================================== B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T ================================== VOL. II CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT December 15, 1995 No. 6 A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies. What's Inside: ============== * The Results of The British Comedy Awards * BD's Second Annual Christmas Television Guide Staff ===== Managing Editor..................Melinda 'Bob' Casino Co-Editor........................Michelle Street Copy Editor......................Cynthia Edwards __________________________________________________________________________ Britcomedy Digest (ISSN 1077-6680) Copyright (c) 1995, 1996 by Melinda Casino. Reproduction for personal and non-profit use is permitted only if this copyright notice is retained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission from the Editor. __________________________________________________________________________ Puttin' on the Ritz -- The Performance of the Presenters At the 1995 British Comedy Awards ================================= This year, the British Comedy Awards chose for its theme, "The Glories of Ancient Rome." Or, as host Jonathan Ross put it, "The glories of Ancient Wome." (He was later to receive some feeble ribbing from MP John Redwood, to which he retorted, "That was a wancourous thing to say, sir!") Really, the theme should have been "Hollywood in the UK." Not only did the show resemble the Oscars more this year in its presentation and feel, but the stars were out in full force. Lauren Hutton gave the award for "Top Channel 4 Entertainment Presenter," and Liza Minnelli pleased the audience by singing a tribute to Bruce Forsythe, who won the "Lifetime Achievement in Variety" award. Other comedy greats honored were Peter Cook, whose posthumous award acceptance speech was given via satellite by Dudley Moore; and Bob Monkhouse, who was this year's recipient of "The Lifetime Achievement Award." And the long-standing "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" won for "Best Radio Comedy." WOSS GWEAT HOST If you could get beyond the speech impediment, the sexy Jonathan Ross did a marvelous job of moving the show along and quickly dispatching guest-presenters who intentionally gave him a hard time (e.g. Freddie Star). He couldn't rein in Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, though: they upstaged and distracted poor Martin Clunes, who won the first award that night, for "Top Television Comedy Actor." Eventually, Martin had to cut his speech short due to Reeves' and Mortimer's lack of decorum (and who is surprised? next time, just invite the blonde). Speaking of lack of decorum, Michael Barrymore brought down the house by literally hanging around with Jonathan Ross after he had collected the "Best ITV Entertainment Presenter" award. In no time at all, he'd climbed a Roman column and unplugged Jonathan Ross's auto-cue machine, at which point the program cut to commercials. Once back, Barrymore quickly disappeared into the audience upon hearing that Freddie Star was the next presenter. Angus Deayton presented the Writer's Guild Award for "Top Television Comedy Writer" (which went jointly to Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton) in one of the most memorable short speeches of the night. Well ... I couldn't give you any definite quotes, but it *was* very funny. Really. When Noel Edmonds was announced as the winner of the "Top BBC Entertainment Presenter," there was an audible "awww" of disappointment from the audience. It was the second year in a row he had won the prize, and he was up against favorites Frank Skinner and Jim Davidson. Luckily, no Mr. Blobby this year. SAYING IT WITH STYLE The most interesting aspect of the ceremony was a chance to see what kind of acceptance speech the comedians would give. Spontaneous? Pompous? Blubbering? Alas, no one cried that night ... well, at least Hollywood still has one more trick