Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 226
TV preview: Fleabag, BBC Three
Why do some TV comedies work while others fail to hit the mark? Don't ask me. If I knew I'd have a better job than this. Is it the writing? Is it the casting? Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote and starred in C4 houseshare comedy Crashing and now BBC Three's Fleabag, and while the first one whiffed a bit the latest one is the real deal.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th July 2016Justin Moorhouse swaps Fringe for Rio Olympics
Comedian Justin Moorhouse has cancelled the first part of his run in Edinburgh this year as he will be covering the Olympic Games in Rio.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th July 2016Tributes following death of producer John Pidgeon
Tributes have been coming in today for John Pidgeon, who has died aged 69.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 19th July 2016Latitude review: Nish Kumar
The inevitable running gag at Latitude was Brexit. Numerous comedians had hastily fashioned routines out of the horror show of the referendum fallout. Most were clever from a cushioned, cosy white middle class perspective. Nish Kumar played a trump card. His Brexit routine hinged on an incident when he was on the receiving of post-poll racism.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th July 2016Latitude review: Mark Watson
Watson started the gig while standing in the middle of the audience - one of his trademark moves - and working his way to the stage.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th July 2016Latitude review: Bill Bailey
In a way Bailey was the perfect act to close the comedy tent on the final night.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th July 2016Latitude review: Reggie Watts
Did I mention it was excellent? By the end of his show pretty much everyone was converted. People usually get up to walk somewhere else after a Latitude comedy performance. Here they got up to give Watts a standing ovation.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th July 2016Latitude review: James Acaster
While the structure might have been altered, there were plenty of new routines here that suggest that Reset will be every bit as strong as his previous Edinburgh shows. he had a neat story about the honey business, a gripe against museum museum rubbers and his impression of a praying mantis definitely deserves an award, even if it is only Best Impersonation of a Praying Mantis.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th July 2016Latitude review: Josh Widdicombe
The Devon comic has become pretty ubiquitous on television in the last couple of years and it is easy to see why.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th July 2016Latitude review: Al Murray Pub Landlord
Al Murray is going out on a UK tour this autumn so it'll be interesting to see how he addresses an issue, given that "Back off Brussels" and a general air of mock Europhobia has been part of the Pub Landlord's act for the past two decades. Has the joke bitten him on the bum?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th July 2016