BCG Daily Wednesday 14th June 2023

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Features

BCG Pro

Press clippings

My culture fix: Adam Kay

The author lets us into his cultural life.

Adam Kay, The Times, 14th June 2023

The Fringe: The new obsession with self-obsession is no ticket for great comedy

Kate Copstick fears the comedy at this year's Fringe just won't be funny or bold enough given the new obsession with self-obsession.

Kate Copstick, The Scotsman, 14th June 2023

The comedian exploring English perceptions of Scotland

There can't be that many stand-ups who worry about getting tangled up in 19th-century Church of Scotland policy beefs when writing their Edinburgh shows - but Kieran Hodgson isn't your bog-standard comedian.

Ashley Davies, The National (Scotland), 14th June 2023

How Russell Brand swapped mainstream comedy for alt-right conspiracy theories and misinformation

What does he really believe?

Sarah Manavis, Prospect Magazine, 14th June 2023

The Full Monty review

Wacky plots, endlessly irritating characters and a distinct lack of stripping - this Disney+ series isn't a patch on the film.

Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 14th June 2023

The Full Monty review

Warning: contains no nudity! This TV sequel is a politically enraged portrait of a community fighting back under siege.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 14th June 2023

Gina Yashere: 'I was terrified some unscrupulous people would try to out me'

Gina Yashere overcame sexism, racism and homophobia to become a success in comedy, but she had to move to the United States to do it.

Jane Graham, The Big Issue, 14th June 2023

WGGB joins Global Day of Solidarity in support of WGA strike

The Writers' Guild of Great Britain will today join writers and other workers around the world for 'Screenwriters Everywhere', a global day of solidarity and action. The WGGB protest takes place in London's Leicester Square from 1-2pm. WGGB President Sandi Toksvig OBE and WGGB Chair Lisa Holdsworth will come together with fellow writers including Jack Thorne, Russell T Davies, Alice Nutter and Simon Beaufoy, Dennis Kelly and many more in a show of solidarity from the UK.

Writers' Guild of Great Britain, 14th June 2023

The Vicar Of Dibley. Geraldine Grainger (Dawn French). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Dawn French revives Dibley character to perform a moving 'eulogy' at a 'living funeral' for a friend

Dawn's friend, CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga, 37, is living with stage four terminal breast cancer, and organised the ceremony so that she could be 'drunk on love and gratitude' for the people who surround her.

Rebecca Lawrence, Daily Mail, 14th June 2023

Adam Riches: The Beakington Town Hall Murders review

Riches' impeccable comedic timing was on full display throughout the entire production from start (as the audience entered the auditorium), until the very end.

Alan Stuart Malin, North West End UK, 14th June 2023

Dough: David Lescot's play weighs a man's life in his bank balance

We follow our loser hero from tooth fairy credits to funeral debts in a comedy of financial errors exploring money as a transactional link through all relationships.

Kim Willsher, The Guardian, 14th June 2023

5 Edinburgh Comedy Award winners returning to Scotland's capital in August

This week saw the release of the programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - with a huge 3,013 shows to choose from.

David Hepburn, The Scotsman, 14th June 2023

Staged. Image shows from L to R: David (David Tennant), Michael (Michael Sheen). Copyright: BBC / Simon Ridgeway

Staged, Series 3 review

Like Zoom, Sheen and Tennant's sitcom should have stayed in lockdown.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 14th June 2023

The Full Monty review

Less stripping, more social commentary.

Carol Midgley, The Times, 14th June 2023

Crackanory. Paul Whitehouse. Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Paul Whitehouse's ex 'targeted' by Mirror papers after cancer diagnosis

Fiona Wightman claims she was "door-stepped" and had her phone hacked by Mirror Group Newspapers in the 1990s.

Tom Symonds, BBC, 14th June 2023

James Acaster set for rearranged homecoming gig

Kettering-born Acaster will perform at Wicksteed Park in the town between 29th November and 1st December.

Kris Holland, BBC, 14th June 2023

Abigail's Party review

This London Classic Theatre production is extremely well cast, designed, directed and presented. It is just let down a little by the piece itself, with the script feeling dated and inconsequential. It isn't quite weighty enough to be classed as a drama, and isn't funny enough to be considered a comedy As a curio of its time its fine, but otherwise there are probably better parties to go to.

Mark Clegg, The Reviews Hub, 14th June 2023

Ed Patrick interview

'Someone collapsed during one of my podcast shows.' Anaesthetist and comedian tells his about his dual life as a purveyor of both gas and gags.

Kevin Ibbotson-Wight, The Wee Review, 14th June 2023

Philipp Kostelecky interview

'It's a show about love, family, and pancakes.' We spoke to comedian Philipp Kostelecky about his debut hour Daddy's Home.

Kevin Ibbotson-Wight, The Wee Review, 14th June 2023

The Inbetweeners. Image shows from L to R: Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Will Mackenzie (Simon Bird), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison), Jay Cartwright (James Buckley). Copyright: Bwark Productions

Joe Thomas says US Inbetweeners failed because they didn't cast "weirdos"

"I'm not surprised it didn't work."

Adam Starkey, NME, 14th June 2023

Scalextric - Mr Bean Mini, Do-It-Yourself review

Cult classic comedy Mr. Bean enjoys a wide variety of iconic, often-repeated skits, thanks in part to its reliance on slapstick, clownish humour. One of the most striking scenes comes from the episode 'Do-It-Yourself', in which the titular Mr. Bean straps an armchair to the top of an Austin Citron Green BL Mini 1000 and steers the car via the roof. Those lovely folk of Scalextric have decided to celebrate this gloriously silly piece of TV with the C4334 Mr. Bean Mini - Do It Yourself pack.

Ed Fortune, Starburst Magazine, 14th June 2023