Adam Hills
Adam Hills

Adam Hills

  • 53 years old
  • Australian
  • Stand-up comedian and writer

Press clippings Page 15

The Australian standup comedian Adam Hills is back for a new series of his topical-and-comical review show. He's joined once more by his co-hosts, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker as they take on the news agenda of the last seven days, and apply some levity and jokes to the mix. Offering their insight on the significant news moments of the week alongside them will be celebrity guests (mostly other comics and TV presenters). As usual, they also answer the most pressing question of all: "Is it OK?"

Bim Adewunmi, The Guardian, 1st August 2014

Adam Hills on the surprise success of The Last Leg: "In 2012 I was meant to be in England for six or seven weeks, doing The Fringe, and then I was going to hang around and do a few more gigs and then come home. And then I was offered ten nights of doing The Last Leg during the Paralympics, and I thought "Okay, we'll give that a crack and then we'll go back to Australia." And then before we'd even finished the Paralympics, Channel 4 were talking to me, saying "How long can you stay around for, what would you like to do?"

We never thought The Last Leg would become a series. It just felt so intrinsically tied to the Paralympics that there's no way it would survive on its own. When Channel 4 said they wanted to keep it going, but for it to be a topical show, we were really hesitant. We just thought we'd give it a crack and see what happened. And now, I don't know how many series we've done, but we've got another one in August, and probably another couple next year. It's become a regular thing. And it's also broadcast in Australia, which is something I love."

Adam Hills, Channel 4, 22nd May 2014

This is the show that started out as a late-night sidebar to the 2012 Paralympics and proved so popular it took on a life of its own.

This is also the show that says it's OK laugh at disability provided, that is, those jokes are made within the parameters of a fiendishly sensitive, unwritten set of rules with question one being: "Are you Frankie Boyle?" And question two being: "Is your name Jim Davidson?"

As a rule of thumb, if you can count up to 20 using your fingers and toes, don't even think about trying to join in yourself.

With regular panellist Alex Brooker out in Austria presenting The Jump, comedian Micky Flanagan joins host Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe for the start of the new series.

Last year, Adam ­memorably remarked: "Getting angry at Jim Davidson because he doesn't know how to talk about disability is like getting angry at a dog for not knowing how to use the internet." There's a good chance the show might work up a nice head of steam about Davidson winning Celebrity Big Brother.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 31st January 2014

Adam Hills, Josh Widdecombe and Alex Brooker return for a new series of the enjoyable if slightly vague weekly round-up show. It all went a bit good-natured Top Gear when London 2012 finished. Finally, they have the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics to look forward to, giving proceedings a renewed sports focus. Hills and co should also include a weekly "gay propaganda" item to make up for the shortfall created by Russia's legislation. It's only fair. Elsewhere, Brooker continues on his quest to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

Julia Raeside, The Guardian, 31st January 2014

Adam Hills interview

"I was on an American TV show a couple of years ago and tried to do the mean, snarky comedy that Americans really like," Adam Hills told Digital Spy when we ask him about his new DVD and "unofficial new religion" Happyism. "I bombed really badly because it's not what I'm good at. It was awful, it was a really horrible death on American television because I just tried to be mean about celebrities.

Mayer Nissim, Digital Spy, 18th December 2013

Radio Times review

If the last act tonight, Terry Alderton, looks familiar, that may be because you've seen him as Bianca's taxi-driving boyfriend in EastEnders. But he was a comedian before he was an actor - and before that he was a goalkeeper for Southend United. He has also presented the National Lottery - it's quite a CV - and his stand-up is resolutely left-field: at one stage he stands on his head and acts out a conversation between his two shoes.

Before Alderton we're on safer ground with host Adam Hills, who does a brilliant job of forming a boy band from members of the audience. He's not always laugh-out-loud funny, but something about Hills' act makes you feel better about life.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 13th December 2013

Adam Hills and Sandi Toksvig to host revived 15 to 1

Adam Hills will host four celebrity specials of the classic quiz show while Sandi Toksvig takes over for a run of 20 daytime episodes.

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 9th December 2013

Review: Adam Hills: Happyism - Newcastle

Unlike most acts where the audience need a break to get a drink or stretch their legs, at this show you need an interval to catch your breath from constant laughing.

Elliott Clarke, Giggle Beats, 19th November 2013

Adam Hills takes Barnstaple crowd bowling

Adam Hills took the crowd at a recent stand-up gig bowling after the show.

Mayer Nissim, Digital Spy, 19th November 2013

Adam Hills interview

Adam Hills talks 'taches, TV stars and why he's joining the hairy masses in the month of Movember.

Adam Hills, The Big Issue, 19th November 2013

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