British Comedy Guide
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Michael Ball

  • English
  • Singer

Press clippings Page 2

After 14 series of banishing the horrors of modern life into Room 101, the world should, theoretically, be an altogether marvellous place by now, free of all annoyances and populated almost entirely by kittens. So what a pity that Room 101 isn't real. Still, we can dream.

Competing to consign their personal pet hates to oblivion in this week's surprisingly controversial instalment are Caroline Quentin, Michael Ball and comedian Henning Wehn. Henning is German, and if you didn't know that before the start of this episode you certainly will once it gets going. Perhaps that's why he has the brass neck to attack a cornerstone of British life - fundraising.

What's even more surprising is that he's doing it at primetime on the BBC, home of Children In Need, Comic Relief and Sport Relief. If Henning had his way, Pudsey Bear would be on the dole.

And speaking of bears, just wait till you see one of the props that Frank is modelling tonight - it's one of the daftest ever.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 31st January 2014

The laugh-per-half-hour quota is guaranteed to stay steady with crooner Michael Ball and one-woman comfort blanket Caroline Quentin trying not to be upstaged by comedy German Henning Wehn. While Quentin attempts to banish control pants into the legendary room, Wehn goes straight for the jugular with fundraising. And don't get him started on the royal family. Ball, meanwhile, can't stand being showered with soft toys. "You want to toughen up your image," suggests Henning as the heart of many a fan breaks.

Hannah Verdier, The Guardian, 31st January 2014

Steven Toast as James Bond? Why not? He's only got Michael Fassbender and Nigel Havers for competition, after all. This audition, like so many others, sees Matt Berry's titular luvvie misjudging the mood somewhat. But there are even greater problems in store when a poker game with Andrew Lloyd Webber turns nasty. With Webber's universally feared enforcer Michael Ball (played here by Michael Ball) on his tail and a gay porn voiceover to complete, Toast's on his uppers.

Still, there's always some way that things can get worse... This first series comes to an end with lots of blood and finally, a glimpse of Toast's terrible play. By and large, it's been a delight: a tour de force of virtuosic vocal and physical comedy and the kind of relentless, off-the-cuff daftness that can only be the result of meticulous planning and dedication. Encore!

Phil Harrison, Time Out, 24th November 2013

The last time R&B superstar Rihanna was on a Jonathan Ross chat show, back in December 2009, the host compared her low-cut dress to a curtain. Hopefully Ross will behave a little more suavely tonight as he talks to the Barbadian about her current musical projects and her appearance alongside Liam Neeson in a soon-to-be-released Hollywood blockbuster called Battleship. Further down the bill, there's an interview with Lionel Richie, while Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball will discuss their popular revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeny Todd, currently showing in the West End.

The Telegraph, 2nd March 2012

Very slightly disappointing guests this week, although Lee Mack's team does manage to accommodate the widely differing talents of beaming West End musical star Michael Ball and sulphurous TV grump Charlie Brooker. Both are good value (Ball even makes a sly joke about drugs), but on David Mitchell's team Trinny Woodall and Reece Shearsmith seem, well, out of sorts. No matter. This show has no problem overcoming the handicap of less-than-sparkling guests to deliver a half-hour of laughs. Tonight the flights of fancy (or are they brute facts?) include Shearsmith's alleged spell working in a themed funeral parlour and Brooker's claim that he pretended to a girlfriend for six years that he was partially deaf. But crucially, do three members of the cabinet subscribe to David Mitchell's Twitter feed? And, if so, who are they? You'll have to watch to find out.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 28th September 2009

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