TV Review: Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, Series 2

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Last July, a trial-run series of a new chat show hosted by Alan Davies was broadcast on Dave, and frankly, I was over the moon. The programme aims to recreate the atmosphere of a green room at a comedy gig, inviting four guests for a chat with a minimal agenda. The format is truly up and running now and a full series was broadcast, starting in January.

With the series spanning ten episodes, and four guests each week, As Yet Untitled presents a large number of guests, comedians in particular, including some that we haven’t heard from in a while. The legendary Ricky Tomlinson (Royle Family) and writer Grace Dent both feature, as well as some true comedy greats including Sarah Millican, Ross Noble, Julian Clary and David Baddiel.

© Dave

As Yet Untitled also promotes a new ‘wave’ of comedians that appear to be taking over the British comedy scene, including Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Elis James, James Acaster, Roisin Conaty and Tom Wrigglesworth. As this show grows it would be nice to see it gather more and more attention for the younger generation of comedians coming through which would help them get a solid grounding earlier on and enable audiences access to some incredible talent. It also features fantastic comedy talent from different parts of the world, some possibly making their debut on British television, including Aussie stand up Felicity Ward and Catastrophe‘s Rob Delaney.

The chat is often awkward and stunted in places, possibly due to editing, but this can be expected when a group of people who don’t necessarily know each other are asked to entertain themselves and a live audience; it can’t ever appear one hundred percent natural. In my opinion, this honesty add to the authenticity of the programme and also enables us to see another side to some comics that may have seemed (understandably) distant. Jimmy Carr especially appeared to settle into the informal atmosphere as the first episode wore on, showing a more natural side to him that his job, as panel show host in particular, hasn’t often allowed in the past.

© Dave

© Dave

We also get to see a kind and sensitive side to Alan Davies that isn’t necessarily catered for in other panel shows purely due to the format. He shows himself to be very inclusive and supportive of all the guests, though it is hard to judge that when watching the televised cut, and is skilled at nurturing the conversation which seems to help all the guests relax into the strange format. The discussion is more structured this series, with each guest starting with a strange fact about themselves, or a suggestion of something obscure that once happened to them, and then taking their turn to explain in more detail. The transitions are occasionally disjointed, but often the guests are relaxed enough to continue the conversational feel despite a swift subject change.

I think we have a programme here that is very much a niche type of entertainment programme, but I hope its audience continues to grow as it truly is a very enjoyable and interesting watch.

CATCH UP WITH ALAN DAVIES: AS YET UNTITLED ON DAVE ON DEMAND OR ON YOUTUBE

TV Review: Uncle, Series 2

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Uncle, starring Nick Helm, is back and stronger than ever, with a new set of relationship, career and general life problems awaiting the uncle in question, Andy.

Admittedly, Uncle is not what it used to be, but that doesn’t mean it is anything less than the comedy it began its life as. Errol (Elliot Spencer-Gillott) has grown up considerably and is now thirteen, so less of the adorably nerdy kid he used to be and more of an awkward and self-conscious teen. Though this has been used by others to criticise, I don’t think the fact that Errol is older lessens the comedic value of the programme, but rather, it moves the sitcom onwards to a new place. In this way, series two of Uncle has shown us that here we have a naturally evolving comedy that doesn’t feel manufactured or forced.

Nick Helm and Esther Smith (Cuckoo) make a wonderful pairing and I’d love to see them create something else together, perhaps a pilot of their iPlayer comedy short, Elephant. In addition, Daisy Haggard plays Errol’s well-meaning but hopelessly self-centred mother which enables an interesting brother-sister dynamic between herself and Andy as well as her slightly dysfunctional mother-son relationship with Errol.

Photo: BBC/Chris Brock

Photo: BBC/Chris Brock

The denouement of each episode is usually accompanied by an emotional, and often very funny, ballad which allows Helm himself to bring, in his words, “a little bit of creative input” to the proceedings. These songs are admirable in their own right and showcase this comedian’s undeniable musical talent, providing an interesting interlude from the full narrative.

Uncle is an endearing sitcom with likeable characters and a hugely talented cast. It’s a slow-burner, which only increases its impact, making it one of the most enjoyable sitcoms I’ve seen for a while. Before watching the final episode of this series, I would have told you that I couldn’t see much scope for development within a third series, but I have been well and truly swayed. There is still so much space for plot and character relationship growth, and I am excited for the potential of Uncle‘s return. But regardless of whether a third series is made, I rest assured that the stars of this programme will shine through in any further projects they undertake. In particular, I look forward to seeing what future productions Elliot Spencer-Gillott gets involved in as he has shown himself to be a great and exuberant young comedic actor.

