Bruce Dessau

London

Evening Standard comedy critic. Author of Beyond A Joke about the dark side of stand-up. Editor of #comedy website https://t.co/6l6J05UX78 Food critic.

Articles

New Podcast For Richard Ayoade And Warwick Davis

5 days ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

Audible has announced the launch of a new comedy podcast,Future Tense with Richard Ayoade and Warwick Davis,available to pre-order now and launching exclusively on Audible on 5thJune. Across six episodes, the determinedly pessimisticRichard Ayoadeand inexplicably cheerfulWarwick Davis, both with a shared love of and past roles in Sci-Fi,venture beneath Audible HQ to the ‘Future Tense lab’, fully equipped to interrogate the future we're all being told to look forward to.
Stand-Up Specials Announced For Scottish Comics

5 days ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

Scottish comedians Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Marc Jennings, Liam Withnail, Stuart McPherson and Rosco Mcclelland will premiere their stand-up comedy shows online this June and July as part of a weekly series called Summer Laugh, presented by the Some Laugh podcast. The comedy shows were recorded live across Scotland in venues such as The Pavilion Theatre, The Stand Comedy Club, