Greg Davies: The Back of my Mum's Head Tour

The evening’s entertainment opened to a set from the utterly brilliant Ed Gamble. Although I had seen him previously as the “other half” of duo Peacock and Gamble, I hadn’t seen a live solo set from Ed before.
As anyone with any familiarity with his work would expect, though, he was extremely funny. He interacted brilliantly with the audience and was certainly one of the more confident support acts I have seen. He displays a level of self-assurance which cleverly stops literally on the line bordering cockiness, always delivered with a smirk which looks as though it quite literally allows him to get away with absolutely anything. Content-wise, there was nothing which fell short; perfectly streamlined material delivered flawlessly yet without the over-rehearsed feel that can sometimes come of such a tight write.

Details of the current Peacock and Gamble tour can be found here: Peacock and Gamble
You’ll see links to Ed’s and Ray Peacock’s individual gigs there too!



So to the main event.

With more stories of Greg’s family and friends, this show is quite literally hilarious from start to finish with his audience drawn fully into his world. In fact when I reviewed the DVD of his previous show I did comment on the way he makes us invest emotionally in his tales and this show is in much the same vein. Obviously it comes of his drama background, but he makes literally every word matter in a way I have seen from no other comedian. Every word he speaks hangs in the air long enough for everyone to catch onto it so that the entire audience were with him from start to finish.

It is unfortunate that there will usually be a dick in the audience somewhere – ours was next to me and was irritatingly speaking out where he believed a story might be going and trying to second-guess punchlines but again because of the way Greg performs I even stopped noticing that! (Lucky really, because I was wearing my killer heels and could easily have removed one and stabbed the guy in the eye with it!)
Alongside the extremely funny stories, we were also treated to the role-play of a conversation with his parents in which audience members took part and a rather emotive song (yes, he sings and plays the guitar too!)
Okay, he did claim the song had just been written that day and might not be part of the show proper, but honestly I never know what to believe. If it remains in the show then great because it was very funny and made a lovely close to the evening. If not, I don’t care because I have seen it and that’s what matters to me!
It is difficult to give a more detailed review without wildly giving away the content, so all I will say is that the show is absolutely fantastic and you should definitely go and see it if you get the opportunity.

Channel Four Love/Hate

I am very much having a love/hate relationship with Channel Four right now at the hands of their “Comedy Fortnight”. As a concept, it’s brilliant: wheeling out old comedies we have long forgotten; mixing the repeats with some new ideas; new shows from established comedy writers and actors. On paper, it sounds brilliant.

First issue, though, is the timing. Comedy starts at 9pm and goes on until sometime in the early morning. As an insomniac, I really don’t need this kind of excuse to not try to sleep; so I have missed some of the best stuff as I turn off the TV in an attempt to quiet my brain. Some of the things shown really haven’t even needed an after-nine slot to my mind, so why they have been dropped in at 2am is truly beyond me. Some might argue recordable TV and online viewing render scheduling irrelevant, but as a freesat viewer, I have no record capability and internet here is too slow to watch 4od (believe me, I once had to write about a half-hour show which I missed and subsequently took 7½hrs to watch on the 4od player!) But anyway, this is a minor quibble, as I do have the option to watch if I choose especially since I am invariably still wide awake.

Secondly, it was not even a true fortnight. More a “Comedy 10-Days With A Couple Off In The Middle” (pedantic, I know, but there you go!)

The programming itself, though…

One of the shows was a countdown of the best Channel4 comedies ever. I forget how many, but it seems logical to think it was 30; however many it was though there was only one show in the whole countdown which I didn’t like. The richness of the comedy output from Channel4 over the last thirty years has been truly outstanding and it was great to be reminded of some of them. But as it finishes we all weep in unison; a combination of grief over the loss of these greats and the lament of what the channel’s output has become. It seems that nowadays Channel Four is so utterly desperate for ‘something new’ they are forgetting about the audience completely. Okay there were a couple of new gems, namely the comedy drama “Toast of London”, which couldn’t ever be more than a one-off show, and from the Comedy Blaps series the brilliant “Rubberbandits”, but for the most part it seems new comedy is more about trying to push boundaries and break new ground than it is about the entertainment of the audience.

And here is where I really start to get onto my soapbox. Because in the midst of the advertising frenzy surrounding the channel4 comedy fortnight were trailers for the show “I’m Spazticus”. Now the title itself prickles at me for a start.

I am going to seem a little fumbling in my language here, I am sure, but it’s not through any sense of political correctness, more that there isn’t a term I genuinely feel comfortable using to describe what channel4 themselves call a ‘disabled cast’.

The reason the term grates at me so much is because I have been lucky enough to work with some truly inspiration people, both adults and children, who have what is termed a ‘disability’ but who show such dedication that their condition, whatever it may be, doesn’t render them unable to do anything. In fact, in the light of the upcoming Paralympic games, the one thing we should be learning from the outstanding athletes being hawked across our screens is that anyone can truly achieve anything.

Not only that, but when with ‘disabled’ friends or family members, there are words I can use which aren’t considered politically correct yet which feel far less derogatory than 'disabled'.

But as it seems the preferred term, I shall use the word disabled; although each time I do, I will cringe a little and the awkward shifting in my chair will cause some sort of break in my writing … but it is simpler that way I guess than back-tracking each time to find a word I am comfortable with.

