Press clippings Page 10
How The Office changed the British Sitcom
It was 16 years ago this month that The Office debuted on UK screens, and it remains to this day a high watermark of British comedy. It's perhaps the only 21st Century sitcom that can rival the stalwart classics of Blackadder and Fawlty Towers et al in terms of its lasting impact on UK popular culture.
Rob Keeling, Cult Box, 27th July 201710 top tens for Hot Fuzz's tenth
This year, after watching Hot Fuzz for the tenth time, and still picking up little details I'd never noticed before, I went down to the pub for a glass of celebratory cranberry juice. I thought Anglonerd magazine, too, should celebrate the brilliance of this film in a big way, so here is not just a top ten list, but ten top ten lists, highlighting the best one hundred things about Edgar Wright's comedy action flick. *Spoilers*
Jaime Pond, Anglonerd, 14th February 2017The 50 funniest films... chosen by comedians
For Sarah Millican it's the Coen brothers, while Stewart Lee laughs out loud at Festen. From the canonical to the controversial, and in no particular order, we asked 10 standups to pick 50 movies that make them giggle...
The Observer, 18th December 2016Stephen Merchant turns back on Crystal Maze series
I've learned Stephen Merchant has quit as host of The Crystal Maze following October's one-off celebrity special, throwing C4's plans for a full series into disarray.
Dan Wootton, The Sun, 28th November 2016Josh Widdicombe among contestants for Crystal Maze
Alongside footballer Rio Ferdinand and Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan will be Paralympics champion Jonnie Peacock, TV and radio host Sara Cox and comedian Josh Widdicombe. Stephen Merchant hosts.
Duncan Lindsay, Metro, 29th September 2016Stephen Merchant to host Crystal Maze revival
Stephen Merchant has been announced as the host of a Stand Up 2 Cancer special edition of 1990s game show The Crystal Maze.
British Comedy Guide, 1st September 2016Rated or dated: The Office
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's sitcom first aired this week in 2001. Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch takes a look to see if, 15 years later, it still measures up.
Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch, Standard Issue, 6th July 201615 ways The Office changed modern comedy (Link expired)
Its influence on modern comedy has been monumental. So to celebrate the show's big 15th birthday, here are 15 ways The Office changed modern comedy forever.
Alex Nelson, WOW247, 6th July 2016Note to comics about "PC culture" and what it means
I'm getting kind of bored of cry-baby comedians lamenting the fact that certain topics are "off-limits" these days. When I say "comedians", I'm, of course, largely referring to "cisgender, white, male comedians", who are learning that, as people are becoming more and more aware of societal issues like racism, sexism, and prejudice against LGBT and disabled people, the things that used to get laughs just aren't cutting the mustard anymore.
Daniel Welsh, The Huffington Post, 21st June 2016Review: Stephen Merchant's Top Comedy Moments
Stephen Merchant is a great comedy writer and a naturally funny man. And this extremely enjoyable hour and a half in his company this evening helped to explain why.
Mike Norton, The Bristol Post, 24th January 2016