Simon Brodkin review – famed stunt-comic ditches the alter egos

The Stables, Milton KeynesThe man who shamed Trump and Blatter turns his gaze inward for an evening of self-reflective standup“Anonymous prankster” is what the media calls Simon Brodkin, a man more famous for his stunts and his cheeky chappie character…

Continue Reading

Angela Barnes: Hot Mess review – glimpses of the real Barnes shine through generic lines

Leicester Square theatre, LondonThe comedian is at her best when she treats us as her confidantes rather than aiming for well-worn targetsOn one day in 2021 two major life events – one terrible, one wonderful – coincided for “TV’s Angela Barnes” – so i…

Continue Reading

Angela Barnes: Hot Mess review – glimpses of the real Barnes shine through generic lines

Leicester Square theatre, LondonThe comedian is at her best when she treats us as her confidantes rather than aiming for well-worn targetsOn one day in 2021 two major life events – one terrible, one wonderful – coincided for “TV’s Angela Barnes” – so i…

Continue Reading

Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café review – sketch comedy trio scramble for laughs in new show

The premise of running a Melbourne cafe has heaps of potential – but while there’s always joy to be found in the zaniness, this series isn’t their bestGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAustralian comedy troupe Aunty Donna’s previous series, Bi…

Continue Reading

The Fast Show’s Dave Angel – Eco Warrior: ‘Trump and Musk should be forced to cage fight’

The man in the trilby and bomber jacket – a dead ringer for comic Simon Day – was an eco-warrior before it was fashionable. Now he’s back, with big muesli plans and some thoughts on Greta ThunbergYou will remember Dave Angel: Eco Warrior as the Essex-b…

Continue Reading

Script, what script? Why Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz can’t quit improv

The beloved sitcom’s scene-stealer may now be hot Hollywood property, starring alongside Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage, but he refuses to move on from his first love. As he scores a Netflix special and heads for the UK, he explains its allurePlenty of Ho…

Continue Reading

Script, what script? Why Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz can’t quit improv

The beloved sitcom’s scene-stealer may now be hot Hollywood property, starring alongside Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage, but he refuses to move on from his first love. As he scores a Netflix special and heads for the UK, he explains its allurePlenty of Ho…

Continue Reading

Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont: ‘All couples argue – but we put our arguments on TV’

Meet the Richardsons sees the married standups play fictional versions of themselves – but that doesn’t mean reality doesn’t creep in from time to time“We don’t stay in posh hotels in London,” says Jon Richardson. In a posh hotel in London. “We’re not …

Continue Reading

Eshaan Akbar review – navigating the choppy waters of UK racial politics

Cambridge JunctionThe Londoner is argumentative, entertaining and full of bracing good sense as he catalogues his personal experiences of racism“What’s your favourite racism?” With this question, Eshaan Akbar opens his debut touring show. The Londoner’…

Continue Reading

Weekend podcast: remembering Paul O’Grady, Marina Hyde on Gwyneth’s trial, and Zoe Williams refutes the ‘men are trash’ narrative

Marina Hyde confesses how couldn’t tear her eyes away from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial (1m32s); from Camden council care worker to trailblazing icon, we revisit an interview with Paul O’Grady from 2017 (9m34s); and Zoe Williams laments the revival of the…

Continue Reading