But anyway, regardless of other terms I may use, in the title of this show is a word I truly despise. In fact, my reaction on hearing this word can be held alongside the responses of some towards the word c**t and it is certainly not a word I would ever like to see thrown around freely. It conjures up a horrifyingly belittling image of people who in some cases are not able to speak up for themselves … or maybe that’s just me.


I am side-tracking, I know, but for once I feel there is value in my waffling nonsense!

Anyway, I saw the trailers and didn’t pay too much attention, just thought how great it was that the upcoming Paralympics and all that comes with it had inspired C4 to commission a comedy showing the great talents of a group of ‘disabled’ people.

I have since learned this was originally part of the Comedy Labs series back in 2005. I have no idea if this outing was a repeat or a second effort, but regardless I cannot see the basis in it at all.

The thing which bothers me most is that there are a huge amount of performers with varying degrees of ‘disability’ in comedy. I shan’t get into listing them, because I would rather single them out for their comedy than their physical condition but I am sure Google will point you to them should you ask. Much as [my regular readers will know] I despise the ‘offended on behalf of others’ culture, this show itself is a huge insult to them and their efforts to break down barriers.

At a time when the world is suddenly focussed on positive images of people with disabilities doing the most amazing things, Channel Four had a great opportunity to provide a show which empowered performers who struggle to find an outlet. I spoke with someone a while ago about a brilliant CP act I had seen (the CP being wholly irrelevant to the act itself, I simply made a passing mention of the condition) to which the response was “Why would you go see that? How could you sit and laugh at a poor disabled person?” Um… kind of the point of comedy, no? But this is the issue such performers have to fight against and this is what the timeslot should have been used for. Instead was a programme which in my mind was downright insulting to all, including the acts themselves.


I’ll explain a little, because I am aware some of you may have missed it…

This is a prank show (okay, I already had low expectations, you know how I love to hate the format!) the premise being: disabled person stuck with some sort of problem, approaches member of the public for help, member of the public is mocked… for being a good citizen and trying to help. The people who passed by ignoring pleas for assistance are not subjected to any of the ridicule; no that is reserved for the decent human beings.

And that is the thing that pissed me off least about this offering …

Alright, I can kind of see the point; I get what they were trying to achieve – but maybe this could have been better done by actual sketches. This show just came across as a bitter group being given the chance to take the piss out of some people who were different to them; there is nothing funny or clever in that, unless it is at the expense of someone who is being a complete dick – and the subjects here certainly weren’t dicks!


The show also did nothing to promote a positive image of people with disabilities. In fact, it was quite the opposite. For example:

A blind man walks into different situations carrying a dildo with ‘hilarious’ consequences … because of course being unable to see renders a person too stupid to know not to brandish a sextoy in the face of a delivery man knocking at the door, or to carry it in a bag if returning it to a shop. How is this funny?

People are stopped in the street and asked to take part in a police line-up, but are encouraged to act like the rest of the line-up. One being asked to kneel on his shoes to look like a dwarf… um… is this okay? Or funny? No on both accounts if you ask me.

I could go on but I am aware this is already a far longer rant than I intended.

Just think again, please, Channel Four. There is a wealth of talent amongst the ‘disabled community’ for want of a better phrase. Look for them, make a night of their acts, give them the audience they deserve… but no more of this derogatory drime.

And yes, I am going to continue to use the word drime in spite of my software's claims it doesn't exist because even if it isn't a real word, it bloody well should be!

Mark Little ~ THEbullsh*tARTIST

It is said you should never encounter your teen crushes as an adult and I am sure that contributed something to my initial ambivalence over attending this show. Also family members had seen Mark Little a while ago and whilst had thoroughly enjoyed their evening their accounts did not make his comedy sound like my ‘thing’ (mostly I think because their idea of what’s funny and mine are vastly separated! [blogsearch: Jethro])

That said, I left my preconceptions (and my 14yr old self) stewing at the hotel


Firstly, I have to acknowledge what a genuinely nice guy Mark Little really is. When he arrived he greeted each staff member and volunteer individually and talked with us like old friends. I know this adds nothing in terms of a true review – but this amiable, relaxed persona is exactly what he takes to the stage; he puts nothing on for the sake of his audience.

His delivery feels more like listening to an entertaining guy chatting in a bar than someone intentionally trying to make his audience laugh which creates a delightful intimacy even in a venue as roomy as this was.


It is difficult to sum up the material without giving away too much, but it was more political than you might expect and incredibly funny. It is always great to leave a comedy gig deep in thought, having either learned something new or been enlightened to a cause and this was very much the case with the Bullsh*t Artist.

Absolutely brilliant! This is definitely a show you should see if you get the chance.

Dan Mitchell ~ Free Egg

Although for the most part the venue is irrelevant to how good a show is, I have to say that the setting for this preview show was amazing. We were in a small bohemian courtyard, surrounded by some buildings of great character and the whole affair had a great feeling to it. I was unfortunately a little late (I’ll cover elsewhere as it’s irrelevant to this, suffice it to say my sense of direction failed me so horrendously I even used up my 15 minute Accidental Detour buffer!) but I was in perfect time to catch the first support act.

