Press clippings

Brigit Forsyth obituary

Actress best known for playing Rodney Bewes's hen-pecking wife in the popular sitcom Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

The Times, 4th December 2023

Dodger review

This hilarious Dickens prequel is an utter treat.

Jack Seale, The Guardian, 3rd December 2023

Genie review

Soulless Richard Curtis New York festive caper.

Wendy Ide, The Observer, 3rd December 2023

Guz Khan on teaching and tough starts

The Coventry comedian knows full well the power that humour has to change people's lives - just look at what it's done to his.

Michael Segalov, The Observer, 3rd December 2023

Brigit Forsyth obituary

Actor who played Thelma, Bob's prim girlfriend, in the 1970s sitcom Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

Anthony Hayward, The Guardian, 3rd December 2023

Richard Osman's House Of Games rounds tweaked for Chris McCausland

Fans of Richard Osman's House Of Games will notice some changes this week - as a few of the rounds have been tweaked to accommodate blind comic Chris McCausland. The week's challenges contain no visual elements - and even the Answer Smash round that ends each programme has been replaced with an audio version.

Chortle, 3rd December 2023
Rosie Jones

Rosie Jones forced to leave social media after 'hurtful' comments

Rosie Jones revealed she was targeted by online trolls.

Serena Lacey-Brown, The Mirror, 3rd December 2023
Dodger. Dodger (Billy Jenkins)

Billy Jenkins interview

"The festive special is life and death stuff!"

Caren Clark, What To Watch, 3rd December 2023
Foil Arms And Hog. Image shows from L to R: Sean Finegan, Conor McKenna, Sean Flanagan

Foil, Arms and Hog interview

Erin McCafferty meets the comedy sketch trio who have found that touring does nothing for their love lives but at least they have the Finns in silent stitches.

Erin McCafferty, The Sunday Times, 3rd December 2023
Dodger. Image shows left to right: Royston, Chief of the Yeoman Guard (Paul Whitehouse), The Archbishop of Canterbury (Simon Callow), John Bridge, The Crown Jeweller (Alex Macqueen), Queen Victoria (Nicola Coughlan), US President Martin Van Buren (Toby Stephens)

Dodger review

Please, Sir! We want more, more, more of this fizzingly witty Dickens adaptation.

Jasper Rees, The Telegraph, 3rd December 2023
Saoirse-Monica Jackson

Saoirse-Monica Jackson on her whirlwind life after Derry Girls

She was top of the class in the worldwide hit Derry Girls, but Saoirse-Monica Jackson was terrified she'd never work again... How wrong she was. The show opened so many doors for her - from superhero movies to a 14th-century period drama.

Tim Lewis, The Observer, 3rd December 2023
Tony Allen

A tribute to Tony Allen, oft-called The Godfather of UK Alternative Comedy

Here, award-wining stand-up Becky Fury pays tribute to her long-time friend Tony Allen, who died yesterday morning, in London...

Becky Fury, John Fleming's Blog, 2nd December 2023
Bill Bailey

Bill Bailey looks back

'My comedy audience is similar to Strictly's demographic - an eight-year-old next to an 80-year-old'

Harriet Gibsone, The Guardian, 2nd December 2023
Rain Dogs. Image shows left to right: Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper), Iris Jones (Fleur Tashjian)

The 50 best TV shows of 2023 - 50 to 41

Featuring Rain Dogs (No. 50), The Change (No. 46) and Boat Story (No. 45).

The Guardian, 1st December 2023
Meera Syal

Meera Syal: one director said I'd get the role if I slept with him

The writer and actress talks to Carol Midgley about harassment, her fears for TV comedy and why a sense of humour can save your life.

Carol Midgley, The Times, 1st December 2023
Smothered. Image shows left to right: Sammy (Danielle Vitalis), Tom (Jon Pointing)

Monica Heisey: 'The UK's comedy legacy is being left to rot'

Can Smothered, a new Sky six-part drama by the Canadian Schitt's Creek writer, revive the beleaguered genre?

Susie Goldsbrough, The Times, 1st December 2023
R.I.P - Rest In Peace

John Byrne obituary

Playwright and artist who wrote the BBC series Tutti Frutti and Your Cheatin' Heart, and plays including The Slab Boys.

