Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 93
Review: Not Going Out
Well I guess if one sitcom title sums up 2020 it's this one. And they've given us a sort of socially distanced lockdown episode to see out the old year and see in the new (albeit a day early) with the entire cast including Bobby Ball all in one room throughout the special.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th December 2020Review: Billy Connolly & Micky Flanagan documentaries
It's been a good festive season for comedy documentaries, particularly if you like your comedians with long flowing hair. Christmas has been bookended for me by two docs about two fantastic comedians who are among the best in the game. In the case of Billy Connolly, probably the best. Though Micky Flanagan is certainly no slouch either.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th December 2020Preview: Pandemonium - Christmas Special 2020, BBC One
It seems a bit presumptious that this one-off comedy is billed as a Christmas special on the BBC website. It makes it sound as if it is following on from a hit series. But on the positive side Pandemonium feels so instantly accessible and so well-rounded that it could easily be following on from a hit series.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th December 2020Preview: QI - Rejoice! A Christmas Special, BBC Two
Sandi Toksvig returns to host a festive edition of QI based around the letter R, so let's all Rejoice!
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 23rd December 2020TV preview: Mock The Week Christmas special
You can be sure to get some much needed laughs from the Mock The Week episode airing on Monday night.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2020Christmas books: The Problem with Men, Richard Herring
One can imagine academics spending years to come to pretty much the same conclusion without being anywhere near as funny.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2020Campaign to make Stewart Lee song 1st No. 1 of 2021
Music group Asian Dub Foundation have hatched a plan to make their single, Comin' Over Here, featuring a guest appearance from Stewart Lee, the UK's first No.1 single of 2021 - the moment the reality of Brexit might really hit home.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2020Christmas books: Inside No. 9 The Scripts Series 1 - 3
It's worth noting that the scripts here are the shooting scripts. Some lines had to be cut when episodes overran so you get the treat of reading words that never appeared on screen. There is even a different ending to 'Diddle Diddle Dumpling' which was never broadcast.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2020Taskmaster podcast to return in 2021
After reaching 1.5 million downloads with its debut series, the official Taskmaster podcast is set to launch a second series in the new year hosted by Series 9 Taskmaster Champion Ed Gamble.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2020Bill Bailey hot favourite to win Strictly
All online bookmakers currently have Bailey and his dancing partner Oti Mabuse as odds-on favourites to win the 2020 competition. Most currently have Bailey at 4/5 or 8/11 on. There are three other finalists. HRVY is 15/8. Maisie Smith is 13/2. Jamie Laing is 66/1.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th December 2020