I won’t go into detailed reviews of them individually, but we were treated to four acts and all were good. Some far better than others, it has to be said, but all were deserving of being on the stage.

It was a little disappointing there wasn’t a bigger crowd, but the weather is as much a cause of that as anything else. I think with a small crowd, though, it’s probably quite hard to gauge just where the good laughs are – especially with a few who just laugh raucously at everything.

Obviously I am going to be quite vague with details… you will know from previous reviews I consider it something of a privilege to go to a preview show and as such it’s not my place to tell you exactly what to expect, rather to encourage you to go yourself… and if you get the opportunity you most certainly should!
If I were to make one criticism, it would be that Dan did the same thing all comedians do at these events and spent a lot of time constantly reminding us it will be better in future… we know that already so when things go awry, by all means tell us so we can laugh at your fallibility but then just move on – that said, I have read things written about preview shows in which the writer seems to expect the act to be going into them already word-perfect… they are idiots and shouldn’t be pandered to though!

So yes, there was a minor technical glitch and a there were a few backtracks as Dan realised he’d missed bits but that is very much a part of a preview show. From the perspective of testing material, I’d guess that makes it harder to tell if the laughs were coming from those jokes or the fact they had been forgotten – also taking the piece out of context it becomes more of a stand-alone joke than part of an act, so presumably those then get fewer laughs than they might as part of the natural flow but there was nothing I felt really didn’t work.

He made a huge dramatic entrance, which leaves you really thrown as an audience. It is difficult to know just what to expect as you see him arrive on stage as he does, especially if you have seen him before and know him to be one for just stepping up, delivering his set and leaving again. I do have photos but I’m not sharing them, because it is the unknown that makes it work so well. You just have to trust me that it was a good one… big ask I know, but I haven’t steered you wrong yet, have I?

There was a little of the material we have seen before from him, but that’s irrelevant really as there are some strong jokes that need a bigger audience than they may have seen already and they blended really well into the newer stuff. I do think he could get a bigger laugh out of the origin of the title. It’s quite creative and almost seemed as it were just dropped into the set, but that’s possibly only because things were out of order after the backtracking.

So if you are off to Edinburgh, make a point of adding Free Egg to your list – or if there is a preview near you, go… and report back please! Would be good to see how the show develops.

Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience

Click this image to go to the BBC Arts page to make your own Rhod doll!

Series three of this brilliant show is currently airing on BBC1 Wales, with repeats on BBC2 yet to come for the rest of the UK. That said, it is obviously available on the Iplayer for catch-up, so be sure to take a look.

Anyway; I am sure I have spoken of the show before and you ought to have watched some of the previous episodes- but for those amongst you who have not seen it, here’s a mini-breakdown:

Each week Rhod Gilbert takes on a different job, immersing himself into the role in his unique way and injecting his own brand of humour and mockery into the daily grind of his hosts.


The selection of jobs is thus:

Series one was the kind people we all take it for granted have a fairly easy job but in actual fact don’t. In this series, he was a bin-man, a mum, hairdresser and soldier.

Series two was the sexual fantasy series, seeing Rhod work firstly as a farmer -okay, not particularly sexy at first thought, but think more carefully! Rugged and outdoorsy; strong and manly whilst also showing his sensitive side with the animals… with me now?! Next he donned the finery to work as a butler, before getting his kit off to be tattooed and pierced, then leaving us with the image of Firefighter Rhod. And I’ll leave you with that mental image for a moment or two.



Back with us now?

Okay, so now to series three. You have unfortunately missed the airing of the first two episodes in which Rhod worked as a teacher at a fantastic school and as a Zookeeper at the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Clwyd, North Wales; although there is the BBC Two repeat to look forward to (I think it’s usually a couple of weeks after the last episode airs in Wales) and obviously the Iplayer. Yet to come we get to see Rhod as a Drag Artist and Policeman (honestly, I suspect series four might have to end on the Gladiator episode or something! There must still be Gladiators, aren’t there? … and obviously I mean the ‘killing Christians’ type, not the ‘very camp 80’s muscle-bound meathead’ ones you may be thinking of)

As you would expect from Rhod Gilbert, the show is hilarious. There really is something about the way he interacts with those he works with which brings out the best in everyone to the point where even the most mundane of daily chores becomes an adventure into the unknown. I also find myself taken with his humility; he is never afraid to show his fallibility and doesn’t ever duck out of doing the demeaning parts of the job on the basis of his status.
Equally hilarious of course is the simile-laden narration as Rhod talks us through his working day.


I don’t think I need say more than that – tune in Monday’s 10.35pm to catch the last two episodes, watch (and rewatch) the current two on the Iplayer…

Just wanted to add a little update here in the form of images. The final episode was unfortunately not shown due to legal issues. Not being a person to speculate or start rumour, I am simply conveying what information is available at the moment.

1st August: A small update since I see there are a few search hits for information on the final episode: Still no news as regards when we can expect it I am afraid.
The official line is simply that there are legal issues which need to be resolved and I will not make any attempts to guess what these issues might be - why is the least relevant factor, to be honest!

NEWSFLASH!!
The awaited Policeman episode will be shown this coming Tuesday, 10pm on BBC1Wales


You can buy the series one and two DVD here:



Absolutely brilliant DVD... well worth the money for the extras alone!



