Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 249
Altitude 2016 names announced
Names confirmed include Jim Jefferies, Sean Lock, Michael Mittermeier, Stephen K Amos, Daniel Sloss, Luisa Omielan, Abandoman, Sofie Hagen, Phil Nichol, Jamali Maddix, Alfie Brown, Kai Humphries, Andre Vincent, Forrest Shaw, Jenny Bede, Matt Reed, Amy Howerska and The International Impro Allstars.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st October 2015Interview: rarely asked questions - Mitch Benn
Mitch Benn is a busy man. Very busy. When not on the radio doing his own shows or topical songs on The Now Show, the Liverpool-born comedian is often on tour. When he's not on the radio or on tour he is writing books. He has not one but two successful novels under his belt, Terra and Terra's World. And when he is not doing any of this things he is quite possibly watching Dr Who.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th October 2015TV preview: Together, BBC3, episode 3
It's hard to decide what I like the most about Together. Alex MacQueen's inspired performance as pedantic dad-he-was-born-to-play Ashley? Vicki Pepperdine's fussy trapped-in-her-marriage mum Lesley or Jonny Sweet's starring role as Tom, the man-child trying to woo Ellen (Cara Theobold).
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th October 2015Film review: Aaaaaaaah!
One thing is certain. You won't see another film like Aaaaaaaah! this year. Or, probably, any year. And not just because Steve Oram's directorial debut has no dialogue except for ape-like grunts, but also because it features Toyah Willcox having a shit in a kitchen and Noel Fielding getting his knob gobbled in a seedy cameo.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th October 2015TV review: QI, BBC2
Judging from this episode QI may certainly survive when Sandi Toksvig takes over, but it will be a different animal. I guess in the same way the dynamic between Hislop, Merton and Deayton had to change when Deayton left Have I Got News For You, so the relationship beween Davies and the new host will be recalibrated. On Twitter when the news broken Davies tweeted: "A Dane you say? We'll all have pastries and jumpers and it'll be shot in black & white."
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th October 2015Jessie Cave, comedy review
Jessie Cave's narcissism is so ridiculous it has excellent comedic value, says Bruce Dessau.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 15th October 2015TV review: Cradle To Grave, BBC2, Episode 7/8
I must admit I thought that Cradle to Grave might not have traded so much on being sentimental and a nostalgiafest, given Baker's obvious sophisticated wit and intelligence. But the former NME writer has gone for a populist touch here and it does work fantastically well. And Peter Kay, of course, certainly has the mainstream touch as amiable rogue Spud, which makes him pretty well cast.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th October 2015Opinion: ...or maybe comedy courses are worth doing
The recent blog post by Jay Islaam questioning the wisdom of doing comedy courses suggested that maybe they are not worth doing. He made some good points, but the answer, however, is not as simple as that.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 14th October 2015Rarely Asked Questions - Jonny Sweet
Jonny Sweet's new romantic comedy series Together continues on BBC Three. Please watch it, it is brilliant, Sweet is brilliant and it also features a lot of other brilliant comedy faces.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 13th October 2015Interview: rarely asked questions - Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones Presents The Herbert In Proper Job was one the shows that I saw in Edinburgh this year that restored my faith in the power of comedy.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th October 2015