British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Monday 28th July 2014

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Press clippings

Johnny Vegas made an honorary doctor of literature

Johnny Vegas paid tribute to his old English teacher after receiving an honorary doctorate in the subject from Edge Hill University.

Rob Pattinson, Liverpool Echo, 28th July 2014

I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't talk referendum

Have you ever, I ask the comedian Mark Nelson, told a joke that you subsequently wished you hadn't?

Teddy Jamieson, The Herald, 28th July 2014

Why do so many people love this crude comedy?

Halfway through Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie, after a joke about someone being 'as useless as a knitted condom', but before they got stuck into ridiculing blind people and Parkinson's disease, it was painfully clear why this new film has been described as relentlessly vulgar, utterly devoid of any cinematic qualities, an abattoir that slaughters wit, a tragedy of a comedy. And those are the good reviews.

Jan Moir, Daily Mail, 28th July 2014

Still Game stars invade wrestling ring

Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, famous for their Jack and Victor characters in Still Game, crashed an Insane Wrestling match this evening in a surprise ring invasion.

Paul English, Daily Record, 28th July 2014

Interview: Vikki Stone

Bruce Dessau interviews Vikki Stone about her new Fringe show.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th July 2014

Our top 5s for the Edinburgh Festivals 2014

Our section editors narrow their Edinburgh Festival picks down to a tick-'em-off-as-you-go top 5...

Dave Kerr, Eric Karoulla, Vonny Jones, Rosamund West and Alan Bett, The Skinny, 28th July 2014

3 To See ED2014: Storytelling theatre shows

It's ThreeWeek Co-Editor Caro Moses with three more theatre shows to tip. This lot feature great performers with interesting stories to tell.

Caro Moses, The List, 28th July 2014

Sports days, potty training and archaeology

Next week the Edinburgh Fringe begins! I'm actually very excited. I feel a bit like an archaeologist at a dig.

Wendy Wason, The Herald, 28th July 2014

Edinburgh Fringe 2014 interview: Sara Pascoe

The Edinburgh Fringe has helped catapult Sara Pascoe to the very top of the UK's comedy talent with critics and audiences embracing her very personal, intricately constructed take on comedy.

Laugh Out London, 28th July 2014

Edinburgh Fringe - The Pure, The Dead and The Brilliant

The Edinburgh Fringe could not ignore Scotland's forthcoming referendum on independence. Thus, there are a plethora of shows on the most important issue facing Scotland in 300 years.

Mike Smith, The Edinburgh Reporter, 28th July 2014

Paul Merton on why he never goes to see other shows (Link expired)

Kate Copstick's diary.

Nick Mitchell, WOW247, 28th July 2014

Robert Newman: 'This is the golden age of comedy' (Link expired)

Robert Newman takes on Richard Dawkins and the survival of the fittest in his new show about evolution, writes Kate Copstick.

Kate Copstick, WOW247, 28th July 2014

The Scotsman critics choose 30 great shows to see (Link expired)

The world's biggest arts festival now has over 3,000 shows. Here, The Scotsman's team of critics pick the one per cent they're most excited about.

WOW247, 28th July 2014

Fringe's free festivals as seen by Alex Petty

There are two types of venues in Edinburgh. There are the traditional 'pay' venues. That means audiences pay in advance to see the shows and the performers pay large amounts to rent the rooms and facilities. But there are now four organisations hosting 'free' shows. That means entry is free (though you are expected to donate money on the way out) and the performers pay nothing to perform in the venue.

Alex Petty, John Fleming's Blog, 28th July 2014

My Edinburgh festival nightmare: comedians Fringe Hell

So you're taking a show to the Edinburgh fringe. What's the worst that could happen? Vomiting, fainting, break-ups and malfunctioning smoke machines ... Felicity Ward, Josie Long and WitTank start off our series of comedians' horror stories.

The Guardian, 28th July 2014

Big fat Fringe bribe blog 2014: Yeti

Performance poet Gary from Leeds bags some easy exposure with his Yeti Action Pack.

Niki Boyle, The List, 28th July 2014

Fringe: the ten Australian acts you must see

I'm out seeing a lot of shows come Australia's festival season from February through April. A lot of these end up at Edinburgh come August. Here are ten of my favourites. OK, eleven.

Tomás Ford, The Huffington Post, 28th July 2014

Five questions for Phil Wang

Self-proclaimed 'biggest Wang in comedy' Phil Wang returns to Edinburgh with his new show, Mellow Yellow. Ahead of his month-long run at the Pleasance Courtyard, he talks to Giggle Beats about the new show, online comedy, the Asian presence in comedy and more.

Lorenzo Pacitti, Giggle Beats, 28th July 2014

Fringe Q&As: In Vogue

In the fourth of our new series, In Vogue tells us about his Fringe show and what makes him laugh.

The Herald, 28th July 2014

Charlie Brooker launches new production company

Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones today announced the launch of House of Tomorrow, a new production house.

Endemol, 28th July 2014

Graham Fellows: 'I can't do John Shuttleworth for ever'

Sean O'Grady joins Graham Fellows down the comedian's local Spar in Louth, Lincolnshire, for milk, pasties - and a heart-to-heart about the future of Sheffield's most versatile singer-songwriter.

Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 28th July 2014

Big fat Fringe bribe blog 2014: Swiss Cheese

Bawsoot Theatre Company swap some cheesy craftsmanship for valuable exposure.

Niki Boyle, The List, 28th July 2014

Andrew Maxwell takes on Scottish independence

'Nationalism is folly, it always ends in violence... Borders and flags are just false nonsense'

Jay Richardson, The List, 28th July 2014

Friday Night Dinner review

It is hard to single out any other stand out actors in this programme because they are all undeniably outstanding.

Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 28th July 2014

David Walliams: I really want to be Simon's helper

David Walliams jokes he 'won't be Simon Cowell's favourite girl on X Factor any more'.

Danny Walker, The Mirror, 28th July 2014

Glenn Cosby on his Fringe show Food Junkie

For ten weeks of 2013, English teacher Glenn Cosby fought with 12 other amateur bakers in the Great British Bake Off tent to be crowned star baker. Glenn was the last man standing in the competition, sent home in week seven - the dreaded puff pastry challenge - and since then has been working on a stage show. Now he's set to perform his show Food Junkie in Edinburgh - a city which he holds dear - at the iconic Fringe. We caught up with the bubbly baker to find out more.

STV, 28th July 2014

Sherlock star Rupert Graves joins Last Tango In Halifax

Sherlock alum Rupert Graves has joined the cast of BBC One's Last Tango In Halifax.

TV Wise, 28th July 2014

Edinburgh picks 2014: musical acts

We're suckers for a bit of musical comedy here at SSP, and these are the finest acts we're looking forward to this August...

Andrew Mickel, Such Small Portions, 28th July 2014

Edinburgh picks 2014: Interactive shows

Get involved as we wave goodbye to the fourth wall...

Andrew Mickel, Such Small Portions, 28th July 2014

'Starting Stand-Up' by Alex Edelman

Stand-up is already an unusual art-form, but one of the most unusual things about it is that you start in the most difficult environments. Nothing else is like that.

Alex Edelman, Comedy Blogedy, 28th July 2014

Interview with Lizzy Mace

Interview with Lizzy Mace about her new show Overlooked.

Comedy Blogedy, 28th July 2014

Interview with Wild Card Kitty

An interview with Wild Card Kitty.

Comedy Blogedy, 28th July 2014

Interview with Jay Handley

An interview with comedian Jay Handley.

Comedy Blogedy, 28th July 2014

Interview with Spencer Jones

An interview with Spencer Jones.

Comedy Blogedy, 28th July 2014

6 reasons Virtually Famous could become best panel show

The panel show turned out to be a mix of Celebrity Juice and You've Been Framed and it was very popular, with #VirtuallyFamous trending in the UK, but what made it so good?

Rachel MacGregor, Metro, 28th July 2014

Video: Comedy capers come to Newcastle

The hit West End comedy One man, two Guvnors is on at Newcastle's Theatre Royal for a week as part of a national tour.

ITV, 28th July 2014

Abigoliah Schamaun: Come along for the scary ride (Link expired)

Abigoliah Schamaun swaps dirty jokes with Jay Richardson.

Jay Richardson, WOW247, 28th July 2014

Comedy duo all set to take on the Fringe

Gary Lunt and Joe Hughes will team up with Crewe-based performer Matt Gabrielli to put on A Spaghetti North-Western at the global arts celebration in the Scottish capital next month.

Wigan Today, 28th July 2014

How to win the Edinburgh Fringe

This will be my 20th Fringe (did I mention I used to be a street perf- Never mind) and in that time I've seen it spiral out of all proportion, or at least further out of whatever proportion it was out of last time.

Stuart Goldsmith, Chortle, 28th July 2014

How comedy can change lives

People often get uncomfortable when I tell them I'm anorexic. For a long time I was uncomfortable to talk about it.

Dave Chawner, Chortle, 28th July 2014

TV & radio

BBC Radio 4 Extra 9:30am
30 min
My First Planet. Image shows from L to R: Richard (John Dorney), Carol (Cariad Lloyd), Brian (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Lillian (Vicki Pepperdine), Mason (Tom Goodman-Hill), Archer (Phil Whelans). Copyright: Pozzitive Productions

My First Planet

Series 2, Episode 2 - One Small Naughty Step For Man

Day 32 and the colony teacher tells Carol and Richard to go and sit in the naughty airlock.

Radio 4 11:30am
30 min
Bad Salsa. Image shows from L to R: Chippy (Jessie Cave), Jill (Natasha Little), Terri (Camille Coduri). Copyright: BBC

Bad Salsa

Series 1, Episode 4 - The Shorefest Redemption

The series that follows three women as they embrace the world of salsa while adjusting to life after cancer concludes.

Radio 4 4:30pm
30 min
The Infinite Monkey Cage. Image shows from L to R: Brian Cox, Robin Ince. Copyright: BBC

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Series 10, Episode 4 - Can Science Save Us?

With Stephen Fry, Dr Lucie Green, Professor Tony Ryan, Eric Idle.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue logo. Copyright: BBC

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

Series 61, Episode 5

A visit to Bradford's St George's Hall for regulars Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden, with Andy Hamilton on the panel and Jack Dee in the chair.

E4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
45 min
Virtually Famous. Image shows from L to R: Chris Stark, Kevin McHale, Seann Walsh. Copyright: Talkback / Hungry Bear Media

Virtually Famous

Series 1, Episode 2

Kevin and team captains Seann Walsh and Chris Stark are joined by comedians Katherine Ryan and Joe Lycett, actress/model Helen Flanagan and former WBA heavyweight champion boxer David Haye as they face a series of challenges and questions based on some unforgettable online material.

Sky Atlantic logo. Copyright: Sky 11:15pm
30 min
Set List. Copyright: Princess Productions / Susquehanna Hats

Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net

Documentary - Inside Set List

Russell Kane is amongst the comedians featured in this inside look at the improvised stand-up show.

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