Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 228
Review: English Comedian of the Year, Udderbelly
The second comedy competition in two nights, following Old Comedian of the Year, was another mix of very familiar and less familiar names, with only one act cropping up twice. If nothing else this shows that there are lots of talented stand-ups around. And a lot that want to win competitions.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th July 2016English Comedian of the Year 2016 results
Josh Pugh has been crowned English Comedian of the Year 2016. He topped a field of 12 comedians performing at the final at the Udderbelly in London. Andrew Maxwell was the compere.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th July 2016Live Review: Old Comedian of the Year
Strictly speaking this should be called Middle Aged Comedian of the Year. Most of the the acts were young enough to be the offspring of feisty, filthy 82-year-old compere Lynn Ruth Miller.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th July 2016Old comedian of the year 2016 results
Posh "Freelance adventurer" Jasper Cromwell Jones, alias stand-up Joe Bor, is the winner of this year's Old Comedian of the Year competition.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd July 2016How Caroline Aherne made northern comedy universal
For me, and maybe for many others, Caroline Aherne will always be inextricably linked with the north. The umpteen obituaries and tributes have quite rightly placed her in lineage tying together Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett and a plethora of great often working class northern stand-up comedians. Aherne had a way with language that was both heightened and naturalistic. And, of course, while she had those ties with the north she was universally loved. The Royle Family changed the sitcom landscape.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd July 2016Fringe preview: Sofie Hagen
I don't know how nervous performers get but I get pretty nervous sitting in the audience. Particularly when it is a relatively unknown comedian doing a free gig in a large venue that they hadn't initially planned to play. This was what happened to Sofie Hagen last year when there was a last minute venue switch.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st July 2016Comedy Knights finalists announced
The finalists have been announced for this year's Comedy Knights Fresh Comedian of 2016.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st July 2016Fringe preview: Beth Vyse
One of the most memorable shows in Edinburgh last summer was Beth Vyse's As Funny As Cancer.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th June 2016Line up for English Comedian of the Year final
The line-up has been announced for this year's English Comedian of the Year Grand Final.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2016Fringe preview: Stewart Lee
These are dark days indeed. David Bowie dead, Brexit and the BBC not recommissioning Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle. It is precisely at times like this that we need Lee on a major mainstream platform.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th June 2016