Michael Coveney, The Guardian, 1st December 2023
R.I.P - Rest In Peace

Artist and Tutti Frutti writer John Byrne dies, aged 83

The artist and writer John Byrne, who created the acclaimed TV series Tutti Frutti, has died at the age of 83.

Craig Williams, BBC, 1st December 2023
Saltburn. Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan). Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner, Amazon Studios

What does Saltburn say about class and privilege in the UK?

From searing commentary to narrative confusion, Emerald Fennell's lavish, shocking film has divided critics since its release. Now Guardian writers weigh in.

Charlotte Higgins, Rupert Neate, Sirin Kale, Jess Cartner-Morley, Gwilym Mumford and Danny Lavelle, The Guardian, 1st December 2023
Genie. Flora (Melissa McCarthy). Credit: Sky

Genie review

Please put this dreadful comedy back in the bottle.

Kevin Maher, The Times, 1st December 2023

The List Hot 100 2023 Number 2: Fern Brady

After years building her profile on the stand-up scene allied to a career-boosting turn on Taskmaster, 2023 saw Fern Brady add podcast host and bestselling author to her burgeoning CV.

Kevin Fullerton, The List, 30th November 2023

The List Hot 100 2023 number 3: Marjolein Robertson

With a five-star Fringe show under her belt, Marjolein Robertson has stormed her way into the number three position of our Hot 100. Find out what makes the Shetlander comic's stand-up so special.

Jay Richardson, The List, 30th November 2023

The List Hot 100 2023 number 9: Kieran Hodgson

He's conquering Scotland one comedy show at a time and nabbing Edinburgh Comedy Award nods for his troubles. We speak to Kieran Hodgson about Prince Andrew, Two Doors Down and making a show about his newfound home country.

Jay Richardson, The List, 30th November 2023
Ellie Taylor

Ellie Taylor gives birth to baby son

Ellie Taylor has given birth to her second child with husband CNN reporter Phil Black and took to social media to share her adorable news with fans.

Lucretia Munro, The Mirror, 30th November 2023
Evil Genius With Russell Kane. Russell Kane

BBC recommissions Russell Kane's Evil Genius podcast

Following the TV series version for Sky History, Russell Kane is back in the driving seat once more with a brand new 12 episode series of the hit BBC podcast, Evil Genius.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th November 2023
Last Of The Summer Wine. Image shows from L to R: Walter C. 'Foggy' Dewhurst (Brian Wilde), William 'Compo' Simmonite (Bill Owen), Norman Clegg (Peter Sallis). Copyright: BBC

Compo costume from Last Of The Summer Wine up for auction

An "endearing" tattered jacket, knitted pullover, rope belt and woollen hat from Last Of The Summer Wine will soon be up for auction.

BBC, 30th November 2023
Goodnight Sweetheart. Gary Sparrow (Nicholas Lyndhurst)

Nicholas Lyndhurst's journey from TV plonker to finally breaking the US at age of 62

He is TV's biggest plonker, famous for playing Rodney Trotter, the dopey younger brother of Britain's most beloved wheeler dealer.

But now Nicholas Lyndhurst is stepping out from Del Boy star Sir David Jason's shadow by cracking America - aged 62.

Rod McPhee, The Sun, 29th November 2023
David Walliams' Awfully Good. David Walliams. Copyright: Crook Productions

BGT comedian's fury at David Walliams payout

Clare Harrison McCartney believes she was the target of ex-judge's misogynistic comments.

Chortle, 29th November 2023
Guz Khan

Guz Khan laughs off Have I Got News For You complaints

Writing on X, the 37-year-old joked he was glad that was the only controversy engulfing him, joking: 'Man, I thought they had the CCTV footage of me eating haraam McDonalds chicken nuggets in a car park in Coventry. That would have been career ending...because I was ENJOYING them. God forgive me.'

Chortle, 29th November 2023
Still Open All Hours. Mrs Rossi (Sue Holderness)

Sue Holderness: 'Politically correct people want a lot of comedy banned'

The comedy actor reflects upon her best-known role and how she aims to help the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Rosa Silverman, The Telegraph, 28th November 2023

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