Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 227
Rarely asked questions - Doug Segal
Doug Segal is a comedy mind reader and his latest show is designed to make you feel good with a mix of tricks that will make your brain boggle and jokes that will tickle your funny bone. Apparently the Evening Standard said of him: "Imagine if Derren Brown was funny'". I don't think it was me that said it, but maybe Segal got me to say it after casting a spell on me.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Review: Fleabag, BBC Three, episode 3
There is a hint of some character development towards the end of the third episode of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's excellent series. Jogging through a graveyard Fleabag suddenly seems to see the world in a different way. Could she be heading for a happy ending?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice recommissioned
Deborah Frances-White's hit award-winning radio comedy Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice is to return to Radio 4 this autumn for a second series. Series one was the winner of Best Radio Comedy at the 2016 Writers Guild Awards.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Interview: rarely asked questions - Tommy Tiernan
Tommy Tiernan really does need no introduction. He is a Perrier Award winner, he appeared in one of the greatest-ever episodes of Father Ted and, well, you should just go and see him, simple as that. He is bringing his latest show, Out of The Whirlwind, to the Fringe this year. When I saw a version at the Soho Theatre it had everything - stories, gags, loud bits, quiet bits, angry bits, insightful bits, controversial bits. Tiernan is what you might call the real deal, he has every type of comedy screwdriver in his toolbox. Go see a master at work.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 2nd August 2016TV review: Borderline, 5
There is very little that is original about Borderline, written by Chris Gau and Mike Orton-Toliver and partly improvised by the cast, but the good news is that there are some nice performances and decent slow-burn gags.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 2nd August 2016Interview: rarely asked questions - Grainne Maguire
Grainne Maguire has had a good year.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st August 2016Rarely asked questions: Adam Kay
Adam Kay is no slouch. The former doctor will be performing two shows a day at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st July 2016Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year results
Comedian Simon Lomas has won the Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year 2016 tonight.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st July 2016Rarely asked questions: Juliette Burton
You may know the name of Juliette Burton from her outspoken comments about Protein World's Beach Body Ready adverts last year. Burton tweeted an angry response to the London Underground ads and went viral.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th July 2016Review: Fleabag, BBC Three, episode 2
It is sometimes said that you can't engage with a comedy with a lead character you can't like in some way, though that never held back Fawlty, Rigsby or Brent. And despite the fact that Fleabag is clearly messed up in umpteen ways - broken home, porn-obsessed, dead friend - she is hardly sympathetic. But gradually one does warm to her. She is fragile, damaged and just looking for love in all the wrong places. You can't really hold that against her.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 27th July 2016