The Week in Comedy: Robin Ince, Daniel Kitson & Derek
Unhappy with his performance on Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Experience, Robin Ince has ruled out any future TV appearances. He wrote on his blog: “As I have moved further into middle age I have become increasingly uncomfortable with television.”
Zoe Lyons on the mainstream vs alternative comedy debate: “I think that it’s a conversation we should be having in green rooms before gigs, but is it any interest to the general public? I doubt it.”
Daniel Kitson has heading out on tour this spring. Kitson told his mailing list that he started writing new show After The Beginning, Before The End “somewhere between East London and South London.” Dates.
Meanwhile, North East comic Abi Roberts has revealed she’s following in the footsteps of Dylan Moran and doing a stand-up tour in Russia. However unlike Moran, who used live translation, Roberts intends to perform the whole thing in Russian. Details.
Funny Women has defended its decision to charge comedians a £15 registration fee to take part in its annual female-only competition, declaring: “We don’t charge people to perform.” Er.
Jo Brand is hosting a new quiz about comedy on UKTV channel Gold. Barry Cryer and Rebecca Front will also be involved as team captains.
The BBC has announced a new comedy about a bomb disposal unit in Afghanistan. Executive producer Stephen McCrum said: “I cannot think of any other UK comedy that is set in an ongoing conflict like this, and it is certainly the first from the BBC.” The eight-part series starts next month on BBC Three.
Impressionist Morgana Robinson is also piloting a new sitcom for the channel. Robinson was named ‘best breakthrough artist’ at the 2012 British Comedy Awards.
Speaking of awards, Marc Lucero has won Silver Comedian of the Year at the Leicester Comedy Festival. The award is for comedians over 55.
Over on ITV, Dom Joly’s hidden camera show Fool Britannia has been given a second series.
Newcastle City Hall will avoid closure after the city’s council backtracked on plans to cut arts funding by 100%. Instead, arts initiatives will be given a £600,000 a year pot for maintenance and development. Read.
There’s no word yet on how the 60% arts sector cut will affect the Live Theatre and Theatre Royal, though.
Mitch Benn has announced plans to write and record a comedy album within a 24 hour period in aid of Comic Relief.
Finally, Stewart Francis has revealed that Ricky Gervais used to try out his ‘Derek’ character backstage when they toured together in 2010. Francis said: “Oh, I love that character and I loved the pilot. Ricky used to ask me if I should do it and I would always encourage him. He’d appear at my door and I’d be like, ‘Oh, there’s Derek.”
That’s all for this week, folks. Check back every Sunday morning for another brief round-up of the week’s comedy chatter – or get your daily dose on Twitter: @GiggleBeats.
