The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson. Image shows from L to R: Debra Stephenson, Jon Culshaw. Copyright: BBC
The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson

The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson

  • TV sketch show
  • BBC One
  • 2009 - 2011
  • 20 episodes (3 series)

Impression show starring Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson. Their targets include Jonathan Ross, Amy Winehouse and Madonna. Stars Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson, Jess Robinson, Simon Greenall, Thomas Nelstrop and more.

Press clippings Page 2

Impressionists Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson are accomplished performers but their material struggles to match their talent. There's fun to be had in the unlikely relationship between chirpy John Craven and Stephenson's deadpan Lady Gaga, but yet another send-up of Simon Cowell's taste in trousers is just lazy.

Toby Dantzic, The Telegraph, 10th December 2010

Any sketch show is bound to be a hit or miss affair, but the celebrity parodies done by Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson are so amazingly accomplished, you can forgive the odd item that doesn't quite work. There's an ongoing gag threading through the show about how Katie Price is marrying Michael Winner, while Culshaw's take on Harry Hill as a UN peace negotiator ("I like North Korea with its Communist-style dictatorship ... but then I like South Korea with its democratic republic...") is inspired. Also right on the money is the impression of EastEnders' Pat Evans meeting Coronation Street's Ken Barlow in a motorway caff and BBC business editor Robert Peston's curious inflections as he presents a doom-laden weather forecast.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 14th November 2010

The Impressions Show Review: Fame Shamed

Jon Culshaw has always lived in the shadow of more popular impressionists such as Alistair McGowan and the superb Rory Bremner, but greater recognition could await him yet. Even though Bremner may be a better impressionist and shows a greater ability to contextualise his sketches, the quality of Culshaw's jokes has improved.

Bharat Azad, On The Box, 14th November 2010

The Impressions Show review

Series 2 of The Impressions Show is one of those moments when you question whether BBC commissioning editors are losing their minds.

Steven Cookson, Suite 101, 14th November 2010

For this second series, impressionist John Culshaw and ex-Corrie actress Debra Stephenson have a raft of new caricatures to add to their repertoire. Highlights include a typical night in chez Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter.

Gerard O'Donovan, The Telegraph, 12th November 2010

Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson interview

Now that they're back for another series of their Impressions Show, we gave Debra Stephenson and Jon Culshaw a ring to chat about the impersonating business, Eamonn Holmes's less-than-thrilled reaction to their send-up of him, and why Lady GaGa takes fashion advice from them...

Catriona Wightman, Digital Spy, 12th November 2010

Debra Stephenson interview

Debra Stephenson is going back to her roots with a second series of The Impression Show, alongside Jon Culshaw...

Elaine Penn, TV Choice, 9th November 2010

Eamonn Holmes swims against a tide of teasing

When it comes to impressions of Eamonn Holmes, the problem's alimentary, says Jenny McCartney.

Jenny McCartney, The Telegraph, 24th July 2010

Eamonn Holmes gets BBC jokes eating away at him banned

'Fierce hungry' Sky presenter wins public apology from craven Beeb.

Marina Hyde, The Guardian, 22nd July 2010

Eamonn Holmes says impression is just not funny

Eamonn Holmes calls lawyers over BBC weight jibes.

Dominic Herbert, The News Of The World, 18th July 2010

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