Press clippings Page 18
Radio Times review
Although it manages to keep the smutty/lavatorial humour to a minimum, Jack Whitehall's exuberant reaction to solving an Only Connect puzzle makes Stephen Fry smile. "You've made a happy man very old," he sighs.
Several clips in this compilation of QI highlights have an ocular theme: Phill Jupitus tries on night vision glasses, Alan Davies a peripheral vision aid and Josh Widdecombe "railway spectacles", while Jo Brand reckons her bonnet with a monocle probably belonged to an elderly Dickensian prostitute. Plus there are some terrific "liquid larks" and scientific tricks. The one involving stroking a fake hand gets Sara Pascoe very excited indeed.
Gill Crawford, Radio Times, 31st January 2015Radio Times review
If I tell you that the expression "penal code" is enough to raise a laugh in this edition of QI and that at one stage Alan Davies is reduced to sticking his biro to his top lip for fun, you'll get the picture. It's not, I'm afraid to say, a classic. And that's despite the presence of the usually rock-solid David Mitchell, who is strangely subdued throughout.
So why watch? Well because even a sub-par, so-so QI can put a wry smile on your face and impart mildly intriguing titbits, such as the fact that a French documentary about King Edward VII's coronation featured a lavatory attendant standing in for the king.
David Butcher, Radio Times, 23rd January 2015The human labrador puppy that is Alan Davies hosts spontaneous roundtable discussions in this Dave-commissioned chat show. Circumventing the kind of smug backslapping to which the format is often prone, it's a blend of arch spontaneity and languid patter that works thanks largely to the excellent curation of guests, mostly drawn from the broadsheet/Channel 4 school of cerebral comedy - Richard Herring, Josie Long and Bill Bailey amongst them.
The Guardian, 17th January 2015Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Preview Show review
The preview show for the Leicester Comedy Festival - Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival as host Alan Davies repeatedly corrected himself - is an interesting litmus test, introducing mainly non-famous comedians to a broadly conservative crowd, albeit one acclimatised to different comedy rhythms, thanks to this annual showcase.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 10th January 2015Review: Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival preview show
As audiences go, I'm not too sure host Alan Davies was impressed with us - to start with.
Gemma Collins, Leicester Mercury, 10th January 2015The first in a new series of the show in which Alan Davies and a gang of droll types blether on around a table, unrehearsed, and settle upon the subject of the show by the end. Giving Davies's own floppy mop of hair a run for its money is Seann Walsh, joined by Holly Walsh (no relation), Jimmy Carr and Tommy Tiernan. All human life is there, from drink-driving, doing Nazi salutes to Prince Charles, falling asleep under the coats in TK Maxx and match-making for Prince Harry.
Ben Arnold, The Guardian, 6th January 2015Radio Times review
Alan Davies returns for more drink-fuelled post-pub-style chewing of fat with his comedy mates. It's a format that makes a virtue out of its lack of structure and for a lot of the time it feels like comedians showing off round a table over a host of topics from cornflakes to the royals to sharing stories about how they were sacked.
Sometimes this can lead to some decent comedy from a line-up that includes Seann Walsh, Holly Walsh, Jimmy Carr and Tommy Tiernan. The latter is especially good, especially when reflecting on the eccentricities of the Ireland of his childhood.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 6th January 2015Alan Davies: Piers Morgan is detestable
He's a fan of Arsenal, Homeland and anything with Sandra Bullock in - but he won't watch EastEnders.
Patrick Foster, Radio Times, 6th January 2015Alan Davies As Yet Untitled - Season 2 review
"We don't have any questions, or even an intro...", chuckles Alan Davies, shortly before his guests join him for the second series of As Yet Untitled. It's the show that brings together some of Britain's favourite comics for a few pints and directionless chit-chat. If you're lucky you'll hear them spill some juicy secrets from the past. If not, you're still in for an hour of unscripted comedy gold.
Jennah Dean, On The Box, 5th January 2015Radio Times review
A slumbery round of the gently filthy information exchange, livened by a shake-up in the scoring system. We're playing Lucky Losers, this being Series L, which means klaxons are good, clever right answers are to be avoided and Alan Davies has to find a new way to come last.
With L also standing for lavatory this series, the best banter focuses on bottom-wiping: there's a terrifying lesson on which leaves to avoid when caught short in a Queensland forest, while Jeremy Clarkson and Sandi Toksvig bond over the impermeability of boarding-school loo roll. If that all sounds a bit vulgar, wait until you hear what Lillie Langtry once said to Edward VII.
Jack Seale, Radio Times, 2nd January 2015