Alun Cochrane

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Toby, Gary Delaney and Alun Cochrane.

Alun Cochrane interview

He's enjoyed success in front of millions on TV panel shows, but when it comes to stand-up, comedian Alun Cochrane prefers intimate venues.

Alun Cochrane: (Me Neither) - The Lowry, Salford

For a comedian so strongly marketed and reported as a miserabilist, Alun Cochrane is much more jovial than his reputation would lead one to expect. His deadpan delivery is betrayed by the obvious delight he takes in shocking the audience with a well-crafted punchline or near-the-knuckle satire.

Radio Times review

Chris Addison and Jo Joyner leave behind The Thick of It and EastEnders respectively and make a left turn. They come together to star in a romcom about a young-ish couple in Kendal, who are bearing up after her recent affair and attempting to rebuild their relationship.

The premise is meant to make Trying Again edgier and more emotional than comedy dramas like Stella and Mount Pleasant, which it resembles on the surface. This doesn't come through much in these first two episodes, since they're too busy being funny: writer Simon Blackwell fills them with strong gags and neat plotting (the callback pay off at the end of episode one is a killer), while Alun Cochrane, Elizabeth Berrington and Alex MacQueen are all on form as cartoonish, traditional-sitcom supporting characters.

The show's identity problem scarcely matters. In particular, Joyner is a revelation as the funny, energetic foil to Addison's nervous, cowardly weed. A new comedy star is born.

The Alternative Comedy Experience

I am looking forward to Series 2 of this show but in the meantime, I will be looking out for names like David Kay, Alun Cochrane and Bridget Christie in particular, as these new names stood out for me.

Alun Cochrane's Fun House given Radio 4 series

Alun Cochrane has been given a series by Radio 4, the BBC has confirmed.

First in the line-up on Radio 4 Extra is a new series of Arthur Smith's Balham Bash in which Smith presents music and comedy from his south London abode. When I tuned in, singer Katie Melua was hanging out in the kitchen, while Alun Cochrane offered a slice of stand-up from the landing at the top of the stairs. The laidback Smith took on something of a Jools Holland role as he strolled around introducing his guests and invited the listener to join the party.

Interview: Patrick Turpin (Leeds Comedy Festival)

Last week saw the official launch for Laughter Lines Comedy Festival in Leeds, and the full line up has now been announced with comic heavyweights such as Brendon Burns, Paul Foot and Alun Cochrane all performing. The festival is the brainchild of Leeds University student Patrick Turpin, who set up Laughter Lines to try and bring the best of local, national and international talent to a new audience in Leeds at an affordable price. Pete Starr caught up with Turpin to talk about the inception of the festival.

Alun Cochrane interview

"I'd much rather be the funny man who doesn't tell jokes." An interview with storytelling stand-up and down-to-earth Yorkshireman Alun Cochrane.