Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 107
English Comedian Of The Year 2016
In the end, it was a relative rookie who triumphed - and will now be gracing next year's Adelaide and Perth festivals down under on the back of his achievement. Josh Pugh, winner of a couple of new act awards in the Midlands last year, took the title for a set packed full of short, quirky jokes from a peculiarly offbeat mind.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 5th July 2016Review: Old Comedian Of The Year 2016
Never mind Old Comedian Of The Year, maybe it's time for a Posh Comedian Of The Year competition, given the number of upper-class characters - real, exaggerated or fictional - on display in this year's competition for the over-35s.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 4th July 2016Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - review
Producers did not release the Ab Fab film to the critics ahead of its release yesterday, which is rarely a vote of confidence. Add to that the fact that it's a big-screen adaptation of a sitcom - a genre with a patchy track record, The Inbetweeners Movie notwithstanding - and that it uses the tired and tested plot device of plonking their characters somewhere foreign, and the signs are not encouraging. Yet despite such portents, Absolutely Fabulous is as much of a fun, raucous romp as fans would have hoped for - director Mandie Fletcher throwing proceedings into the preposterous story and high camp with as much vigour now as there was when the series started a rather incredible 24 years ago.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd July 2016Review - Brickhead: Yeah Yeah Yeah?
Brickhead has the requisite playfulness and pseudo-vulnerability, which makes him easily likeable, even if the show is in search of purpose.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 19th June 2016The World Of Simon Rich review
It's in the longer fictions in which the show finds its own place and pace, with an unhurried storytelling that sets up delightful images. The absurdity starts with a whimsical Alice In Wonderland-style tale about a nine-year-old girl and her adventures with a waistcoated goat.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd June 2016Gasping review
Greg Hemphill has achieved what the Daily Mail has been trying to do for years: silenced Frankie Boyle.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 1st June 2016Rovers review
Nothing much happens of note in this world, and it's the comedy of contented smiles rather than gut-busing belly laughs. But Rovers is warmly amusing throughout, with a strong whiff of authenticity and characters you like spending time with. "Everyone's really nice, aren't they?" says Sam after meeting the tiny fan club. Yep, Sam, they are.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th May 2016James Hamilton Is So Lonely review
In his first solo show, James Hamilton, has created an engagingly watchable character comedy narrative - albeit one which gets rather too bogged down in its convoluted storyline to produce too many laugh-out-loud moments.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th May 2016No Such Thing as the News review
There's no such thing as a dull moment in BBC Two's new topical comedy No Such Thing As The News - a look behind the headlines presented by the 'elves' who research QI.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th May 2016John Dowie at the Poetry Cafe review
This is John Dowie's first gig in 14 years, and it's a low-key affair in the basement of a Central London poetry cafe.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th May 2016