BCG Daily Saturday 19th February 2022
Press clippings
Karen Dunbar on 'cancel' culture and the changing rules of comedy
Over the course of our interview, Karen Dunbar will delve into complex and far-ranging subject matter - from outdated language and offence to the thorny truth about "cancel" culture - but, for now, the Glasgow-born comedian and actor is reflecting candidly on why she craves laughter.
Susan Swarbrick, The Herald, 19th February 2022
Karen Dunbar: BBC right to cut sketches from comedy repeats
The BBC has banned clips from the Chewin' The Fat sketch show which mocked Japanese and blind people. Last month it was revealed that old episodes of the popular Scottish comedy series were being re-edited for repeat showings to avoid offending modern audiences.
Stuart MacDonald, The Times, 19th February 2022
Dylan Moran: The panel show circuit is a rigged game
Sober now but fearless as ever, the comedy legend couldn't care less about cancellation - with his new tour set to tackle 'all the subjects'.
Chris Harvey, The Telegraph, 19th February 2022
Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent talk The Duke and future of the BBC
"If Kempton was around now, he'd have been fighting to save the BBC; he'd be on the side of the BBC against the Government."
Ginny Dougary, Radio Times, 19th February 2022
Tim Key: life beyond Alan Partridge
The actor and comedian spent years as a foil to Steve Coogan. Now he has a new poetry book, tour and sitcom The Witchfinder.
Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 19th February 2022
Jimeoin show rescheduled due to storm damage to venue
Jimeoin's sold out Turn It UP! show in Swindon tonight (Saturday 19 February) has had to be rescheduled at the last minute as the Wyvern Theatre has suffered significant damage in the storms.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 19th February 2022
New podcast dramatises real-life meeting between Michael Jackson & Benny Hill
On February 22 1992 the King of Pop met the King of Comedy. Benny Hill was staying at the Brompton Hospital following a heart attack when he was visited by his number one fan - Michael Jackson. They talked for half an hour, making plans for Michael to star in a future TV series of The Benny Hill Show. But it was not to be; Benny Hill died on the April 20, less than two months later. Now, exactly thirty years later a new play When Michael Met Benny is being released as a free drama podcast, imagining just what took place in that hospital room.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 19th February 2022
Never cancel a live comedy show, even if no-one's booked to see it
This morning, I was told that an act had cancelled a show at the current Leicester Comedy Festival. No-one should ever cancel any comedy show because of low or no pre-bookings - unless, perhaps, they are playing the O2 Arena and only one person has booked. In that case, perhaps the person should consider their career or their agent.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 19th February 2022
GB News host hits out at 'woke' critics for 'murdering comedy'
Talking about recent cases which have seen comedians face a backlash over certain "jokes" Darren Grimes, 28, labelled those complaining as "perpetually offended outreach mobs". The GB News presenter fumed over critics for calling out comments made on Jimmy Carr's show, in which he poked fun at the killing of travellers during the Holocaust
The Daily Express, 19th February 2022
Review: Sex, Society & Other Stupid Sh*it
As is explained in the first scene, this isn't the normal play format. In fact, it's closer to a sketch show, with short scenes following one after the other, narratively unrelated but sharing a similar theme of female positivity and honest, wholesome comedy.
Miriam Sallon, The Reviews Hub, 19th February 2022
Emily Atack: Cyber trolls send me disgusting penis pics before breakfast
Emily Atack has hit out in fury at online perverts - revealing she receives hundreds of sexually explicit messages every day.
Laura Armstrong, The Sun, 19th February 2022Videos
TV
TV & radio
11am60 min
Fighting Talk
Series 19, Episode 27Former two-weight boxing world champion Carl Frampton, sports broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd, presenter Reece Parkinson and comedian Neil Delamere join Colin Murray for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment.
9:40pm45 min
Paul Sinha's TV Showdown
Series 2, Episode 1The Chase star, stand-up and trivia genius Paul Sinha returns with the comedy quiz show, as team captains Fay Ripley and Rob Beckett are joined by guests Katherine Ryan, Denise Lewis, Gregg Wallace and Big Zuu to test their TV knowledge.