Seven Questions With… Roisin Conaty

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Roisin Conaty is a stand up comedian, actress and writer. With her optimistic outlook and often silly sense of humour, Roisin is one of those comics that makes you feel happier, which is so much more than just making you laugh. She plays the hilarious layabout, Jo, in the fantastic sitcom Man Down, which will return this year (starring Greg Davies and the late Rik Mayall) and also wrote and starred in her own pilot GameFace. As well as this, Roisin is currently filming for a new comedy series, Taskmaster, which will be fronted by Greg Davies and Alex Horne.
To learn more about Roisin, I asked her these seven questions…

1) What makes you laugh?

Everything. Eventually. Life is pretty ridiculous really, I mean, we are spinning in a ball in space. Any part of it slowed down, held up and examined is equally beautiful, tedious, painful and funny.

2) How good are your timekeeping skills?

Ooof awful. It honestly feels like minutes sneak away from me, out of my pockets, under the door. They leave in groups of 10, silently, hiding my phone/shoe/keys on their way. The bastards. Then sometimes they have the audacity to show up when they are not needed, all pissed and slow, like when I am waiting for a night bus or dominoes to open.

3) What one thing could you not live without?

The brilliant work of other women who ensure my safety, my rights, my voice. Women who have worked and continue to work tirelessly for progress and equality. Women who put themselves above the parapet, so they are seen and heard. The brilliantly funny and supportive women in stand up comedy who I need for inspiration. They are my sisters in arms. Basically women… oh yeah and men for kissing and sexing and stuff.

Roisin Conaty4) Do people talk too much?

No, sharing our stories & communicating with each other is how we feel connected. I think ultimately that’s all humans want, to feel connected to someone or something. It’s the motivation behind everything. Good and bad. Small talk is something I find hard, I think a lot of comics do. It has all the hallmarks of connection but you feel drained and deflated at the end. A really honest, intimate conversation about your fears, ideas, hopes and experiences with a mate can be better than a holiday in my experience.

Also, women speak on average 10,000 more words a day than men and I think that must be one of the reasons why we are not as violent… it’s a shame a lot of those 10,000 words are just us repeating ourselves, as men pretend they didn’t hear our great ideas the first time.

5) Would you eat insects for money?

No… well, how much money?… No… well, unless there were condiments involved. Boy, do I love a condiment. I have the best condiment selection I have ever seen.

6) What irritates you most?

Pomposity & shit pillows. Wait, that sounds like the title of a rubbish indie film, I mean separately. Pomposity in people and shit pillows wherever I seem to stay… Don’t get me started on shit pillows.

7) If you stopped working in comedy, what would you do next?

Country and western singer. DONE.

WATCH ROISIN’S COMEDY PILOT: GAMEFACE ON 4OD

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Comic Relief 2015

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Every year, countless celebrities dedicate time and effort into creating original and funny material in aid of Comic Relief, and this year was no different. There has been an array of exciting new programmes over the past few weeks and I’ve picked a few of my favourites to share.

Let’s Play Darts For Comic Relief was a new and innovative way that celebrities were able to get involved within a refreshing and entertainment format. From Roisin Conaty’s shock double-20 which saw her through the preliminary round, to Bob Mortimer’s “we hate laminate” carpet chant, this competition was full of laughter. Lee Mack was eventually crowned the winner after a tense final against his good friend Tim Vine.

Photo: BBC/Pete Dadds

Photo: BBC/Pete Dadds

Like most people, I adore The Great British Bake Off, so was delighted to hear the charity version was to return this year. Featuring the cream of the celebrity crop including Joanna Lumley, David Mitchell, Jennifer Saunders, Jameela Jamil and Jonathan Ross, there was some average baking and some very big blunders (but that’s what we all wanted, right?).

The pinnacle of the charity entertainment for most comedy lovers would have to be Mark Watson’s 27 hour live comedy show. Watching the whole affair felt very much like a dream to me, with its countless celebrity contributors, world record attempts and crazy challenges. Tuning in every couple of hours really highlighted the vast array of people and activities the organisers incorporated into the show and it was clear to see how exhausted those who had stayed awake for the entire time. From a game of ‘Animal Verbs’ with Stuart Goldsmith to a competition with a chant off “OFF WITH THE CARDBOARD HOY HOY” which involved the likes of Horrible Histories writer Greg Jenner and Tracy-Ann Oberman, using only their mouths to pick up a cardboard box. The extravaganza also starred some of my favourite people in comedy including Tim Minchin and Sarah Millican which made for incredibly funny viewing, as well as contributing to the impressive grand total raised.

