Matthew Kelly (I)

Full cast announced for Noises Off UK tour

Complete casting has now been revealed for the upcoming UK tour of the 40th anniversary production of Michael's Frayn's Noises Off.

Noises Off review

Frayn's immortal farce is an antidote to winter gloom.

Complete cast for Noises Off tour announced

Complete casting has been unveiled for Lindsay Posner's new touring production of Michael Frayn's quintessential farce Noises Off, celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The show will star the previously revealed Felicity Kendal (The Good Life) as Dotty Otley alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman (Friday Night Dinner]) as Belinda Blair and Matthew Kelly (The Dresser) as Selsdon Mowbray.

In praise of Benidorm, the UK's most under-rated sitcom

It's a funny old game, comedy. Steve Pemberton's critical accolades for The League of Gentleman, and BBC2's late night cult hit, Inside No 9, are legion. But you'll be hard pressed to read glowing reviews of his eight years starring in the ITV comedy Benidorm. In fact you'll be hard pressed to read anything glowing from sniffy critics about the hit sitcom, despite its millions of viewers, longevity and viewer-voted National Television Awards. In fact, one critic went so far as to describe the viewing public a "disgrace" for voting for it.

Matthew Kelly: Edinburgh Fringe 2015 interview

Matthew Kelly was half of Brian Conley in the 1990s. He's been one of our favourite acts to watch in Edinburgh and his surreal brand of humour is hitting the Fringe again this year with a late night (12.10am) show that's bound to be an unforgettable end to the day for anyone.

Radio Times review

Among this week's treats are a poolside spit-roast and a pork-gobbling contest... Now, now! Don't misconstrue. This is Benidorm but an actual pig is involved. Unfortunately it's a carcass sourced by Cyril (Matthew Kelly) from a butcher's dumpster, and the meat snarfed down is soon challenging the bowels of even the hardiest, lardiest Solana fun-seekers. This is the level of humour (and it made me snigger).

Meanwhile, Tonya insults Janice in the spa, love is in the air (and water) for Michael, and bilious Madge is being uncommonly pleasant to all - are her days really numbered? Surely, no one would be silly enough to ditch that creosoted mini-marvel, Sheila Reid.

Radio Times review

A return to form this week as Joyce takes some time off and bumps into old flame Cyril (Matthew Kelly), whose fortunes have taken a nose dive. She leaves Leslie, the normally affable transvestite, in charge of the Solana and the power instantly goes to his head - an implausible transformation, but it taps into Tim Healy's comic potential. He's never been funnier.

Meanwhile, Donald and Jacqueline take Big Donna's ashes on a last hurrah through town, and Madge has some startling news for Mick and Janice. It's a busy, farcical episode that even has room for a cameo from Janet Street-Porter.

Up-and-coming TV presenter Michael Grade explains the evolution of a peculiar British cultural institution, in a lightly festive hour that begins with our host in full make-up, wig and tent-like dress. We learn how 18th-century impresario John Rich discovered harlequin shows were ten times more lucrative than Shakespeare; then how the specifics of a man delivering double entendres as a deliberately unconvincing woman gradually fell into place.

Grade chats with Gyles Brandreth, Richard Briers and Matthew Kelly about the demands of damehood. But the star of the show is Berwick Kaler, writer, director and dame of York's famous panto. The future of the art form looks safe with him.