Isobel Lewis
- Journalist
Press clippings Page 10
The damaging ripple effect of the cancelled Fringe
Last year, 3,841 Edinburgh Fringe shows were performed across the space of a month. This year there were none. Isobel Lewis explores the impact of the loss of the Fringe.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 19th August 2020John Cleese attacks 'ignorant' critics
"Instead of having 'critics' who can't themselves direct, write, act, sing, dance or claim any other kind of expertise, would we not get superior commentary from people who can? Why should artistic criticism from untalented people be preferred to that of outstandingly talented ones," he questioned, suggesting that performers were "less envious than critics", who are "astonishingly ignorant about process".
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 29th July 2020There She Goes series 2 review
It's not always an easy watch, but on its new home on BBC Two, There She Goes deserves to be seen.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 9th July 2020Michaela Coel: Chewing Gum incident like 'slave ship'
Coel recalled one particular moment on the first day on set in which five of the show's black cast members were forced to share a trailer while a white actor had one to herself, comparing the scene to "a f***in' slave ship".
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 6th July 2020Netflix remove Peep Show scene containing blackface
The scene, which appears in the season two episode "Dance Class", first aired in 2004 and sees Jez (p]Robert Webb]) try to impress love interest Nancy (Rachel Blanchard) by breaking "sexual taboos", including wearing blackface. Jez questions the ethics of wearing blackface, saying that it "feels almost wrong" before asking: "Are you sure this isn't racist?", leading Nancy to reply: "We're breaking a taboo, of course, it feels wrong" and later add: "Jeremy, I come from America. I've seen the problems race brings up." The scene has been cut from the Mitchell and Webb sitcom on Netflix, but is yet to be removed from Channel 4's own catch-up service All4.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 29th June 2020Armando Iannucci warns of terrifying future for arts
The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci has warned that the coronavirus crisis may destroy the UK's cultural landscape if the government doesn't offer financial support to save it.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 9th June 2020Andrew Scott took Fleabag role to stop being typecast
Actor Andrew Scott has revealed that his desire to play the Hot Priest in Fleabag was partly influenced by wanting to shake off his bad guy image. Prior to his Golden Globe-nominated turn in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's series, Scott was best known for playing Jim Moriarty opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock.
Isobel Lewis, The Independent, 8th May 2020