Photo: Comic Relief/Tom Dymond

Photo: Comic Relief/Tom Dymond

But lest us forget the biggest event of them all, Friday 13th March’s live Comic Relief show. Highlights of the evening for me would have to be the debut performance of No Direction, a One Direction tribute band made up of Vic Reeves, Johnny Vegas, Nick Helm, Jack Dee and Patrick Kielty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack Dee enjoy himself so much. David Walliams appeared in a hilarious new Little Britain sketch featuring Stephen Hawking and Catherine Tate as well as Richard Ayoade popping up to interview Dawn French in The Vicar of Dibley and Rowan Atkinson brought us a brand new Mr Bean sketch.

YOU CAN STILL DONATE TO COMIC RELIEF BY TEXT OR ONLINE

TV Review: Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Series 3

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Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe may just be the smoothest comedy programme on television. It is also one of the bleakest satirical programmes I have ever seen, but I am well and truly addicted.

Here we have a programme that makes me hate so many aspects of the world, but then laugh at them and regain control. Charlie Brooker expertly exposes everything that is wrong with humanity but also shows that we’re not the only ones who are disheartened by it all. Stick with it, and you can find the positive message.

With comment on topical media-related things as well as politics, this programme doesn’t spare many people from the mockery. Jake Yapp regularly relays various programmes like The One Show and The Voice in a matter of seconds, flawlessly encapsulating their most irritating elements and imitating an array of presenters and celebrities in the process. Brooker also scrutinises over phenomena like Eastenders, Broadchurch and Fifty Shades of Grey, aided by comments from Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas.

A common downfall that I have found with shows like Weekly Wipe is the quality and originality of the sketches used to break up the larger proportion of denser comedy. However, this programme is truly unique in its creation of innovative and hilarious weekly sketches, from the wonderful Philomena Cunk and her “Moments of Wonder”, to the arrival of Morgana Robinson. Robinson (House of Fools) proved a fantastic addition to the Weekly Wipe team with a scarily faultless YouTuber-parody and humorous impersonations of Russell Brand. Yet again, the great minds behind this show have proven such specific observational skills as well as, in Morgana’s case, a talent for impressions (which was already common knowledge for those who watched Very Important People, I’m sure).

Brooker is undeniably a very intelligent man and has a mysterious ability to articulate what millions of us seem to be feeling, even if we hadn’t realise it yet. Weekly Wipe is a perfect example of a programme taking control over political matters that we can’t seem to change in a valiant attempt to regain power, by laughing at it. And there are many laughs indeed.

SERIES THREE OF CHARLIE BROOKER’S WEEKLY WIPE IS AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER

Review: Bramall Comedy Night, Laura Lexx, Andy White & Christian Reilly

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Last Thursday brought the latest comedy night at the University of Birmingham, and, not wanting to break tradition, I obviously went along.

Laura Lexx

Laura Lexx

The compère for the evening was the lovely Laura Lexx, a comedian I had never heard of before, and proof that going to comedy nights such as these are vital for comedy fans who want to expand their knowledge and understanding of who is actually out there performing material. Laura is one of the sweetest and most delightful comedians I’ve watched perform, who was able to balance her well-spoken, polite voice with the occasional dark humour and abstract concepts. She was also the first person to ever pick on me in the “who-are-you-what-do-you-do?” sort of sense which is surprising given the number of gigs I’ve attended over the years, but maybe more of a shock for my friend who was also singled out and had never been to an event like that before.

There is something a little magic about hearing stand up material about the specific area you live in, and, coming from Birmingham himself, Andy White was able to give that to us. Referring to an audience member from Harborne as “Your Majesty” and making humorous digs at Birmingham City University (not to be confused with the university he was performing at), Andy crafted a set that was meaningful to the people in the room. With his naturally chilled manner and remarkable red velvet jacket, this comedian comes across very confidently on stage, which is always reassuring as an audience member in a relatively small crowd.

Christian Reilly

Christian Reilly

Christian Reilly was the only comic on the bill who I’d heard material from before, by which I mean occasionally hearing him sing a couple of songs on TotalRock radio with Jeff Leach. As well as obvious musical skill, Reilly has an aptitude for pushing boundaries with risky subject matter which gives his songs an extra, often sinister, layer. His style of comedy is all-or-nothing; he takes a stance regarding a topical issue or popular celebrity and works from there, incorporating harsh criticisms hidden in between bouts of silly humour. A highlight would have to be an Avril Lavigne song in the style of Brian Ferry.

As always, the comedy night at the University of Birmingham certainly did not disappoint and, again, I encourage you to join me at next month’s event on April 9th.

