November 2013
Actors who appear in hit sitcoms often have difficulties shaking off the role that makes their name. Beyond The Joke recently wrote about the way that Father Dougal still casts a shadow over Ardal O'Hanlon's work. But Martin Freeman has had no such issues. I doubt if that many people still think of him primarily as Tim from The Office these days. Even though that was a major role in a landmark series Freeman has recently shaken Tim off with starring parts in The Hobbit movies and BBC1's Sherlock.
I came across my interview with Benedict Cumberbatch from The Times, November 2007, in my archive and thought it might be of some interest. Back then Cumberbatch was a fast-rising star of stage and screen rather than the all-conquering superstar he is today. I'll always remember the first time I spotted him – it was when I watched him playing Stephen Hawking in a BBC drama in 2004.
Award-winning master of storytelling and legendary stand-up Sean Hughes has announced a 2014 tour of his latest show Penguins following a critically acclaimed run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was named Best Comedy Show at the Herald Angel Awards.
The nominations for the King or Queen of Comedy at the British Comedy Awards have been announced today. They are last year's King Jack Whitehall, 2011’s Queen of Comedy, Sarah Millican, David Mitchell, Alan Carr, Graham Norton and Lee Mack.
This is the only British Comedy Award that can be voted for by the public. Phone lines open at 11am, today and the winner will be revealed live on the night of the Awards, December 12, which will be broadcast live on Channel 4.
"You play Radio 4 twice. Once on the way up. Once on the way down. It's good to be back." As far as I know, David Mitchell and Robert Webb did not come out with this version of the old showbiz chestnut in the run-up to their return to R4. Which was fair enough, because if one thing is certain it is that they are not on the way down.
Update 7/6/14 - There's a chance to see the Tunnel Club film on June 17 as part of the East End Film Festival, alongside live appearances from Kevin Eldon, Simon Munnery and Richard Peppiatt. Details here.
Update 7/6/14 - there's a chance to see the Tunnel Club film on June 17 as part of the East End Film Festival, alongside live appearances from Kevin Eldon, Simon Munnery and Richard Peppiatt. Details here.
I interviewed Michael Smiley last week. If you don't know the name you will certainly know the face. And if you don't that's him on the left. This year Smiley has appeared in straight acting roles in, among other things, Luther, Utopia, Ambassadors and A Field In England. Comedy fans with longer memories will, of course, know him as Tyres, the raving cycle courier in Spaced.
One of the finest comedy variety nights out is Alex Horne's Horne Section and our host has just announced a special lunchtime Christmas edition on Dec 18. This week, however, he returns to the day job with the London transfer of this year's Edinburgh Fringe solo show, Lies, at the Soho Theatre from Monday.
The Monty Python reunion has been making me think a bit about old comedians lately and then this morning, around the same time that Cleese & co were making their big announcement that they are going to play the O2 Arena on July 1, I spotted this illustration opposite o
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