to teach the UK... :) Britcomedy Digest gives the "I'm a Real Person" medal to twice-nominated Jo Brand who, after winning "Best Stand-Up Comedy," delivered a raspberry to all those who didn't support her when she was struggling. The other award she was nominated for, "Best Female Comedy Performer," went to Victoria Wood for "Live in Your Own Home." Jack Dee seemed downright disgusted as he gave his surly acceptance speech for "Top TV Personality." That perfect scowl he wore was no doubt what earned him the award in the first place... And Carolyn Quinton got a laugh when, after accepting the award for "Best Television Comedy Actress," she said, "I feel badly, because I didn't get you anything." SOLEMN MOMENT QUICKLY DISSIPATED The most solemn moment of the night occurred when Archbishop Desmond Tutu was announced as the presenter for "Best Television Comedy/Drama." The applause that followed was the longest of the night, as audience members were reminded of pressing world issues that, perhaps, put the comedy awards in *too much* perspective for a moment. However, the threat of the atmosphere becoming sober was quelled by Jonathan Ross, who added some levity by questioning whether one is supposed to address an archbishop as "my Grace" or "Your Grace." (It's "Your Grace," just in case you didn't know.) ### THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 1995 BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS ------------------------------------------------ The following are the nominations and winners for each of the 23 awards.^ A * appears next to the recipient of the award. The nominations were made by TV and film companies, radio stations, and theatre and comedy club managements throughout in the United Kingdom. The judges consisted of members of The Writer's Guild of Great Britain and a jury of top executives for all of the comedy fields represented. _______________________________________________________________ Top TV Comedy Actor: * Martin Clunes (Men Behaving Badly) Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave) Robert Daws (Outside Edge) Top BBC Entertainment Presenter: * Noel Edmonds (Noel Edmonds' House Party) Jim Davidson (Jim Davidson's Generation Game) Frank Skinner (The Frank Skinner Show) Best Female Comedy Performer: * Victoria Wood (Live in Your Own Home) Jo Brand (Jo Brand: Through the Christmas Cakehole) Caroline Hook (The Mrs. Merton Show) Best ITV Entertainment Presenter: * Michael Barrymore (Barrymore) Cilla Black (Blind Date) Clive James (The Clive James Show) Top Television Comedy Actress: * Caroline Quenton (Men Behaving Badly) Annette Crosby (One Foot in the Grave) Josie Lawrence (Outside Edge) Best Radio Comedy: * I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Harry Hill's Fruit Corner People Like Us Top Channel 4 Entertainment Presenter: * Chris Evans (Don't Forget Your Toothbrush) Antoine de Caunes/Jean-Paul Gaultier (Eurotrash) Gaby Roslin (The Big Breakfast) Best BBC Sitcom: * One Foot in the Grave Absolutely Fabulous Men Behaving Badly Lifetime Achievement Award: * Bob Monkhouse Best Entertainment Series: * Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Barrymore The Fantasy Football League Best Television Comedy/Drama: * Preston Front Eleven Men Against Eleven Outside Edge Top Television Personality: * Jack Dee Billy Connolly Lee Evans Best ITV Sitcom: * Is It Legal? Surgical Spirit Time after Time Writer's Guild Award for Top Television Comedy Writer: * Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton Best Television Comedy Newcomer: * Ardal O'Hanlon (Father Ted) Harry Hill (Fruit Stand) A woman from "Vicar of Dibley"+ Best Television Comedy Film: * Bullets Over Broadway Pulp Fiction Muriel's Wedding Best Comedy: * Rory Bremner... Who Else? Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge The Mrs. Merton Show Best Channel 4 Sitcom: * Drop the Dead Donkey Father Ted Desmond's Posthumous Award for British Comedy: * Peter Cook Best Stand-Up Comedian: * Jo Brand Alan Davies Bob Monkhouse Best New Television Comedy: * Father Ted (Hat Trick Productions/Channel 4) The World of Lee Evans (Granada TV/Channel 4) Is it Legal? (Carlton UK TV) Top Male Comedy Performer: * John Bird and John Fortune (The Long Johns) Steve Coogan (Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge) Rory Bremner (Rory Bremner... Who Else?) Lifetime Achievement in Variety: * Bruce Forsyth ________________________________________________________________ ^ Radio Times listed 22 awards, however, I believe that the award for Peter Cook was specially created and added to the regular awards. + Sorry. ### BRITCOMEDY DIGEST'S CHRISTMAS TELEVISION GUIDE! =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Christmas Day -- you've stuffed yourself with turkey, caught up on all the latest family news... now what do you do? Afterall, there are only so many times you can ask Aunt Margy about her hip operation... We recommend a holiday film or special to keep everyone entertained. BD's Christmas Television Guide highlights the best and the brightest British comedy programs airing in the UK. (Although we *did* include a nod to Noel Edmond's "Telly Addicts Christmas Special"... ;) The Guide includes Christmas specials and films, as well as a dose of some regularly scheduled programs that may be of interest. Happy viewing! WEDNESDAY 20 ------------ 10:00 PM Victoria Wood - As Seen On TV BBC 2 Comedy series from 1986 showcases Victoria Wood's talents. 10:30 PM Carry On Matron Sidney James, Kenneth Williams and Joan Simms star in this 1972 comedy movie. 10:55 PM The Dame Edna Christmas Experience Channel 4 Dame Edna Everage invites victims Roger Moore and Lulu on to her chat show. 12:00 Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl Channel 4 The whole gang is here, including Carol Cleveland and Neil Innes, in this 1982 live performance. A must for Python fans! 2:05 AM My Learned Friend Channel 4 Black humor in this 1943 Ealing comedy, starring Will Hay and Mervyn Jones. THURSDAY 21 ----------- 10:20 PM Carry On Columbus BBC 1 Peter Richardson and Jim Dale star in this Carry On film, set in 1492. FRIDAY 22 --------- 6:35 PM Creature Comforts Channel 4 Another Oscar-winning animation from Nick Park. Zoo animals are interviewed about their housing conditions. 9:00 PM The Best Red Dwarf Ever! BBC 2 Whichever episode of this sci-fi/comedy classic gets the most votes will be shown in this slot. Email your vote to by Wednesday December 20. 9:30 PM Coogan's Run BBC 2 Last in the six-part series. "The Curator" showcases Steve Coogan's newest creation, "Tim Fleck," museum curator. Clive Anderson Talks Back Channel 4 Rapid-fire chat show host Clive Anderson and guests. 10:00 PM Have I Got News For You: the Best of 1995 BBC 2 Highlights of the last series. Paul Merton, Angus Deayton, and Ian Hislop. 10:10 PM Sean Hughes is Thirty Somehow Channel 4 Comedian Sean Hughes does stand-up at London's Riverside Studios. Recorded on his 30th birthday. 11:10 PM Fantasy Football League BBC 2 Frank Skinner and David Baddiel create their own football world, with the help of Angus Deayton and others. SATURDAY 23 ----------- 6:00 PM Jim Davidson's Generation Game BBC 1 Jim Davidson and Sally Meen host this Christmas special. 7:00 PM All the Best for Christmas BBC 1 Classic comedy moments from the BBC archives. Includes magic moments from Lenny Henry, Tony Hancock, and "One Foot in the Grave." Hosted by Mike Yarwood. 10:55 PM Have I Got News For You: the Best of 1995 BBC 2 Repeat of Friday's show. SUNDAY 24 CHRISTMAS EVE ----------------------- 4:25 PM The Adventures of Mole Channel 4 Yet another animated adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's "Wind In The Willows." Featuring the voices of Peter Davison, Richard Briers, Hugh Laurie and the late Paul Eddington. 6:15 PM Wallace and Gromit in "A Close Shave" BBC 2 The much-anticipated newest Nick Park animated film featuring Wallace and his lovable dog, Gromit. 