BRAMALL COMEDY NIGHT: FEBRUARY 2015

TV Review: The Last Leg, Series 6

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The Last Leg is the kind of popular satirical television show that our world really needs to watch because it enables all of us to understand and appreciate major social and political events a little better. The show is presented by Australian comic Adam Hills, with help from his co-hosts: stand up comedian Josh Widdicombe and journalist and presenter Alex Brooker.

It talks about increasingly pressing topics, such as misogyny, discrimination, terrorism and war but to an ever-growing Channel 4 audience, meaning people are continuing to talk about these massive issues that affect us all. If anyone needed proof that The Last Leg is influential in this sense, you would only need to check the hashtags trending worldwide on Twitter while the show is live on air, such as #page3no which trended on Friday 23rd January this year.

The Last Leg enables audiences who are disillusioned with world politics and our own government here in Britain to take control over the global situation by simply making fun of it. A fantastic addition to the show is the awarding of “Dick of the Year,” where past victors have been Vladimir Putin and Nigel Farage. As well as all this, the comedians even managed to convince Nick Clegg to make an appearance and the fantastic results are below.

Another topic made open for discussion is that of disability in today’s society. With host Adam Hills having only one foot due to a birth defect and Alex Brooker being born with hand and arm defects as well as having to have his leg amputated when he was a baby, not only does this programme show us disability, but it allows us to laugh about it, to laugh with Adam, Alex and Josh and not feel bad about the fact we might be talking about something ‘taboo’.

A great sense of freedom is gained from watching The Last Leg as politics is opened up to the wider public in a way that, for once, isn’t entirely depressing. I hope it continues to work its stupid magic for years to come.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES SIX OF THE LAST LEG ON 4OD

February: Comedian Of The Month #13, John Kearns

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Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

This month’s Comedian Of The Month is the strange character comic, John Kearns.

Winning Best Newcomer at the 2013 Foster’s Comedy Awards and following that up with the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award saw Kearns make history and he has continued to blossom ever since. With tousled wig and oversized, crooked false teeth, this comedian really epitomises what might be considered “niche” in the comedy world, being, in his own words, “a joke that got out of hand”.

Talking of John Kearns, Bruce Dessau (Beyond The Joke) recently said “this work is very much for people who see a lot of comedy and crave something with a stronger flavour,” so perhaps this explains why I am such a fan of Kearns’ surreal comedy, but I’m not quite sure that’s it. I can also see how he could potentially appeal to a much larger audience, spanning over all ages, as he can certainly be compared to the likes of Harry Hill and Reeves and Mortimer, who have charmed adults and children alike for decades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSmPFjmq9Vk

The absurdity borders on tragic at times, which makes for truly interesting viewing, and this is balanced by relatively frequent and astute observations derived from the simplest of things, like “I saw a five-year-old wearing a watch,” which earns a laugh in itself but is then developed even further. With his childish mannerisms and lively delivery, John Kearns really puts the joy into stand up. It is a pleasure to see him on stage as he clearly has a lot of fun, as well as bringing an enthusiasm to his performances which can only be admired.

Follow John on Twitter.

JANUARY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

TV Review: Count Arthur Strong, Series 2

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The beginning of a new year saw the return of a much-loved sitcom to our screens: Count Arthur Strong, a television adaptation of Steve Delaney’s long-running radio show. Despite only watching a few episodes of series one, I really did enjoy watching the entirety of it this time round.

What appeals to me about this programme is that there is always an unexpected twist to the plot of each episode, which makes it entertaining viewing despite following the seemingly well-trodden path of the popular sitcom. The storylines are never too airy or ridiculous because the show has a continuous plot, with ideas carried on throughout the series, which seems to give the whole programme a reason for existing; the stories never become entirely redundant.

With Delaney having teamed up with one of my favourite comedy writers, Graham Linehan, this show was probably destined to have a hilarious script. They skilfully build the hilarity and stupidity of the situations Michael and Arthur get themselves into, but never rely on laughs that are that bit too easy. These writers have proved that they’d rather go the long way round, and have created a more effective comedy as a result.

There have been criticisms of Count Arthur Strong and I hadn’t fully invested in it from the beginning so was anticipating that I would not enjoy this series. However, my doubts were unfounded because I laughed throughout every single episode, because of Arthur’s lines like “all work and no play makes Jack… and Jill went up the hill…” and his overall persona. I felt no hint of cynicism at all.

This programme is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of comedy thanks to Steve Delaney and Rory Kinnear’s wonderful on-screen relationship and a fantastic script. I look forward to a third series if and when it comes.