If you need to learn more about the show, each image below links to the relevant BBC programme page:

Alex Horne: Seven Years in the Bathroom

I know, I promised I’d be more timely with these – but in reality, it's just a week since I watched the show… and here’s the other thing: I don’t know if it’s just me, but there is a certain euphoria in watching a live performance which does generally leave one laughing at absolutely anything (believe me, in addition to uncomedian Jethro, the hub-creature loves Joe Pasquale thus we have seen him live maybe 4 times- I always found myself laughing at the time, then on seeing the same material on the TV questioned what made it funny!!)

Digressing as per usual but hey, at least you know this is not computer-generated randomised review… shit like this has to flow from a real, slightly malfunctioning brain, right?


I was due to have visited the Mach festival (more on that in another post!) but because of uncertainties over the impending operation and other crap related to the fact my life is not my own had to cancel everything (and incidentally, if any of my readership happens to be in the holiday accommodation business… I appreciate the need to hold deposits when it’s quiet, I really do- but if you RESELL my booking, surely it is not too much to expect a full refund, is it?)

So anyway, knowing that the brilliant Alex Horne was in the next town, I thought “What the heck!” And went along to drown my comedy sorrows.

And I’m bloody glad I did!

Obviously I was familiar with Alex’ radio work but I really had no idea what to expect from him ‘in the flesh’ (and as it happens, that is more than a glib, clichéd phrase… we actually did get to see more of him than we all expected to!)

This show is very difficult to review without giving anything away; especially given that I think a huge part of the joy of an event such as this is in the unknown.

It was more theatre than ‘just another’ comedy show with a huge reliance on perfect timing and the performance itself; and I realise that might sound as though I am suggesting it was not funny… but it was – very much so.

There was a huge element of audience participation (a word of warning, if this makes you uncomfortable be sure to not be seated at the front) but it was not the cringey kind of involvement that leaves a person feeling they have to try to be as funny as the comedian as often happens much to the point that I think even had I been one of those selected I would have not had my usual reservations about taking part (and for the record, I am not a person to make a prat of herself in front of an audience!) It was unfortunate that a large element of the show relied on internet and phone access, neither of which are available in the town- although we did seem to strike lucky in that a passing wave of network hit someone’s phone just as we needed it!

It really is difficult to review this with any more depth for fear of giving away something, so I will simply tell you (as usual!) to go see Alex Horne whenever/wherever you get the opportunity! And if you are reading this and wondering who he is: firstly shame on you; secondly, check out this episode of The Matt Lucas Awards

And watch this: very funny!

Josh Widdicombe and Charlie Baker

Because I believe it is important to be completely honest about such things, I was feeling quite cold towards the Charlie Baker aspect of this show… I will explain, as it was not completely unfounded:

I had not seen much of him on TV (although my kids were insanely excited about his presence and had more of a “Josh who?” attitude towards the show!) but in what little I had seen he felt very much like non-comedian, Jethro.

I’ll elaborate, because my hatred for that man is something else entirely… I have never found Jethro to be at all funny. My family do, I don’t know why – they obviously see something I don’t. But my dislike goes further than fraudulent claims at being amusing… there’s a story… I will try to keep it concise:

I was once at a cash machine in my hometown which has a wide road and a huge pavement alongside it. As I stepped away from the machine, focussing on putting my cash in my purse, purse in bag etc, I looked up to the sound of a horn. And it was Jethro, who having performed an illegal U-turn was headed towards me at great speed along the PAVEMENT… you know, the bit where people WALK… and he yelled at ME, calling me some highly unsavoury names for not paying attention to where I was walking… on the fucking PAVEMENT… so I hate the man. And all he stands for.

Now here’s the thing… it always feels from Jethro's ‘comedy’ that he is just relying on the hilarity of a Westcountry accent; that it doesn’t matter what he actually says because saying it in a Cornish drawl will just make it funny. And people flock to see him on this very basis… I don’t get it. At all.

And the few occasions I saw Charlie Baker on the TV it felt he was doing the same. He said something, it wasn’t particularly funny, so he repeated with his Devonshire accent and it suddenly was. And I thought “Yea, cos the world needs another fucking Jethro” and ignored everything else he had to say.

Whether he was doing that and has now moved on or if it is simply that my perception was jaded at the time I will never know but I am happy to say that now it is not the case.


Charlie Baker is a very funny guy. A little rough around the edges, he came across as incredibly nervous at first and I’ll be honest his inexperience was extremely apparent, but once he settled and got a feel for the audience he had everyone on side. It would be interesting to see him perform in his own right, rather than as warm-up to someone else, as much of what he was doing was telling us how brilliant Josh was going to be (which to be honest, most people there already knew so he could have just relaxed and done his own thing!) In fact, he was by far the most ‘warm-uppy’ support act I have ever seen… not a bad thing, of course… on a cold, gloomy Friday evening at the end of a long, hard week you really want someone to gee you along a little. And he certainly did that! But I’d have liked to hear more of his great material than the constant references to what we should expect.

I really hope he comes back to these parts next year – it will be great to watch him develop as he learns to channel his nerves more productively.



