British Comedy Guide

David Stubbs (II)

  • Journalist

Press clippings Page 3

The warming series continues as the comedians wend further along the River Wensum, catching the odd sprat, exchanging anecdotes - including one involving Chaka Khan - and giving vent to their anxiety about the onset of age. Tonight, they stay in a disused train station and Paul has a makeover to recapture his lost youth.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 11th July 2018

Created by Jamie Demetriou (and co-written by Robert "Friday Night Dinner" Popper), this new comedy set in the lettings agency world looks highly promising. Demetriou stars as Stath, desperate to prove himself to his Greek-Cypriot father but hampered by his incompetence and impulsive behaviour, which tonight includes borderline physical assault on a client. Much of the comedy rings all too true, particularly on the subject of the dismal state of London properties to let for the thick end of two grand.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 27th June 2018

Ah, the joy; the return of Robert Popper's always very funny sitcom about a Jewish family's ever-thwarted efforts to settle down for a customary Friday-night meal. Tonight, Mark Heap excels himself as oddball neighbour Jim, who has somehow managed to secure himself a date. He saddles the Goodmans with his enigmatic dog Wilson, about whose dietary habits we learn a little. All this eats into the quality time the parents, if not their sons, had hoped to spend in their new hot tub.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 4th May 2018

This week, our genial host chats with the stars of new movie Rampage, Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris. Martin Freeman discusses his role in the upcoming Brit horror anthology Ghost Stories, while Who vocalist and Brexit enthusiast Roger Daltrey performs his new single.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 13th April 2018

The fourth in this amiably anachronistic series set in ancient Rome begins with the humorously sudden death of a key character, crushed by a stone on the construction site of "Number One, The Forum" - the project of Robert Lindsay's smooth, prattling property developer. Marcus (Tom Rosenthal) makes a lame bid for compensation as Ryan Sampson's Grumio eats his way through his grief. But then Jason (Jonathan Pointing), the builder responsible for the accident, enters their lives.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 9th April 2018

Aidan Gillen stars in this thoughtfully constructed biopic of the Irish comedian. It skims swiftly over his celebrity years, though it is interspersed with recreations of some of his sketches and monologues. Instead, it explores the roots of his religious scepticism (sadistic nuns) and his relationships with his father and brother.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 2nd April 2018

Feelings of loss surrounding Bruce Forsyth are assuaged by this reboot, with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins hosting two episodes reviving the 70s gameshow. Families compete in plate-spinning and teapot-throwing challenges, with Lorraine Kelly, Richard Osman and Martin Kemp acting as celebrity insurance.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 1st April 2018

It's the last episode in what has been an excellent series, so much so that it gets away with having a 31-year-old (Nicola Coughlan) playing a 16-year-old (Clare Devlin). Tonight, though, it's Erin who comes to the fore, desperate for a juicy exclusive for the school magazine. This arrives in the form of a lesbian scandal. Sister Michael, however, played with wonderfully dry cynicism by Siobhan McSweeney, puts the mockers on that. A lovely finale, tinged with a bitter reminder of the Troubles against which it is set.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 8th February 2018

The last instalment of this generally fine series is sadly not its best episode. It's a supernatural tale of a dead hoarder and the council contractors sent to go through his belongings, carrying the slightly trite message: "Be careful what you wish for." Still, it does feature Nigel Planer, no longer a Young One, alas.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 6th February 2018

Apart from a slightly improbable precocity about the performances of the schoolgirls of its title, Lisa McGee's sitcom, set in Ireland in the mid-90s at the tail end of the Troubles, is highly engaging, bristlingly funny stuff. This week, they are particularly on edge having been up all night studying for an exam. However, a dubious case of an "apparition" affords them the chance to get out of the exam and spend quality theological time with the dishy Father Peter.

David Stubbs, The Guardian, 18th January 2018

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