Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 236
Preview, Cunk On Shakespeare, BBC2
The technique of interviewing experts while knowing less than nothing about the subject is hardly new - Ali G does casts a shadow over her straight-faced encounters - but Cunk (alias comedian Diane Morgan) is so committed to her character it is impossible not to laugh at her antics. In one memorable scene she starts playing with a banana while Simon Russell Beale delivers Hamlet's To Be Or Not To Be soliloquy a few inches away.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th May 2016Book Review: Animal by Sara Pascoe
Pascoe suggests at one point that growing up never really stops. Animal is the kind of book that everyone who is in the middle of growing up should read, so I guess that means all of us. We could all learn something from reading it. And at the same time as making us think it will make us laugh.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th May 2016Dane Baptiste, comedy review
In a brisk, wide-ranging show, Dane Baptiste establishes a serious point then peels it back to find the playful laugh within.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 4th May 2016Preview: The Windsors
The Windsors isn't going to win any awards for subtlety and the writers certainly aren't going to win any knighthoods, but if you like seeing royal poshos royally sent up this should put a smile on your face.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th May 2016Preview: Upstart Crow
Never mind Leicester winning the league, what odds would you have got on Ben Elton being funny again? But hold the front page: Elton has got his mojo back. Well, everything is relative. After his appalling The Wright Way it looked like the acclaimed comic might never make us laugh again. But he has done it with Upstart Crow, which, let's not mince words, is Blackadder Does The Bard.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th May 2016Why do some comics make it big and not others?
There are all sorts of comedians I thought would make it but for some reason or other didn't. I tipped Marc Wootton for stardom in the Evening Standard so often it started to become embarrassing. People probably thought we must be related. I also think Boothby Graffoe could have been a mainstream star. Even Addy Van Der Borgh could have been a Saturday night shiny-floored clown. But for some reason none of these people made it as big as I expected. There is still time I guess. Maybe not enough time to get to the O2 this Friday, but there is always next year.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st May 2016New comedy commissioning editor appointed at BBC
Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, has appointed producer Alex Moody to his commissioning team, replacing Chris Sussman who has moved to head up the comedy department at BBC Studios.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 27th April 2016Preview: Camping, Sky Atlantic, episodes 5 & 6
Don't be fooled by the jaunty sub-Mumfords music at the start of episode 5. Julia Davis' comedy-drama comes to a head in all sorts of horrendous ways in these last two instalments.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 26th April 2016Marcus Brigstocke, comedy review
Brigstocke used to be known for his satire, but this recent confessional detour suits him, says Bruce Dessau.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 26th April 2016David Baddiel v Mail over queen sex & toilet jokes
David Baddiel has come under fire from the Daily Mail for being responsible for a programme that made jokes about the Queen's sex life on the day of the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 25th April 2016