By contrast, Josh Widdicombe was, as one would expect, calm relaxed and perfectly paced with his delivery of a brilliant set. There are certain local things he referenced which had been mentioned by other comedians (I did wonder for a moment if he hadn’t been in the audience of the Seann Walsh show at the same venue a few months ago!) and there was a moment I thought his interaction with one particular audience member was going on for too long, although I think it is testament to his ability to read his audience that he realised at this point he was losing the interest of the rest of us and drew back to his material. That said, though, even that intercourse itself was entertaining and banter-fuelled rather than simply insulting and putting down the vocal interjector.


I always think you can tell a show has gone well if they finish and you find yourself in that confusion over time – “Really? They’ve only been talking for 10 minutes, surely? Oh more than an hour? You sure?” And I very much found myself in that situation at the completion of both sets.

So anyway…

As usual I will close by saying should you find either stopping by your area (so to speak) do make the effort to go see them! I know it seems I always say that- what can I say but that I am lucky to have never seen a dud live act (yet!)

Richard Herring’s Objective

I know this is old, but it’s being repeated right now on R4 so that makes it completely relevant!

Besides, I think when this was around before I was far too deeply in a state of shallow pretentiousness to appreciate what Herring has to offer.


The premise of this show is that Richard Herring is claiming back things which have acquired a bad name over time, discussing why they became icons of negativity and how we can once again make them popular.

There have been two series thus far and they are currently being repeated in a somewhat hotch-potch fashion on a Tuesday evening at 11pm.

This is really worth a listen. I have to say, I feel somewhat cheated of the comic genius of Herring having wasted so many years with an irrational, unqualified dislike of him but I am catching up gradually and very much liking what I hear.

In the current episode which you will find on the Iplayer, the point for discussion was the hoodie. It will surprise no-one that the conversation ridicules the notion that hooded tops are worn only by the young and the idea that anyone wearing one is automatically pre-disposed to cause trouble whilst also pointing out the irony of hoodies being sold in the very places which were first to ban them. Very funny as well as making us stop and think about our own prejudices.

Catch the current ep here: Richard Herring's Objective
Or tune in to BBC Radio Four next Tuesday for the discussion on the St George Flag.

Hit the Road Jack

In this show, we see Jack Whitehall travel the UK giving his take on each place through celebrity guest interviews, Beadle-esque hidden camera sketches and a night spent with residents of the host city. So far we have seen him visit both Cardiff and Newcastle.

I have to say, this surprised me greatly.

When channel four first started to laud the coming of this show, I was unsure as to whether Jack Whitehall could pull-off character work. Should you have read my review of Fresh Meat, you will see where I was coming from, I am sure. My concern at the time was that the character played by Whitehall was simply an extension of the persona he portrays onstage, so really showed little acting ability beyond any we were already seeing but I am happy to say that I really do feel the characters we see him play work.

In general, I am not a fan of the type of shows which have hidden camera pranks – even in the heyday of the format with the likes of Candid Camera I found it generally to be quite an immature, lazy excuse for comedy, although I was quite a pretentious teen! The modern wave of shows following the format seem to have an added quality of cruelty and general disregard for the people being duped which to my mind is completely unnecessary. Jack’s pranks don’t do that: they have an element of reality to them that does not leave the subject seeming (and I guess feeling) a complete tool for falling for them and as such we can just enjoy them for what they are. Ok, maybe they are not falling-about-on-the-floor funny, but entertaining-and-I’d-happily-watch-more funny… and there isn’t much more you could ask from a television show than that really, is there?

The other elements work well, too; the guests thus far have been very entertaining and taken on the spirit of the show whilst the sketches showing how Jack passed an evening with his hosts are also very funny.

You can catch the two episodes which have aired already on the 4od player by clicking the pic below:



Next episode is on Channel 4 on Tuesday at 10.35pm and obviously on +1 at 11.35… check listings for other repeats. No excuses for missing it; it’s well worth half an hour of anyone’s time!

Sarah Millican's Television Programme

I was asked whether I had bothered to watch this show given my review of Sarah Millican’s DVD, but those who read that should at least have been able to notice I did acknowledge that she was still every bit as funny as ever; I just didn’t think it came across well on DVD…

So with that in mind, you should know that the programme is absolutely brilliant! It is great to see Sarah moving beyond stand-up and I really think the format suits her well. Interacting with guests and audience alike, she is able to fire off quick-witted responses and just be her natural hilarious self in a way which stand-up doesn’t necessarily allow. Don’t take my word for it, either… for once I have been so prompt with this review you might actually catch every episode! And that is how good this is!

In this first episode, we were treated to a great sketch based on flirting tips from guest, Tracey Cox and an incredibly revealing interview with Chris Packham.

As an aside, not sure what gives with him… for the most part, the guys I spent my teen years lusting after have matured into incredibly attractive men; Packham is very much the exception! Sure I am not the only one who spent the interview with my eyes closed imagining he still looked like this:

But I digress… not that you’d expect anything else from me!

It’s a fabulous show, so watch the first episode on the Iplayer now. New episodes air BBC2 Thursdays at 10pm (11.30 in NI) and are repeated on Saturdays at 11pm.

Social Club FM

I promise I will get better at doing these right away… once again, though, I have to admit that I have had to rewrite many times (not that it should surprise anyone!)

So anyway, having just listened to the third instalment of this show I can only say it is every bit as brilliant as you should expect!

