The Week in Comedy: Dave Gorman, Jim Davidson & Lee Mack
Dave Gorman is to host a new telly show – on Dave. Modern Life Is Goodish For Dave is about annoying things in modern life, and, according to the blurb, incorporates “a blend of stand up, visual storytelling and real-world experimentation.”
Netflix have announced that the new series of Arrested Development will be available to watch from 26 May, with all 15 episodes of the cult comedy released online from 8am. Creator Mitch Huritz said: “My simple wish for the show is coming true: that it be broadcast every second around the clock to every television, computer or mobile device in existence.”
After the success of Comedy Walk 2013 – when 20 comics walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall for charity – organiser Nick Banks has announced it’ll become an annual event. He posted on the event’s Facebook page: “Hadrian’s Wall walk 2014 will be happening. New charity, one day longer and in May. Keep an eye out for future announcements.”
Lee Nelson creator Simon Brodkin will not face prosecution after he began warming up alongside Manchester City players, before a Premier League match against Everton. Defence lawyer Raymond Shaw said: “It was intended to be a humorous act and intended to be funny. It is clear from the television footage that some of the players were amused but he didn’t know it was a criminal offence.” Er. Aye.
The new episode of The Peacock and Gamble Podcast, hosted by comedy website Chortle, reached number two in the iTunes charts last week. The duo are currently writing their Radio 4 pilot, Peacock and Gamble’s Emergency Broadcast.
Craig Campbell is releasing his first stand-up DVD on 13 May – but it’ll only be available on iTunes. 4DVD’s Pippa Simmons said: “The digital platform allows us to provide up-and -coming comedians the ability to reach a whole new audience through home entertainment, and we are excited to be releasing the first of its kind.”
Always on the ball, The Stand Comedy Club have announced their Fringe programme for the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe. It’s filled with quality North East acts, from Sarah Millican to Seymour Mace.
Geordie comedian Gavin Webster on his part in Sky1 comedy Starlings: “I play a character called Martin. He’s a crazy Geordie loner who writes dark sadistic poetry on a creative writing course. So there you go, it’s art imitating my life; my integrity remains intact.”
Bit of self-indulgence coming up… We’re organising a comedy quiz night in Newcastle. It’s on the first Monday of every month and you’re invited. £2 in, loads of cracking prizes.
Anvil Springstein is leaving the North East comedy scene behind – to go and live Down Under. “In Sunderland he once suggested that we chin a fifteen year old and cocky Ross Noble, just for the hell of it,” says Steve Drayton. “I’ll miss him.”
Elsewhere, Stewart Lee has lent his voice to a mobile app that recites Kurt Schwitters’ poem London Onion. Jane Pollard, who co-created iPhone app Londonion, said: “We needed somebody who was going to be able to jump into it and have a wryness and a dryness and cope with the repetition and the phonic abstraction of it, and yet do it with a delivery that makes the poem contemporary and brings it to life, and that’s where Stewart Lee comes in for us.” Nonsense.
Jim Davidson has been banned from a theatre in Canterbury for being too offensive. Mark Everett, director of The Marlowe, said Davidson “generates such strong feeling, particularly among women and the disabled.”
Let’s finish on a lighter note (for a change). Lee Mack has confirmed his BBC One sitcom Not Going Out will return for a seventh series next year. Speaking on The One Show, he said: “We’re doing a Christmas special, then another series, then another Christmas special – and then I’m having a breakdown!”
That’s all for this week. Check back every Sunday morning for another brief round-up of the week’s comedy craic – or get your daily dose on Twitter: @GiggleBeats
