British Comedy Guide

Alison Graham

Press clippings Page 16

There have been some proper magic moments during the most recent run of the peerless Graham Norton Show, and you can relive them all in this compilation.

Probably the biggest moment was the Fresh Prince of Bel Air reunion when Will Smith, with son Jaden, introduced Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton in the show, to dance to "It's Not Unusual". It became a monster YouTube hit. And Star Trek: Into Darkness stars Chris Pine and Benedict Cumberbatch were good value when they hugged devoted audience members who'd travelled from as far as Japan just to see them on the show. Now that's love.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 5th July 2013

We learn more about the unconventional relationship between the poised, self-possessed Rowan and her married lover Tommy (Celia Imrie and Larry Lamb) as Stewart Harcourt's likeable family drama continues. Their love is tested by a family crisis, when Rowan's troubled granddaughter decides she must track down her mother. None of this runs particularly deep, but Love and Marriage rolls along nicely, and Imrie and Lamb are an engaging couple.

As a family barbecue and camping trip unfold, all of the Paradises get together for a party. It's a noisy occasion, but truths emerge as their various family lives begin to take divergent paths.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 26th June 2013

It would be churlish not to mention that Henry Cavill looks very commanding in Superman's blue tights, if the trailer for the big summer blockbuster Man of Steel is any guide. You might also remember the Jersey-born actor looking good in a doublet and hose as smouldering Charles Brandon in The Tudors.

But it's Man Of Steel, where he dons the cape as the titular superhero, which is set to make Cavill an international star after years as a jobbing actor (he once guest-starred in Midsomer Murders).

It's a big, noisy affair, full of big, noisy special effects as wicked General Zod returns to capture the Earth. Naturally only one man can save us all, and the job appears to require him to remove his shirt a lot. Also on the sofa tonight is Cavill's Man of Steel co-star, the eternally sunny Russell Crowe.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 14th June 2013

The Last Tango in Halifax effect

"Older people in dramas are no longer merely endearingly dotty characters who exist solely for their comic possibilities"

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 12th June 2013

Fans of Modern Family will recognise one of the conceits here: husbands and wives sitting on sofas, chatting amicably directly to camera. But Love and Marriage isn't Modern Family. In fact, judging by this first episode, I'm not quite sure what it is. Maybe it's down to the uneven tone. It begins so breezily you think, maybe this is a comedy.

Or even a comedy drama as the interwoven lives of the Paradise family slosh across the screen amid much shouting and laughter. Forbearing matriarch Pauline (Alison Steadman) is retiring from her job as a school lollipop lady and she's expected to fade quietly away. Then, suddenly, Love and Marriage becomes something else altogether, and there's a dash of Last Tango in Halifax and a daub of tragedy. Still, it's intriguing enough to make you want to return.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 5th June 2013

This low-key sitcom set in a job centre potters along to its penultimate episode and yet again nothing much happens, though it remains mildly diverting and good-hearted. The terrible Angela (Jo Enright) buys a new coffee machine with lottery winnings, while sweet-natured Karl (Russell Tovey) falls for a minx of a barmaid who also turns out to be a claimant. And she likes taking risks, as he finds out to his mortification.

Meanwhile, manager Trish (Sarah Hadland) is doing appraisals, which means she insists on close proximity to her employees...

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 3rd June 2013

Britain lost one of its most cherished talents when Les Dawson died of a heart attack in 1993, aged just 62. He had been due to record An Audience with... two weeks later; now, thanks to the wonders of technology, a version of Dawson will at last "present" the show after 20 years.

ITV promises a television first: a "staggeringly realistic" 3D holographic projection of the comic. Friends Bruce Forsyth, Terry Wogan and Ken Dodd recall their memories and, courtesy of Dawson's widow Tracy, there's treasured family-video footage of Dawson with his daughter Charlotte, who was only eight months old when her father died.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 1st June 2013

RT columnist and recent Bafta nominee Sarah Millican really knows how to prey on our deepest fears as she mines through to the heart of what humanity is all about. No, not really, she's just a good laugh. She unplugs her toaster at night because she worries that it might "toast the air" and is constantly engaged in a wordless battle with exercise equipment in this film of her hugely successful stage show.

The gags are delivered with Millican's patented sly warmth so even the mucky bits can't possibly offend. As always, Millican is the naughty auntie you always wished for.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 31st May 2013

When he was at Cambridge University, bookish Hugh Dennis was nicknamed "Desk Dennis" by his fellows because he was so serious about his studies. To this day Dennis is a quietly thoughtful rather than raucous comedian. So it's unsurprising that his comedy hero is the resolutely unshowbizzy Ronnie Barker.

In parallel with events in his own career, Dennis looks at Barker's life. He meets actress Dame Eileen Atkins, who got to know Barker during his days in rep, and there's a nice chat with Christopher Biggins about Porridge, which "almost made me want to go to prison," says Dennis.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 26th May 2013

The best guests sit on Norton's sofa and tonight's line-up is all Hollywood glitter. Big, smiley Bradley Cooper is a Norton regular who's always great fun - who can forget him flirting outrageously with Jo Brand? He's with Heather Graham to promote another of his Hangover films.

Will Smith did the unimaginable and eclipsed Sir Tom Jones last time he appeared when he did the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rap with Gary Barlow. Tonight he's with son Jaden (the pair star together in After Earth), while Michael Douglas will be talking about his latest role as Liberace.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 24th May 2013

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