveal extraordinary stories about themselves. But are they telling the truth, or are they making it all up?
QI
Series S, Episode 10 - SmörgåsbordSandi and Alan are joined by Jimmy Carr, Jen Brister and Chris McCausland to cover a general smorgasbord of facts beginning with S.
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Series 21 (Channel 4: Series 22), Episode 2Jimmy Carr hosts the game show mash-up, with Countdown regulars Rachel Riley and Susie Dent. Jack Dee and Tom Allen take on Jon Richardson and Judi Love. John Cooper Clarke is in Dictionary Corner.
One Night In...
Episode 4 - LEGOLANDAlex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe are joined by Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont, as they spend the night in LEGOLAND.
The Graham Norton Show
Series 29, Episode 15 - Ricky Gervais, Cate Blanchett, Ant & Dec, Elvis CostelloCate Blanchett reveals why she looked so different in Don't Look Up, Ant & Dec say they want to go back to Australia, Ricky Gervais talks about the Golden Globes, and Elvis Costello performs live in the studio.