The Danebury Metal Detecting Club is back and this time it’s serious. Well, not completely serious. Mackenzie Crook’s countryside sitcom was one of the most subtle, slow-burn comedies to pop up in recent years. There are no big laughs here, but lots of gently comic character studies to keep you hooked.
I feel as if I have been waiting most of my life for a comedy that reflected my romantic experiences as an adult. And then finally along comes Catastrophe starring and written by Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, which feels so well-informed about my relationship with my partner and also my friends and nearest and dearest that I’m starting to think they’ve bugged my phone, hacked my computer and, at this very moment, are watching me through binoculars from the house over the road.
Russell Howard has always been a stand-up comedian with a positive view of the planet. No miserabilist angst for the boss-eyed Bristolian. So his enduring upbeat TV series looking at news around the globe has been a good fit for him. And fit is the word. For better or worse when the programme goes out these days there are as many people lusting after his guns as there are laughing at his gags.
Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival has received a Bronze award at a prestigious national marketing award and has also been nominated for a top European award.
Last night at the annual FM&BE Awards (Field Marketing & Brand Experience) held at the Troxy in London’s East End, Europe’s longest running comedy festival was awarded Bronze in the “Client Relationship” category, winning out against global brands including The Guardian, 20th Century Fox, Adidas and Vodafone.
It has been interesting to see that Kevin Bridges had trouble with hecklers at a recent Edinburgh Playhouse gig. Reports have suggested that noisy audience members spoilt an otherwise excellent show.
Comedians aren't supposed to be competitive or want to win awards but there is no getting away from the fact that the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award is the biggest gong in stand-up. Sam Simmons finally won the prestigious prize this year after two previous nominations. His latest show had slightly passed me by until it was shortlisted, but once I'd seen it I could understand what all the fuss was about. Spaghetti for Breakfast was both consistent with and very different to his previous shows.
I was talking to my therapist yesterday - not that kind of therapist, this was one for a bad finger – and she said she liked comedy. Who is your favourite? I inevitably asked. "Dara Ó Briain," she said, quick as a flash. She had been at the same Hammersmith gig on his Crowd Tickler tour as me and just like me was blown away by his wit, intelligence and sheer speed of thought. In fact she was clearly a committed fan. She chatted about his previous shows and said that this was his best one yet.
When Showstopper! The Improvised Musical opened in the West End the publicists invited critics to come to two performances. Because the show is made up by the cast on the hoof based on audience suggestions the producers wanted to prove that a successful performance was no fluke, that they could do it every time. And also, maybe, that there was no cheating, that there were no rehearsed routines that could be slotted in to keep things moving. I didn't need to see two performances to know the former or the latter.
It’s hard to decide what I like the most about Together. Alex MacQueen’s inspired performance as pedantic dad-he-was-born-to-play Ashley? Vicki Pepperdine’s fussy trapped-in-her-marriage mum Lesley or Jonny Sweet’s starring role as Tom, the man-child trying to woo Ellen (Cara Theobold).
Mitch Benn is a busy man. Very busy. When not on the radio doing his own shows or topical songs on The Now Show, the Liverpool-born comedian is often on tour. When he's not on the radio or on tour he is writing books. He has not one but two successful novels under his belt, Terra and Terra's World. And when he is not doing any of this things he is quite possibly watching Dr Who. In his latest show, Don't Believe A Word, he explores the nature of belief: "I'm a skeptic. But don't take my word for it. Or indeed anybody's.
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