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Good News coming back

Peekay — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:24:27 +0000

Russell Howard returns to BBC Three this spring with a brand new series of Russell Howard’s Good News. The show’s debut run was the most requested BBC Three programme on iPlayer last year, and the channel’s most successful studio-based entertainment show ever drawing in 2.5 million viewers a week.

With each episode put together just days before transmission, there’s no knowing what will feature in the first show, but the new series will see Russell turn news-junkie once again as he puts his spin on the week’s headlines, as well as highlighting some of the more overlooked stories that have caught his eye as he sifts through the papers, news websites and TV news channels.

Russell Howard’s Good News is recorded in front of a live studio audience but viewers at home will have the chance to shape the news agenda by submitting stories online at www.bbc.co.uk/russellhoward (where you will also be able to view exclusive extra features) or via Twitter at www.twitter.com/bbcgoodnews. The series will run for seven weeks, followed by an hour-long best of, which will also feature previously unseen footage.

Gorman announces more Genius moments.

Peekay — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:08:54 +0000

Dave Gorman has announced on his blog that the BBC have decided to commission another of his Genius series.

Gorman wrote, “I said in my last post that there might be some good news to announce soon… well, here it is.

“We’ve got the go ahead to make a new series of Genius for BBC2. Which means the hunt for new geniuses is stepped up once again.”

The series transferred successfully to TV after starting life on BBC Radio 4 – a familiar route for comedy shows.

“The best way to submit ideas is via the Genius website where you can either e-mail the team or upload a video of you explaining your idea.”

The Genius website is http://www.bbc.co.uk/genius/

Pozzitive connection

Peekay — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:17:31 +0000

Want to get a little friendlier with your comedy faves? Well now you can as Pozzitive, the production company responsible for hit shows such as Harry Enfield and Chums and Little Britain, is continuing its social media campaign with the launch of its new comedy Facebook page.

Following the success of the YouTube Channel and Flickr group; the Facebook page will host exclusive images, video and brand new material from top comedians such as Jo Caulfield and Milton Jones as well as classic selections from the Pozzitive archive spanning 20 years.

Become a fan here.

Great lineup to help The Fix

Peekay — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:43:22 +0000

Featuring a mixture of the UK’s best established and up and coming comic talent such as Angelos Epithemious (Shooting Stars), Kevin Eldon (Big Train, Brass Eye, Alan Partridge), Pappy’s fun club, Edinburgh comedy award winner Tim Key and many more, ‘The Un-royal Variety’ performance aims to be the last great comedy gig of the decade. All profits from the gig will go to paying the Fix’s legal fees.

The Fix the UK’s and possibly the worlds only and best loved comedy magazine has long been run out of editor and publisher Harry Deansway’s bedroom at his parent’s house. 6 months ago this was all set to change when a friend of the family offered investment in the magazine and use of his offices. It all seemed to be too good to be true and it was when 6 months later this so called friend of the family decided to call in his loan with immediate effect and evict the Fix from his offices. The Fix did not have the money to pay back the loan straight away and therefore the “friend” of the family decided to sue.

Harry Deansway – “As I found myself back to square 1 back at the birthplace of the magazine Chez family Deansway I needed to come up with a plan to raise the money to pay back the loan with immediate effect and avoid going to debtors prison so there could be further issues of the magazine. When my Dad refused to put it on his credit card due to already having put £15,000 of previous debt on it I decided to assemble a bill of the ten finest comedians working in the UK today many of whom have featured in the magazine over the last few years, the response has been overwhelming with comedians rallying round, many offering to perform for no fee in order to save the magazine.”

What better time than the festive season for us to get our begging bowl out as we try to avert the collapse of the UK’s favourite/ only comedy magazine. The Fix has always been about showcasing the wealth of comedy talent on offer in the UK some of whom often find it hard to get their voice heard over the loud din of populist observational humorists and bloated panel show stalwarts. What the unroyal variety performance hopes to do is provide a platform for the excellent lesser known acts by putting them on the bill with more established acts at a big venue. The event has been borne out of the necessity for the Fix magazine to raise finances in order to pay it’s legal costs for a crime it did not commit, however if successful we would hope to run the night as a yearly event that would have the same effect for the newer comedians that the Royal Variety performance has for the more established mainstream ones. .

Venue:             THE BLOOMSBURY THEATRE, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH
Date:                Monday 21ST December
Tickets:            £22.50, Concessions £18.50
Doors:              19.30 show 20.30
Box Office:       020 7388 8822

Ross returns with Comedy Awards

Admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:25:38 +0000

ITV has announced that Jonathan Ross will host the 2009 British Comedy Awards which will be broadcast on ITV1 later this year.

Celebrating its 20th year, Britain’s best-loved comedy awards ceremony enjoys a renowned reputation for providing riotous and unpredictable viewing in the presence of an international array of the biggest names in entertainment, showcasing some of the most outrageous, successful and hilarious comedy moments of the year.

Jonathan says ‘I’m delighted – it’s the most prestigious awards show in the world. Obama may have a Nobel Prize. But he’s not even in the running for Best Entertainment personality. It’s that prestigious.’

ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell says ‘The British Comedy Awards has become one of television’s most talked-about annual events, and hosting it has to be one of television’s toughest gigs. I’m very glad Jonathan is back at the helm.’

Last year’s winners included Harry Hill’s TV Burp for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme, Gavin and Stacey for Best TV Comedy, Ricky Gervais for Best TV Comedy Actor and Sharon Horgan for Best TV Comedy Actress. Jasper Carrott was awarded a British Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s Awards and their broadcast will be sponsored by Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer. They will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITV2 in December 2009.

Mock the Week gets two new series

Admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:32:41 +0000

Mock The Week, BBC Two’s satirical panel show has been commissioned for a further two series.

The acclaimed show combines the best elements of a panel show, with stand-up and improvised games featuring two teams of comedians taking a satirical swipe at the news and world events.

Dara O’Briain returns as host and each week will be joined by panel members made up of top satirical comedians, established stars and exciting new talent from the best of the stand-up circuit.

Janice Hadlow, Controller BBC Two, said: “Mock The Week is a major part of the BBC Two schedule, regularly delivering wit and energy to an enthusiastic audience. This two series commitment shows just how much we value it.”

After seven successful series, regular panellist Frankie Boyle will not be returning to the show due to other television commitments.

Matt LeBlanc to star in BBC Two’s Episodes

Peekay — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:35:53 +0000

The BBC, Hat Trick Productions and Showtime announced today the commission of Episodes, a six-part series from the highly acclaimed writing partnership of David Crane (Friends) and Jeffrey Klarik (Mad About You), for transmission next year on BBC Two.

Episodes is the story of a British couple who try to recreate their UK comedy hit for American TV with disastrous results, and features Matt LeBlanc playing himself.

Jimmy Mulville of Hat Trick Productions comments: “These are some of the best scripts I’ve read in a long time by two writers at the top of their game. To have the opportunity to make a show with David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, with Matt LeBlanc playing a hilarious version of himself, and then to make that show for both Showtime and the BBC, whose combined portfolios of comedy are second to none, is both a thrill and a great privilege.
Episodes promises to be one of the great comedy treats for 2010.”

Episodes will shoot next year in London and Los Angeles for BBC Two and Showtime.

Russell Howard’s Good News

Peekay — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:14:39 +0000

Russell Howard is to make his BBC Three debut with a brand new topical show. “Russell Howard’s Good News” will be put together each week on the brink of transmission and audiences can expect to see the Mock The Week star offer his unique perspective on the big stories dominating the media across TV, online and in print, as well as picking up on those sometimes overlooked things that make him smile.

Here is Russell talking about the show.

In the last 12 months Russell has become one of the UK’s most successful live comedians having sold more than 120,000 tickets on his last tour, including three gigs at London’s Hammersmith Apollo and one at Wembley Arena. His debut live stand-up DVD was the fifth highest selling stand-up release of Christmas 2008 and has now sold in excess of 145,000 copies. This autumn will see Russell embark on a 10-date arena tour with a brand new live show and a DVD of his previous live tour released in time for Christmas.

Recorded weekly in front of a live studio audience, Russell Howard’s Good News will also give fans at home the chance to shape the news agenda by allowing them to submit stories online at www.bbc.co.uk/russellhoward (where they will also be able to view exclusive extra features) or via Twitter at www.twitter.com/bbcgoodnews. The series will run for 7 weeks, followed by a best-of and a Christmas special.

Russell Howard tours in late 2009

Peekay — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:29:04 +0000

Russell Howard is to embark on a 10-date UK-wide arena tour, Big Rooms & Belly Laughs, taking in some of the country’s biggest venues. The tour begins on 11th December 2009 and follows his twice extended Dingledodies tour.

In addition to being a series regular on Mock The Week (BBC Two’s highest rating comedy show, which has viewing figures of over 5 million per week), Russell Howard has twice appeared on Live At The Apollo (BBC ONE); and has succeeded Al Murray as host of Comedy Central’s Edinburgh & Beyond which began on 25th July 2009. His debut live stand-up DVD, Russell Howard Live, was one of the highest selling stand-up releases of 2008.

Check out the tour dates here.

BBC Comedy for Spring/Summer

Admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:44:54 +0000

Psychoville

BBC Two has announced a raft of new comedy this spring/summer.

Having created the kind of northern town that nightmares are made of, The League Of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton return to BBC Two with a spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, thrilling comedy serial, Psychoville. Joining them in Psychoville is a rich mix of talent, including Dawn French, Eileen Atkins and Nicholas Le Prevost, plus there will be an expanded Psychoville experience online, written by the show’s creators.

Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson bring their controversial phone-in host Gary Bellamy to BBC Two. As with the Radio 4 show, Down The Line will be performed in a semi-improvised style with Bellamy taking to the road each week in his “Bellamymobile”, eager to meet the great British public (played by the cast) to discuss everything from immigration and religion to class and culture.

Taking The Flak is a comedy-drama about how journalists in war zones live in a state of perpetual danger, not just from the bombs, but from disease, dysentery, bedbugs, bugged beds, their colleagues, their competitors… and their loved ones.

Plus, BAFTA award-winning That Mitchell And Webb Look is back for a third series with a host of new characters.