Milton Jones

Interviews: Milton Jones; Rachel Mars; Foil, Arms & Hog

Testing their jokes, how different audiences react and embracing stereotypes - three top comedians and comic acts analyse their performances.

Milton Jones: How to be a have-a-go hero

Milton Jones explains why, should you ever encounter one, taking on a bank robber isn't as easy as it looks...

Milton Jones stars in Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones! (still don't know if that exclam should be in the title, other than implied: it does a mild disservice to Jones in that he admittedly writes with exuberance and gag-a-heartbeat punning, but delivers with an unbeatable dryness). Milton, in this opener - happy Wednesday early-evening nights in the bath again for me, whew - launched a wedding business. Featuring a bride who looked the spit of Robert De Niro. It was a knowing joy to listen to the conniptions the writers had twisted themselves into to include references to I think every film in De Niro's oeuvre.

Radio Times review

What is it with comedians and getting married this week? Milton Jones "launched" his own wedding business in yesterday's show, and now Jason Cook offers advice on the things one really ought not to include in a best-man's speech - what the bride is like in bed being a prime example.

When he was writing this series, Cook posted a request on his website asking fans to send him examples of what they have done in stressful situations, so while his "advice" is funny, it stems from real mishaps.

Radio Times review

The English language receives a shakedown as Milton Jones exercises his word play to left-field extremes that make Lewis Carroll seem tame. Sometimes it is a simple description - like calling a church "a huge stone refrigerator" - that sets his mind wandering. But when he starts playing with the sound and meaning of words, the fun really starts.

In this opening episode he decides to launch a wedding business, but for Jones a groom is someone who works with horses, not a husband-to-be. The comic and dramatic support from Tom Goodman-Hill, as Milton's long-suffering flatmate, is invaluable and there are some particularly fine moments in a running theme about the bride looking like Robert De Niro. Their attempts to work De Niro film titles into every conversation with her are superb.

Milton Jones: I've paid my kids to come up with jokes

His mum wasn't keen on gigs at the back room of pubs but Milton Jones won his parents over with comedy sets on Radio 4.

Milton Jones returns to Radio 4

Milton Jones is returning to Radio 4 - less than two years after the channel axed his last show - as a Good Samaritan-style problem solver.

Jack Dee heads another strong line-up in the stand-up showcase, his deadpan patter more than holding its own against the binge-drinking riffing of observational comedian Seann Walsh and a barrage of witty snippets from Milton Jones, acknowledged master of the one-liner. The only problem is, the 30-minute running time feels a bit rushed - this is one show that deserves some extra time to play with.

Radio Times review

As Jack Dee reminds us, he hosted the first two series of this show introducing all sorts of comedians who have now become household names. "I can't tell you how much I regret that... seeing people overtake you," he adds, shaking his head bitterly. He shouldn't worry. His patter is as sharp, self-deprecating and drily funny as ever.

Valiantly attempting to follow Dee's set is Seann Walsh, who riffs on the perils of binge-drinking, and Milton Jones, who wears such a loud shirt he actually doesn't need to say a word to get the audience falling about laughing. However, every single one of his jokes is terrific: his definition of Caucasian and his messy afternoons with ducks, pigs and other animals will make you guffaw - but never again will you end a phone call with "I'll let you go".

Milton Jones interview

Milton Jones on working on a sitcom, appearing in Downton Abbey and how high his hair needs to be for a thick audience