7:15 PM The Last of the Summer Wine BBC 1 "A Leg Up for Christmas" stars Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, and Brian Wilde. Written by Roy Clarke. 8:15 PM 2 Point 4 Children BBC 1 "Porky's." The Porter family have a problem with Dave, the pig due for slaughter for Christmas. "You've Been Framed" Christmas Special ITV Jeremy Beadle presents humorous moments in home video. 8:45 PM P.G. Wodehouse's "Heavy Weather" BBC 1 This Wodehouse adaptation stars Peter O'Toole, Richard Briers, Judy Parfitt, Richard Johnson, Sarah Badel, Roy Hudd and David Bamber. Highly recommended. The Mrs. Merson Show BBC 2 Caroline Hook hosts her Christmas chat show. Recently nominated for a British Comedy Award. 9:15 PM Three Fights, Two Weddings and a Funeral BBC 2 Highly recommended comedy starring Steve Coogan in the guise of Paul and his sister Pauline Calf. 9:50 PM Bottom BBC 2 Repeat: "Holy." Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson star as "Richie" and "Eddie," two loathesome flatmates who try to make the best out of their tawdry Christmas celebrations. 10:35 PM Morecambe and Wise BBC 1 Repeat of the 1975 Christmas special. Diana Rigg, Gordon Jackson and Des O'Connor guest-star. 11:40 PM Whose Line Is It Anyway? Channel 4 Highlights and out-takes from some of the best moments in this improvised comedy series. Tony Slattery, Ryan Stiles, Steve Frost, Josie Lawrence, Greg Proops, and Caroline Quentin star. MONDAY 25 CHRISTMAS DAY ----------------------- 1:55 PM Only Fools and Horses BBC 1 A repeat of the 1992 Christmas special. Starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst. 3:15 PM Heroes of Comedy Channel 4 Documentary highlights the best of British stand-up comedy. This episode features Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Les Dawson, Morecambe and Wise, Paul Merton and Victoria Wood. 5:05 PM The Wind in the Willows ITV Carlton Animated feature with the voices of Alan Bennett (Mole), Michael Palin (Rat), and Rik Mayall (Mr. Toad). 6:45 PM Auntie's Brand New Bloomers BBC 1 8:00 PM Keeping Up Appearances BBC 1 Hyacinth Boo-kay organizes an historical pagent. Starring Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift. 9:00 PM One Foot in the Grave BBC 1 "The Wisdom of the Witch": Tarot cards and Victor Meldrew don't mix well. Annette Crosby and Richard Wilson. TUESDAY 26 BOXING DAY --------------------- 9:25 AM Mole's Christmas ITV Carlton Animated film with the voices of Peter Davison and Imelda Staunton. 1:20 PM The Two Ronnies BBC 1 Repeat of the 1987 Christmas show starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. Guests: Charlton Heston and Elton John. 8:00 PM Goodnight Sweetheart BBC 1 Romantic comedy featuring Nicholas Lyndhurst. Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People ITV Carlton Showcase for "talented" young performers. 8:50 PM The Thin Blue Line BBC 1 "Yuletide Spirit": Christmas mishaps with one of the most incompetent police stations in Britain. 9:00 PM A to Z of ATV BBC 2 Memorable clips from 25 years of ATV scheduling, including "Morecambe and Wise" and "Sunday Night at the Palladium." 10:00 PM The Hour of the Pig BBC 2 Film premiere of a comedy starring "Mr. Darcy," a.k.a. Colin Firth. 11:05 PM Just For Laughs Channel 4 Stand-up comedy from the Montreal comedy festival hosted by Frank Skinner. Includes 1995 Perrier Award nominee Boothby Graffoe, and Margaret Smitral. 11:25 PM Clockwise BBC 1 1986 comedy film starring John Cleese and Alison Steadman. 11:35 PM Whose Line Is It Anyway? Channel 4 Highlights from the last series of improvised comedy. Josie Lawrence, Greg Proops, and Caroline Quentin all make appearances. WEDNESDAY 27 ------------ 6:00 PM Wallace and Gromit in "The Wrong Trousers" BBC 2 Oscar award-winning Nick Park animation. 9:00 PM The Likely Lads BBC 2 Christmas Special. 