*Deleted bullshit gushy nonsense*

See I did once say I would never attempt to review anything Chris Corcoran had touched on, but I am supposed to be a professional – I should be able to do this, right? So here goes; I have plied the inner-fangirl with what some might consider dangerous levels of caffeine, so she should be quiet for a while… let’s see how well this goes…

Brilliant, original, unique… and hugely funny.

That should do, no?

What you actually wanted full sentences? That might be harder to do…


Okay:

The main characters of Rex (Elis James) and Mr Chairman (Chris Corcoran) are already well-established, having stemmed from the live Committee Meetings so there is already a certain chemistry between them. The relationship between the characters is clear and uncomplicated and is played out perfectly by Messers James and Corcoran. There is a subtlety to the dialogue which I love because it isn’t always obvious where the laugh will come from, drawing the listener further into the story and whilst at times the plot might seem to descend into an almost farcical slapstick situation, it never feels contrived or sensationalised; a testament indeed to the sheer brilliance of the pair!

And I will leave it there, I think, whilst it still seems *fairly* professional!


I am afraid as always if you have awaited my go-ahead, you have missed the first episode, but episodes two and three are available on the Iplayer (if you hurry!). New episodes air on Fridays at 7pm on BBC Radio Wales.

I will add a sound-bite later, but for now you can see the pair on this collection of Committee Meeting videos:

Rhod Gilbert: Flaming Tattoo (Guest Review)

We have a guest reviewer today: please welcome Chris Williams to the blog. Check out his own blog at From the Stalls Chris is reviewing another Rhod Gilbert preview show for his upcoming tour The Man with the Flaming Battenburg Tattoo.

Last week was Rhod Gilbert’s charity gig at the Parc & Dare Treorchy. Firstly well done for raising over £6,000 for the Valleys Kids charity.
He was late but we didn’t really mind, even his reason for being late was funny, he apparently “just left late” and he literally went on stage straight from his car, hadn’t had anything to eat and needed a pee. He spent a few minutes on the venue and telling us why he likes playing the valleys, and the audiences (we “just take the piss” apparently), including an incident with a parking space and man in his dressing gown (and nothing else).
The material seemed familiar, as it would to anyone who watches and listens to Rhod on TV and radio - I mean who could forget that particular ‘Work Experience’ episode that this tour’s name comes from? But it wasn’t too familiar, I personally forgot about the show he was on at Christmas so the bit about his girlfriend’s present to him was fairly new. As it was a preview show he said some of it worked and some didn’t but personally couldn’t find fault with any of it, saying that though the “Toasty Jeff/travelling chef” possibly went on a tiny bit too long but was still hilarious. The whole thing was a hilarious anger-rant filled two hours leading up to the video punch-line we’ve come to expect; this one was funnier than the last. If this was just a work-in-progress the polished show should be awesome!
At the end of the gig he auctioned off a pair of tickets (£200 to the same charity) to see him in London, the audience managed to get him to pay for the travel but couldn’t get him to pay for an hotel too.

For my own review on this tour, click here!

Alexander Armstrong’s Big Ask

I really do not envy those charged with coming up with new ideas for television shows. At first glance, it doesn’t seem too different to what I do; the need to attack themes covered by others many times over in a different way, trying to find something every person who has gone before you has missed… but when you think about it properly, the complexities of a completely different type of television show is far harder – to be different enough to stand out, whilst not alienating your potential audience…to give enough room for those appearing on the show to be themselves, yet to keep it within a base template… it’s not a simple process at all.

So here we have a new kind of quiz-meets-panel-meets-chat show hosted quite predictably by the incredibly likeable Alexander Armstrong. I love the genuineness which Armstrong generally emanates – he amazes me on his fantastic afternoon quiz show Pointless in the way he interacts so openly and honestly with the contestants as an equal rather than the usual patronising “I’m famous, you aren’t” from other quiz hosts and it is nice to see that his personality is much the same in this; showing us that even if it is all an act, at least he puts on the same front with celebs as the general public – and that is the sort of thing that matters, isn’t it!

And before I descend into another rant of fandom, I will address the content of the show itself…

The format is a simple one: three guests are given topics on which to provide a question their co-panelists are to answer. I have to say, the range of questions so far has been brilliant – but that is, I guess, dependant on the guests. Armstrong does a fabulous job of giving equal forum to each guest, facilitating conversation between them all brilliantly and contributing his own thoughts without overly dominating the show. This balance must be quite difficult, yet it does seem to come quite easily to him, giving the programme an overall relaxed, neutral atmosphere.

I have to say, the highlight by far for me has to have been watching Marcus Brigstocke and Graham Norton try to explain the concept of vajazzling to Sandi Toksvig – with Norton giving the classic line: “Imagine icing a cake, but the cake is a vagina.”

If you are as much a collector of useless information as I am, you will love the eclectic nature of this show. I also love that we get a rather unique insight into the minds of the guests in the type of question they bring and the way they answer those of the others.

This really is a brilliant show, so you should make efforts to catch its repeats of which there are many!

New episodes air on Dave on Mondays at 9pm.

