Press clippings Page 14
Early Man review: a gloriously funny tale
It's so important to choose the right materials for the task at hand, and when it comes to animating a pig nervously giving a back massage to a fat man in the bath, only Plasticine will do.
Robbie Collin, The Telegraph, 14th January 2018Early Man brings Brexit to the bronze age
The studio's latest stop-motion epic is a timely story about a stone age English tribe playing footie against sophisticated continentals.
Steve Rose, The Guardian, 14th January 2018Johnny Vegas interview
Johnny Vegas is Still Open to learning from Sir David​ Jason.
The Sunday Post, 24th December 2017Blackpool Express breaks Gold's ratings record
Murder On The Blackpool Express has been a ratings smash-hit for UKTV, having become the highest-ever rating show on its Gold channel. The comedy drama, starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson and a host of TV favourites has drawn in 1.72 million viewers since its premiere on Gold on 11th November.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th November 2017Penned by Hebburn writer Jason Cook, Griff Rhys Jones plays mercenary murder mystery writer David Van Der Clane, who's helming a budget coach tour of super-fans to the locations from his novels, ending up at Blackpool Tower. Except soon they're getting bumped off. There's a fine cast including Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson and Una Stubbs, but even Kevin Eldon and Mark Heap find it hard to wring out any laughs. Whodunnit? Who cares?
Ben Arnold, The Guardian, 11th November 2017I don't think I've ever seen a more impressive cast lined up for a TV comedy than the one Gold has assembled for its special one-off original commission Murder on the Blackpool Express. So I ought to namecheck them, oughtn't I?
There's Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson (best known for Peter Kay's Car Share), Nigel Havers, Una Stubbs, Griff Rhys Jones, Nina Wadia, Sheila Reid, Kevin Eldon, Mark Heap, Kimberley Nixon, Katy Cavanagh, Matthew Cottle, Susie Blake and Javone Prince. There you have them: some of the best comedic talent from the past half a century or so - and a lot for the scriptwriters and directors to live up to.
Where do you go with that lot? Well, Blackpool, obviously, on a "literary coach tour" with Vegas driving and Gibson as the guide, but also a journey of detective investigation to discover exactly which of the assembled odd bods did for pensioner Marjorie, murdered by means of a dodgy cob with coronation chicken filling. There's one clue for you. Remember: Means, Motive, Opportunity. Enjoy.
Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 11th November 2017Review: Murder on the Blackpool Express, Gold
The Christmas spirit has already started this year. Not just with the John Lewis adverts but with this comedy.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th November 2017Murder On The Blackpool Express preview
While Murder On The Blackpool Express is probably not an instant classic, the playfulness of its fine cast make it an affable diversion, and a happy slice of family viewing (9.30pm actually seems like too late a slot) that could bear many a bank holiday repeat.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 11th November 2017Murder on the Blackpool Express review
Murder on the Blackpool Express, the latest original comedy-drama from GOLD, was a nicely rambunctious Northern take on a classic multi-suspect whodunnit recently given the big-budget film treatment (again).
Jeff Robson, i Newspaper, 11th November 2017Johnny Vegas on Murder on the Blackpool Express
The actor and comedian plays Terry, a serial loser who is disenchanted with life, in the new Agatha Christie spoof.
James Rampton, The Independent, 8th November 2017