British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Thursday 9th May 2024

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Ross Noble

All-star line-ups mark Just the Tonic's thirtieth birthday

Just The Tonic proudly announces a weekend extravaganza of laughter and celebration in honour of their 30th anniversary.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 9th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose review

Inside No. 9, the series of half-hour playlets created by the demonically inventive Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, is ending after a ten-year run.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 9th May 2024
Seann Walsh

Seann Walsh interview

The comedian talks about his dysfunctional childhood, the pain of becoming a hate figure - and the healing power of dogs.

Helen Brown, i Newspaper, 9th May 2024
Andy Smart. Copyright: Steve Best

All-star tribute to Andy Smart

West End charity gig to honour the late comedian.

Chortle, 9th May 2024
Richard Herring

Richard Herring review

The stand-up sheds light on his cancer diagnosis, which has given him new perspective on life.

Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 9th May 2024
Taskmaster. Rhod Gilbert. Copyright: Avalon Television

Rhod Gilbert review

Cancer takes a beating in this glorious show.

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 9th May 2024
Richard Herring

Richard Herring review

This is his first stand-up tour in six years due to COVID, having very young children and then getting a testicular cancer diagnosis in 2021. Luckily for the audience, he is still here to give his uplifting spin on the events of this traumatic time.

Graham Hadibi-Williams, The Reviews Hub, 9th May 2024
Inside No. 9. Image shows left to right: Gerry (Reece Shearsmith), Wilma (Steve Pemberton). Credit: James Stack

Inside No. 9's Boo To A Goose is a genius rallying cry against injustice

Alan Moore once said that it's not the job of the artist to give the audience what they want, but what they need. The first episode of Inside No. 9 season 9 - titled Boo to a Goose - is one of the rare occasions when we get both.

David Craig, Radio Times, 9th May 2024
Taskmaster. Rhod Gilbert. Copyright: Avalon Television

Rhod Gilbert review

Featuring marvellous, skating-on-thin-ice crowd work, the Welsh stand-up's new show sees him on tremendous and charmingly chaotic form.

Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 9th May 2024
Joe Pasquale

Ollie Horn: Why I unironically love Joe Pasquale

I am very unironically a massive fan of Joe Pasquale. I've recently been re-watching a bunch of his old videos on YouTube, and I've found myself laughing in an entirely different way to the way I usually laugh when watching stand-up.

Ollie Horn, Chortle, 9th May 2024
Michael Palin

Monty Python stars reunite for Sir Michael Palin's birthday - with one notable absence

Sir Michael Palin has marked his 81st birthday with a Monty Python reunion - with John Cleese and Terry Gilliam joining him for a celebratory meal.

Anita Singh,, The Telegraph, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Martha Howe-Douglas ably embody Gogol's schemers, but this show doesn't hit any 21st-century targets.

The Guardian, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

The comedy simply cannot breathe.

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

Now almost 200 years old, Gogol's delicious satire springs from the corrupt politics of 1830s Russia.

David Winskill, Ham & High, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

The action is too maniacally incredible to buy into.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

Sadly, this old-fashioned farce feels as relevant today as it was when first penned, as we observe overt corruption, bribery and influence at play by those who brandish the power, with little or no regard for those whom it impacts most.

Cara Brazier, West End Best Friend, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

These energetic comic performances hold together this shallow take on Gogol's absurd satire.

Dave Fargnoli, The Stage, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

Gogol purists may come away mulling over questions of power, delusion, or some other impressive profundity. But everyone will leave with a face aching from grinning.

Lucinda Everett, What's On Stage, 9th May 2024
The Government Inspector. Image shows left to right: Martha Howe-Douglas, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Dan Skinner

The Government Inspector review

The issues with this production go beyond the script.

Mica Blackwell, Broadway World, 9th May 2024
Julian Clary

How Julian Clary and Barb Jungr met

"We both follow our hearts - and we both have psychic skills."

Maureen Paton, The Guardian, 9th May 2024
Ben Elton

Ben Elton: I'm lost when Blackadder fans quote 'rat surprise' gag

Comedy writer admits show's famous lines are lost on him because he did not watch episodes back.

The Telegraph, 9th May 2024

Review - Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back?

After six years away, the seasoned stand-up returns with a funny and touching new show chronicling his diagnosis with testicular cancer.

Stephen Armstrong, The Telegraph, 9th May 2024

Phil Ellis: I'm 42 and live with 5 other people

My London rent is only £400 a month - but I'm 42 and live with 5 other people.

Phil Ellis, Metro, 9th May 2024

On the Mic Picks: Stuart Laws

Stuart is a story teller with a high gag rate.

On The Mic, 9th May 2024

Videos

TV & radio

Radio 4 2:15pm
45 min
Hold The Sunset. Edith (Alison Steadman). Copyright: BBC

The Missed Lives Of Max And Judy

Episode 2

Max and Judy try to find a way to get over their heartbreak quickly - by wishing it away. They wake the next morning to find themselves 50 years older, having lived full lives completely separately.

BBC Radio Wales. Copyright: BBC 6:30pm
30 min
Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Kiri's Comedy Club

Series 1, Episode 6 - Stand-up in a Second Language

Kiri Pritchard-McLean hosts a roundtable with a group of comedians who all perform stand-up comedy in their second language. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Kiri's joined by Esyllt Sears, Anu Vaidyanathan, Jin Hao Li and Ignacio Lopez.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 9pm
60 min
Taskmaster. Joanne McNally

Taskmaster

Series 17, Episode 7 - Dream Date Territory

John Robins demonstrates the power of his forearms, Steve Pemberton stains his shirt with orange juice, and Sophie Willan repeatedly shouts the name of a body part in Little Alex Horne's little flustered face. Taskmaster Greg Davies has his usual task of trying to award points for things such as Nick Mohammed constructing a bottle orchestra and Joanne McNally trying to act out the word "beer".

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 10pm
65 min
Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays. Image shows left to right: Katherine Ryan, Joe Wilkinson

Joe & Katherine's Bargain Holidays

Episode 3 - Latvia

Joe Wilkinson and Katherine Ryan enjoy a low-cost city break to the affordable Latvian capital city, Riga.

BBC Radio 4 Extra 11pm
15 min
Machynlleth sign. Copyright: BBC

Comedy Club At Machynlleth

Series 3, Episode 6

Stephen Bailey speaks to Huge Davies, Esyllt Sears chats to Hannah Platt, and there's music and chat from Jonny and The Baptists.

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