10:50 PM Sorry About Last Night BBC 1 Not to be confused with the movie "About Last Night..." this features Alexei Sayle and Siobhan Redmond as the couple on a date from hell. 11:00 PM Leon the Pig Farmer Channel 4 Low-budget British comedy film. Brian Glover, Annette Crosby, and Connie Booth are among the cast. 11:40 PM Carry On Dick BBC 1 Another Carry On film. THURSDAY 28 ----------- 1:45 PM The Bishop's Wife Channel 4 Classic Christmas film from 1947 not to be missed. Starring Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young. 6:00 PM Wallace and Gromit in "A Grand Day Out" BBC 2 It's a trip to the moon for cheese in this animated Nick Park short. 6:30 PM Telly Addicts Christmas Special BBC 1 Noel Edmonds hosts this TV quiz show. The teams are: John Inman, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith (all from "Are You Being Served?") against Blue Peter's Valarie Singleton, John Noakes, Peter Duncan and Janet Ellis. 7:00 PM Back to School, Mr. Bean ITV Carlton Mr. Bean creates havoc at an adult education center on its open day. 8:00 PM Fierce and Gentle Creatures Channel 4 John Cleese examines animal conservation at a zoo in New Jersey. Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis, who feature in Cleese's upcoming movie, "Fierce Creatures," join him. 8:30 PM The Lenny Henry Christmas Show BBC 1 Stand-up comedy and sketches from Lenny Henry. Guests include Wallace and Gromit, Chris Eubank, and Trevor McDonald. 9:00 PM Much Ado About Nothing BBC 2 1993 film directed and featuring Kenneth Branagh. Emma Thompson, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Denzel Washington, Brian Blessed, and Keanu Reeves are cast in one of the better adaptations of a Shakespeare comedy. 9:30 PM Billy Connolly: a Scot in the Arctic BBC 1 For some reason, this series asks stars to fend for themselves on desert islands or camp out in the Arctic -- and they agree. This episode spies on Billy Connolly as he copes with wind and snow. 10:20 PM They Think It's All Over BBC 1 Nick Hancock and gang look at sports clips and test each other's trivia knowledge in this locker-room quiz show. Mel Smith and Allan Lamb guest-star. 11:25 PM True Identity ITV Carlton Film; Lenny Henry stars in this 1991 comedy. 12:15 AM Carry On Behind BBC 1 In this Carry On installment, Elke Sommer and Kenneth Williams go on an archeological dig. FRIDAY 29 --------- 9:00 PM Reeves and Mortimer: XMas Shooting Stars BBC 2 Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer host this celebrity quiz show. 9:30 PM Rory Bremner, Apparently Channel 4 Rory Bremner gets a little help from John Bird and John Fortune in this variety program. 9:40 PM Knowing Me, Knowing Yule... with Alan Partridge BBC 2 "Alan Partridge" (alias Steeve Coogan) throws a Christmas party at his Norfolk home. 11:05 PM Eurotrash Christmas Special Channel 4 Comedy starring Jean-Paul Gaultier and Antoine de Caunes. 11:35 PM Lily Savage Live: Paying the Rent Channel 4 Female impersonator's one ... er ... person show from the 1993 London Fortune Theatre performance. ### __________________________________________________________________________ etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc __________________________________________________________________________ Snack on crumpets and plum duff at Mrs. Miggins' Coffee Shop -- feast on Waldorf salad and ratatouille at Fawlty Towers -- and consume Toad in the Hole and Bubble and Squeak at The Grace Brothers Cafeteria! It's all cookin' at Lady Jane Pottle's BRITISH COMEDY FOOD PAGE: http://www.wp.com/Hirsane/food.html Send recipes/comments to Laurel Tryforos: __________________________________________________________________________ CIRCULATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS: ========================== Britcomedy Digest (ISSN 1077-6680) is a free electronic newsletter posted monthly to alt.comedy.british and rec.arts.tv.uk.comedy. DELPHI: In the "UK-American Connexion" forum, cf 171. GENIE: In the "Showbiz" roundtable, page 185. 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