Press clippings Page 21

It's been another winning year for Graham Norton - great guests (his New Year's Eve line-up this year was extraordinary) and great audience figures. Even if you saw every episode of the most recent series these best-bit compilations are always worth a look. So prepare to relive the good and the bad.

The good include Lady Gaga forging an unlikely, instant friendship with EastEnders' Dot Cotton, June Brown; the two Doctors Matt Smith and David Tennant taking fan questions; and Paul McCartney talking about his collaboration with Michael Jackson. And the bad? Michelle Pfeiffer and a very unforthcoming Robert De Niro looking bored and baffled as Cher and Jennifer Saunders stole the show. And Harrison Ford seemingly very unimpressed by Jack Whitehall.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 3rd January 2014

You may have noticed there's been lot of stuff on TV about a certain Time Lord recently (and the fuss will continue when our special Doctor Who supplement is published next week). So it's appropriate that on Norton's sofa tonight is not one but two of the actors who've played the role: David Tennant and Matt Smith. As Steven Moffat told us that the pair "got on like a couple of old women" when they filmed the anniversary special, we should be in for a real laugh. Trying to get a word in edgeways is Emma Thompson (soon to be seen in Saving Mr Banks) and Robbie Williams.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 22nd November 2013

Tennant and Pike share a hug filming new movie

David Tennant and Rosamund Pike share a hug on first day of filming new movie What We Did On Our Holiday.

Daily Mail, 17th June 2013

Casting revealed for film by Outnumbered writers

Ben Miller, David Tennant and Billy Connolly are amongst the cast set to star in new film What We Did On Our Holiday, from the writers of Outnumbered.

British Comedy Guide, 15th May 2013

Review: Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger!

A shambolic, festive family offering that grates from start to finish, starring David Tennant.

Rob Carnevale, The List, 19th November 2012

Stephen Mangan - "I'd love to play Doctor Who"

The Episodes star is a particular fan of David Tennant's Doctor and once spent Christmas Eve with no less than two former Time Lords.

Paul Jones, Radio Times, 12th October 2012

Notable low-points along the way for David Tennant include those dreadful Virgin Media adverts and a stint doing impressions on Chris Moyles' Quiz Night. And now he's reduced to hosting Channel 4's latest panel show by numbers, Comedy World Cup. Ever wish you had a real-life time machine, David?

Ian Hyland, Daily Mail, 22nd September 2012

Channel 4 has acreated a band new panel game, hosted by former Doctor Who star David Tennant.

The idea of Comedy World Cup is an interesting one, as the theme of the show is comedy itself. It's a team game, with different teams each episode, consisting of one current comedy star as captain, with a younger comic and a veteran. This week, Captain Jo Brand with Dave Spikey and Shappi Khorsandi, played against Jason Manford, who lead alongside Paul Chowdhry and Nicholas Parsons.

The episode lasted an hour, which some might seem as being excessive for a panel game - but I disagree. For starters, it still isn't the longest panel show in terms of episode length, as that title goes to The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (not counting David Walliams and his 24-hour long panel show marathon for Comic Relief). You also have the ad breaks too, so the show is broken down a bit. Put it this way; an extended repeat of HIGNFY or QI is between 40-45 minutes long. Comedy World Cup is 45 minutes long, plus 15 minutes of advertising during which you can make a cup of tea. So it's nothing new. Some might say it's an improvement to have a break in the middle.

The show consisted of seven rounds, many of them reminding me of other panel shows and game shows. For example there a "What happens next?" round (see A Question of Sport), and one where children act out stand-up routines (see The Big Fat Quiz where they get kids to act out news stories).

Now, I admit that this show wasnt 'the funniest panel show I've seen. But to me, this isn't the point. For someone like me who is really into their comedy, it's like a pub quiz themed especially for me - and if you're a comedy buff then this is the show for you. But it's best watched with other like-minded people to see who really is more knowledgeable on these matters...

Ian Wolf, Giggle Beats, 17th September 2012

With talent shows once again likely to dominate the schedules until Christmas, this could be a very canny commission for C4. Not that there's a shortage of comedy panel-shows around, but self-professed 'comedy geek' David Tennant is an intriguing choice for host and a proven magnet for viewers (not for nothing has this been scheduled immediately after Doctor Who). Two teams, each made up of a gnarled veteran, an established pro and an up-and-comer, demonstrate their stand-up skills and 'knowledge of comedy' in a knockout tournament, with the winners awarded the titular prize. But who will be the tournament's Suarez, Zidane or bloke from Zaire who ran out of the wall to kick the ball away? If it's anything like the football version, expect dirty tactics, controversy and lingering feelings of disappointment and melancholy at its close.

Gabriel Tate, Time Out, 15th September 2012

David Tennant to host Channel 4 panel show

Actor David Tennant has been signed up to present a seven-part Channel 4 panel show series called Comedy World Cup.

British Comedy Guide, 24th August 2012

Share this page