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Pete Naughton

  • Reviewer

Press clippings Page 2

The prize for subversive gag of the week went to Andy Hamilton, whose long running sitcom Old Harry's Game (Radio 4) embarked on the first of two Olympic Specials last Thursday. Satan, ever resourceful, had decided to launch his own "Infernal Olympics" to coincide with the London Games. "It's like the real Olympics" he explained, "only without the corruption and the travel chaos."

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 17th July 2012

The second series of this sharp sitcom - in which Simon Amstell plays an insecure version of himself - ends tonight with an episode involving Pinteresque levels of family squabbling and unfulfilled ambition. The problems begin when Simon learns that his latest theatrical venture - a role in a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest - is in jeopardy, and they're compounded by some wonderfully bitter infighting between Tanya (Rebecca Front) and Liz (Samantha Spiro).

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

There are some good gags in tonight's episode of this smart sitcom about the travails of a British husband and wife comedy-writing team working in Los Angeles. As ever, the smooth-talking Matt LeBlanc delivers most of them. Tonight, he attempts to buy back Sean's (Stephen Mangan) affections with a new sports car and a wisecrack that cannot be reproduced in the pages of a family newspaper. Sean, doing his best to summon a stiff upper lip, refuses the car, only to discover that Bev (Tamsin Greig) has an automotive surprise of her own.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 17th May 2012

With Rory Bremner no longer a regular presence on our screens, and the likes of Jon Culshaw, Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona failing to deliver much bite, there was a definite gap in the market for a risk-taking, quick-witted impressions show - until about three weeks ago, when this excellent series abruptly filled it. It showcases a handful of enjoyably sharp sketches lampooning the likes of Bear Grylls, Simon Cowell, the Gallagher brothers, Fearne Cotton and Amy Childs. Particular highlights are Brian Cox admitting that he buys his vintage leather jackets from Urban Outfitters, and Adele singing her drinks order to a barman in a pub.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 17th May 2012

I first noticed Tim Key on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe TV series on BBC Four, where he did readings of his "topical poetry" to camera. These were short, pointedly unpoetic monologues about the issues of the day, delivered with a comic poise that brought to mind the late Tommy Cooper. He now has his own radio show, Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme (Radio 4, Wednesday), in which he reads more of his poems and argues with his long-suffering assistant, Lord. By rights, it shouldn't be very funny; but it is.

Wednesday's programme was themed around chance, which had prompted Key to write six numbered poems. His plan was to roll a die and perform the poems in the order thus dictated, but the number four kept appearing. "Have you touched the dice with a magnet?" he asked Lord, who protested that Key had totally failed to understand the nature of probability. Key decided to read poem number three instead, provocatively titled The Wrong Number That Led to a Marriage ("He had woken her up/ but she had been charmed by his blustering apologies and his flattery/ after an hour or so, the pauses became longer, and more comfortable"). By this time I was spluttering into my tea and resolving to tune into this Wednesday's instalment, which tackles the theme of superstition.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 13th March 2012

Kiefer Sutherland - who was last seen on our screens as agent Jack Bauer in the hit American series 24 - joins Jonathan Ross tonight to discuss his new TV drama Touch, which sees him play the widower father of a gifted child. Also in the studio are Mamma Mia! actress Amanda Seyfried, whose new film Gone is released later this month; and the modfather himself, Paul Weller, who will be performing songs from his forthcoming album, Sonik Kicks.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 9th March 2012

Mark Dolan presents this ambitious new comedy panel show about the world of advertising. The set-up is as follows: each week, the two team captains - comedians Micky Flanagan and Mark Watson - are joined by an advertising industry insider and a celebrity guest. The teams are then quizzed about adverts from past and present, as well as being challenged to film their own advert, with the studio audience voting for the best. This first edition focuses on public information films, with ITV's bubbly daytime host Lorraine Kelly and the award-winning stand-up Josh Widdicombe as guests. Sadly, no preview discs were available.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 16th February 2012

Gruff-voiced businesswoman and Dragons' Den regular Hilary Devey, impressionist Alistair McGowan and American singer Josh Groban are Frank Skinner's guests on tonight's edition of the comedy panel show. As ever, there are no shortage of pet hates to be discussed, with particular vitriol reserved for supermarkets, the smoking ban and Valentine's Day.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 16th February 2012

Daniel Radcliffe joins Graham Norton tonight to discuss life after Harry Potter, and specifically his lead role in the horror film The Woman in Black, which went on general release today. There's also some light relief in the form of Anglo-Iranian comic Omid Djalili, and music from electro songsmiths Goldfrapp.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 9th February 2012

Ruth Jones's enjoyably observant comedy about a Welsh single mother finds her character, Stella, in buoyant mood after a night with dishy painter and decorator Sean (Kenny Doughty). "Oh my God, I'm 42 and I'm snogging in the street," she says. Meanwhile, lovestruck, and pregnant, daughter Emma (Catrin Stewart) suspects her boyfriend Sunil (Rory Girvan) is cheating on her when her brother Luke sees him with another girl. And so the ever-protective Stella undertakes a reconnaissance mission to find out exactly what he's up to.

Pete Naughton, The Telegraph, 9th February 2012

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