Press clippings Page 35
Women changing direction continues as a theme in French and Saunders (Radio 2, 5pm), with the comedy duo tackling radio for the first time in the first of three specials blending music, chat and humour. There are some promising-sounding features in the show. Someone and Their Mum is self-explanatory and a fine idea: first guest is Miranda Hart and her mum.
Elisabeth Mahoney, The Guardian, 24th December 2010I met Ronnie Corbett once. It was during my time as a gossip columnist on this paper. I spotted him at a party and, somewhat starstruck, decided to approach and introduce myself. He was all right, I suppose, though not terribly polite. He didn't, he sniffed, read The Independent. More of a Telegraph man (must be the jokes). Anyway, he's 80 now, and BBC2 has devoted a few hours of scheduling to the occasion. First up was a rerun of The Two Ronnies Christmas Special from 1984, and then Being Ronnie Corbett, a fawning programme of dedications. We got Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Catherine Tate and Michael Palin, Miranda Hart, Rob Brydon, Stephen Merchant, and Bill Bailey. Even Bruce Forsyth put in an appearance. They all heaped praise on him, and deservedly so. After all, it wasn't them he was rude to at a party, was it? And he's jolly funny, or used to be, back in the day. Repeated clips of The Frost Report and The Two Ronnies were testimony to that. His more recent stuff, less so. That Extras sketch is great, of course - "a bit of whiz, you know? To blow away the cobwebs" - but, really, Ronnie, Little Britain? "I was just grateful to be included," was his explanation. And, to be honest, I believe him. This is a man whose raison d'ĂȘtre has been making people laugh; of course, he wants to keep up with the times. Why else would he agree to cuddle a half-naked Lucas in the least funny show on television?
Alice-Azania Jarvis, The Independent, 24th December 2010The BBC is onto a good thing by celebrating this comedy legend while he's still very much alive and kicking. National treasures are usually whored out by broadcasters until every last drop of funny (and money) has been squeezed out of them, or ignored until they've passed away.
With its subject still in the land of the living, the mood of the programme was celebratory and jovial, with Corbett himself appearing as the star talking head. Of course there was plenty of retrospect as he looked back over his career, but the fact remains that Ronnie has clearly retained all his faculties and is still a very funny man.
For those who enjoy analysing and dissecting comedy - as opposed to merely laughing at it - it was a sweet little study of what makes this man so funny. His height (or lack thereof) is, of course, a major factor, but his natural talent is undeniable.
Corbett looked back fondly and honestly on his long career, with the help of more fashionable comedians like Stephen Merchant and Rob Brydon. Happily, given the many programmes the BBC is dedicating to him over Christmas, he suffers neither from the startling arrogance, nor from the false modesty that seems to afflict so many stars.
It's true that his particular style of comedy isn't to modern tastes and the old clips will look like camp variety acts to young eyes, but with everyone from Miranda Hart to Bill Bailey claiming to have been inspired by The Two Ronnies, it's hard to deny their appeal.
Given the insight promised by the title Being Ronnie Corbett, it's tempting to make a Ronnie-esque joke about what the weather's like down there for the vertically challenged comedian, but I won't. That doesn't count...
He's the man they turned to when Brucey was too ill to present Strictly. He was caught taking drugs in Extras and entertained Bubbles DeVere in Little Britain. This year, to mark his 80th birthday, he'll have his own Christmas Day sketch show. Yes, it can only be unlikely national treasure Ronnie Corbett, the short comedian with the long career, charted here with loving input from his hordes of admirers including Miranda Hart, Rob Brydon, Stephen Merchant, Matt Lucas and Michael Palin.
David Butcher, Radio Times, 23rd December 2010What could be more festive than an old-fashioned light entertainment special? Apart from Santa eating sprouts, not much. This one-off all-star sketch show marks Ronnie Corbett's 80th birthday earlier this month and sees him joined by a host of younger comics including David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Catherine Tate, Harry Enfield and Miranda Hart, who has said that she studied the effect of Corbett's little looks and head turns to the audience. There's even a reprise of Corbett's signature rambling armchair anecdotes, written by Ben Elton, plus music from Charlotte Church.
The Telegraph, 23rd December 2010Miranda: love her or hate her?
As the second series of the BBC's comic sitcom Miranda ends, two virulently opposed critics argue about whether its star, Miranda Hart, is funny or a flop.
Catherine Gee and Chris Harvey, The Telegraph, 21st December 2010Miranda: 'I'm the friend you can laugh at'
Miranda Hart tells The Telegraph how she struck upon the formula for the sitcom of the year.
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 21st December 2010Actress, writer and now, presenter: Ruth Jone, co-creator of Gavin & Stacey, hosts a light mix of chat, music and larks. It's going nationwide this Christmas after debuting in Wales last year. Music comes from indie-rock milquetoasts the Script, while places on the sofa are reserved for Ricky Gervais, Will Young and Miranda Hart.
Jack Seale, Radio Times, 20th December 2010Miranda wishes you a Merry Christmas
Haaaaappppyyyy Chhrriiissstmassss! I LOVE Christmas. Can't get enough of mulled wine, a roaring fire, fairy lights, mince pies, even ice skating. I'm quite good - I can even go backwards. Oh yes, you heard it here first.
Miranda Hart, BBC Comedy, 20th December 2010There's no Gavin & Stacey this Christmas, but as a consolation we are offered up this new mix of chat, music and sketch comedy from the sitcom's co-creator Ruth Jones, aka Nessa. Her guests will include Ricky Gervais (without whom, it seems, no chat show is complete), Miranda Hart (of BBC Two's Miranda) and pop crooner Will Young.
Sam Richards, The Telegraph, 18th December 2010