Pantheon of Heroes

Maybe it’s just me, but were I reading a review blog which lauded something and promised a proper review at a later date, I probably wouldn’t wait for the review before actually listening. But it seems that some of you have been. So I am sorry to have made you miss the first three episodes of this brilliant radio show, but I take no responsibility for your lack of aptitude to just listen and make up your own minds. In fact, it is sometimes better if you land on a review with some idea of your own thoughts, as that creates a space for debate (as borne out in my review of the Irish show, Sketchy and the ensuing conversation – and the rather interesting list of search terms on my google report which lead people to that particular post!)

I didn’t lie to you, it was written long ago. In fact, I first wrote it immediately having listened to the initial episode… and have re-written many times since. It seems that whenever I think it’s done, I have one last read-through before posting and just think it sounds as though I am fangirling in the worst way – and I am not. I can offer little as evidence but for my own words but that should be enough. You can see the blatant signs of my fangirl nature in many posts here (not naming names, as that messes with the search engine thing, but regular readers will know well enough… and the tag cloud probably has an inkling!)

I do love Elis James’ work though; he just oozes a natural funniness which is most apparent in the fact that whilst most comedians will hit with some and fail with others I have yet to meet anyone who claims not to find him funny.

With that in mind, I shall attempt one last time to hammer something out for you…

The principle behind the show is thus:

Elis James, ably assisted by Ben Partridge and Nadia Kamil and with the use of the custom-made totaliser, is setting up a pantheon dedicated to the heroes of Wales. In each episode, we are given a breakdown of the achievements of a group of candidates to represent a category of history via sketches and dialogue before one icon is chosen to be immortalised in the garden of statues.

There really isn’t an element of the show that isn’t funny. The interaction between the three stars is natural and really funny, the sketches are hilarious and indeed the whole concept is just brilliant!

There is not much more I can say than that, really.

I have tried and the more I say the more it gets gushy and ridiculous until it comes across as completely insincere… so just listen and make up your own mind. I have struggled to find a clip to embed, mostly because much of the content relies on what comes before and after it but also because when everything is funny it is hard to find a moment which stands out. This particular clip from the Religion episode features Elis affecting a brilliant Irish accent to impersonate the singer, Enya which very much made me chuckle! Enjoy!



Catch the show on I-player, or on BBC Radio Wales (available outside Wales via Sky TV or through "Listen Live" on the BBC Radio Wales website). New episodes air on Fridays at 7pm.

Gwlad yr Astra Gwyn

I doubt any of you will have caught this show, but really you must.

Ok; it is in Welsh, but to be honest I think if a person is so narrow-minded that they will avoid things just because they might have to read a subtitle or two they are restricting themselves in the worst way.

As a person new to speaking Welsh, I have to say the best thing by far for me was that there was no complexity in the language, so it was easy to keep up with, but I am aware this makes me a niche market! If I were to have a complaint it would be that this programme didn’t have subtitles ‘yn Gymraeg’ because I find that helps!

But this is not a Welsh review, so I’ll get to the point…

It’s a simple premise:

Trefor runs a taxi service, aided by his unseen sister on the radio. The show is shot entirely inside the taxi as we meet his regular customers going about their daily lives. The characters we meet are extremely funny and there is a high energy to the programme, with almost the feel of a sketch show; possibly testament to the show’s origin as part of a sketch show itself, but regardless it keeps a good pace throughout.

The humour is puerile, crude and base, but is hilariously so, drawing the viewer into Trefor’s world and making us feel very much a part of every fare.

Trefor is brilliantly played by Rhodri Meilir, who will be best known to English audiences from BBC appearances in My Family and Dr Who but has a huge range of credits on Welsh-language television and there are a few other familiar faces amongst the cast of customers.

It is a brilliant show! You should know by now that I do not say anything I don’t mean, so click the piccy below to watch online, or catch it on Sky channel 134 on Thursday nights at 10pm.







Update:5th Oct 2012

Series two is currently airing on Wednesday nights at 9.30pm with repeats on Fridays at 11.35pm. This new offering is every bit as funny as the first series, so be sure to check it out!

That is all!

House of Rooms

I tried to come into watching this void of any preconceptions… something thankfully made far easier by its being so completely different than could possibly be expected that the moment it started I forgot all about Milton’s fantastic stand-up and was whisked away into his little world.

Being a surrealist at heart, I loved the bizarreness of the whole affair as we see the down-beaten Milton struggle to cope with the popularity of new tenant Paul, especially from his love interest, Alice, and has a brilliantly thought-out sub-plot I shan’t detail for fear of ruining it for you!

I will be honest, there were parts of it which put me in mind of ‘Flight of the Conchordes’… not for the content but for the general ambience of the show, with subtle sound effects and the occasional musical backing track. Not that I consider that a bad thing, by a long stretch… Conchordes is fabulous! Suffice it to say that if you liked one, you would most likely feel the same way about the other!

To my mind, Jones proved brilliantly that his one-liner style can fit perfectly into a sitcom with script which is absolutely hilarious in the most understated way.

As a pilot offering, I really hope this becomes a full series at some point… I for one will be very much looking forward to it!


Click the image to view the show on 4oD

Stella

Stella is a brilliant new comedy drama written by and starring Ruth Jones. Jones’ character is a single mother trying to work hard to provide for herself and her children in spite of the issues life throws in her way.

