Roisin Conaty

Radio Times review

Life isn't exactly turning out as planned for 20-something Marcella (Roisin Conaty). She wants to be an actor, but has ended up in "communications" (she delivers post) and spends her weekends overindulging in fried chicken and sambuca.

However, with a birthday on the horizon, she decides that something needs to change. Cue enrolment with a strait-laced life coach who believes that all her problems would be solved if she found the right man.

Happily, our fiery protagonist isn't having any of it, preferring to mastermind her own, alternative fresh start in quick-witted, raucous fashion.

Game Face has the potential to become a hit if it gets the green light.

Comedian Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak, who played Greg Davies's best mates in the hit C4 comedy Man Down, are reunited in this sitcom pilot, written by Conaty herself. She plays Marcella, a chaotic under-achiever and compulsive liar who's hoping to make a fresh start with the help of a life coach, a wonderfully straight-faced Wozniak.

Alcohol, fried chicken and an old enemy from school somehow conspire to derail all Marcella's best-laid plans. If you've caught Conaty's stand-up show or any of her panel-game appearances you'll know she's a natural (she won the Best Newcomer award at Edinburgh in 2010).

So while this pilot boasts flashbacks, bad country and western and even a cameo from East 17's Brian Harvey, it's Conaty's own brashly unsinkable personality that pulls it all together.

Great line-up for Stratford comedy festival

Roisin Conaty and Al Murray The Pub Landlord are heading to Stratford-upon-Avon for the Comedy Hullabaloo at the RSC Courtyard Theatre and Swan Gardens.

A new series of mock-Orwellian oratory hits Friday night, with Joan Bakewell, Roisin Conaty and Richard Osman attempting to sneak their bugbears past Room 101 bouncer Frank Skinner. Irritants in the dock of discontent tonight include customer-service surveys, greetings cards containing pre-felt emotions, and the less-heralded animals making up the numbers in zoos around the globe. Every bit as unchallenging as you'd expect from the panel-led revamp, but the game "leg-selfie or hot dog" does sweeten the pill somewhat.

The mighty Pointless fact file that is Richard Osman - all 6ft 7in of him in his size 14 shoes - reveals his distrust of shoemakers and disgruntlement with people who tell him he's tall as a new season of personal hates and bugbears checks in for business. Frank Skinner resumes his duties as arbitrary arbiter of banishing dislikes to oblivion, with broadcaster Joan Bakewell and comedian Roisin Conaty taking a pew alongside Mr Osman. Among the more contentious candidates for annihilation are gardening and Bambi. And watch out for a clip featuring a massive snake - it's a real shocker.

Radio Times review

Richard Osman of the quiz show Pointless is one of the quickest wits on TV. Fact. The guy is a giant of comedy, although actually he doesn't like people mentioning his height. Fellow panellists - writer and broadcaster Joan Bakewell and comedian Roisin Conaty - and even host Frank Skinner, don't stand a chance as he tosses bons mots and puns into the conversation with casual ease.

Of course, all the guests put forward suggestions for things to be consigned to oblivion - the pet hates tonight range from gardening to cobblers. Skinner, meanwhile, deftly choreographs the banter for maximum laughs.

However, it's Skinner himself who gets the best reaction when he tells the heart-warming story of how a little boy left his much-loved cuddly toy behind at his holiday hotel. The staff there then did something wonderful to persuade him that his toy was fine, but just extending his vacation.

Massive man-child Dan (Greg Davies) secures a date with the mother of one of the kids in his class during parents' evening. But he's so out of practice with the ladies he dragoons best mate Brian into going on a "mock date". Thanks to Dan's social tin-ear and pathological lack of charm, he has a meltdown in a Chinese restaurant that shouldn't be funny but it really is. In fact you could say that about every second of Man Down. It's puerile, silly, crude and offensive but it's so daft it's hard to resist even the twitch of a smile. And comedian Roisin Conaty is monstrously awful as Dan's brassy friend Jo, who sets up a gig for the mysterious "Mickey Two Face." Don't ask.

Roisin Conaty: It's a effort for me not to look mad

Roisin Conaty might be a new TV name to watch but she won't be on the red carpet any time soon.

Roisin Conaty - review

Conaty's loveable loser makes for charming company, but she's in need of a few more winning lines.