Ok, if you have been waiting on this review to decide whether to watch this series or not, you will be disappointed to have missed the first few episodes! Not to worry, though, I am sure they will be repeated at some point and one of the joys of this show is that you really can just step in anywhere so no need for an extensive catch-up session; there are no complexities in the plot, no twists or surprises - it really is quite a simple story of one woman struggling to do her best by her family against all the normal stresses of modern life.

This show is equally hilarious and poignant, giving me personally many a teary moment of empathy towards our eponymous heroine, played brilliantly by Ruth Jones. It is always a tricky act to follow a hugely successful project such as Gavin and Stacey but Jones has managed it perfectly with this offering, being both beautifully written and really well executed.

I personally love the backdrop, too, as we see the amazing Welsh scenery – and I know, you will think I am biased, but honestly I do believe that it further adds to the dichotomy of the show in that we see this almost idyllic scene in spite of which there are people really struggling to get by. It yells to me of a deeper message about taking note of our surroundings and being grateful for what we have rather than lamenting what we don’t… but this may just be incidental! It has often been said though that I think too deeply about things which really do not matter!

The cast are all fantastic, playing their characters wonderfully to the point where even exaggerated traits seem perfectly normal.

I really struggle to find a weak point in this series at all, so watch and enjoy!

You can watch videos of the show here: Sky One.com Stella Videos and new episodes air on Fridays at 9pm.

The Café: Sky One

Sky One have really stepped up their output lately. Here at Camp FE, we very much enjoyed the recent new comedy ‘Trollied’ which I had intended to talk about on this blog at various points, until it became too far into the series for anyone to catch up, and now we have a new offering in the form of The Cafe.

The café in question is Cyril’s, named after the late husband of the show’s matriarchal figure Mary. The café is owned by Mary’s daughter, Carol whose own daughter, Sarah helps out whilst awaiting the publication of her books for children. So far, episodes have based off-season, so things are quiet giving us the chance to get to know the characters and I would like to see it stay that way, if I am truly honest.

I have to say I absolutely love this show! That said, I do wonder how much of the appeal for me lies in the familiarity of having lived in a tourist region and worked in plenty of cafés such as this one; I have to ponder a little over whether there is as much interest from those who have never known the drear of an off-season seaside town, the tight-knit community feeling that comes of being stuck in a place that dies once autumn hits or the impossibility of a group of people tucking into a cream tea without the inevitable creamfirst/jamfirst row*.

The show is written by and stars Ralf Little and Michelle Terry and is scripted in such a beautifully understated way. There are no big gags around the corner, no moments of slapstick or cheap jokes, no drawn-out setup for an obvious ending; simply the observations of the quirks and idiosyncrasies we see as we go about life. It is a peculiarity to me that even those characters for whom we are supposed to feel little respect have such a level of realism and humility that we are just drawn completely into their world, understanding them to such a huge extent.

This series could be based in pretty much any café in any seaside town; the characters and conversations will always be the same and it is that tone of reality that makes it a truly special comedy.

You can watch the trailer for the series here and find links to watch episodes you have missed.

In terms of adding media, I would love to link directly to the show’s theme, “Beyond the Sea” sung by the brilliant Kathryn Williams but in my hours of searching I can find only one version which has really poor sound quality, so instead I am linking to another song by the same singer. She has a truly beautiful, haunting voice and I hope having her song used for this show brings her the renown she deserves.




*Whilst being a long-standing argument, I have to state that it is actually born of pure logic that cream being the more resilient substance should come first: FACT. The pressure required to remove proper quality clotted cream from the knife would always force the jam from the scone. It’s a matter of physics… I am sure if you asked a scientist, they would give you the name for the process too. And since I am on the subject… should you be lucky enough to get the crystally bits from the top of the cream – do not send it back declaring it is ‘off’, be sodding grateful… that’s the best bit! Damned grocks!

Jimmy Carr: Being Funny

There is little Jimmy Carr says that does not have me falling about laughing, although I do judge each new offering on its own merit.

This particular DVD is as one would expect: crude, juvenile and downright offensive… so it should not surprise you in the least that I loved every moment!

If you like your comedy safe and held within clearly defined boundaries, maybe this is not the DVD for you, although I am sure we can find something suitable for you in the annals of comedy history.

If you have never seen any of Jimmy Carr’s stage shows, you should be aware that his TV persona is very much “Jimmy-lite” so if you have ever felt offended by anything he has said on television, you should possibly also avoid this… or any of his other DVD’s for that matter, but then you possibly would not be bothering to read this review anyway, so not to worry!


Were I a ‘stars and rankings’ type of reviewer, I would very much put this near the top of my chart with full stars – absolutely brilliant!

Click > Buy > Watch > Laugh
‘Tis a simple process!

John Bishop: Sunshine Tour

There is no getting away from the fact that John Bishop is every ounce comic genius. That said, I do wonder how much longevity there is in the character of “Working class scouser makes good” he portrays. Yes, this DVD was very funny and although it was one I borrowed for the purpose of this review I will be buying it myself at some point, but I do feel as though he needs to come up with something new for the coming year in order to hold on to his current position as one of the best comedians on the circuit.

But I am digressing…

Plenty of new material, mixed with a little of the stuff we have been seeing on his many television appearances throughout the year, but not so much that you have that “Seen it before” feeling.

A great offering from a brilliant entertainer; most definitely worth buying and watching many times!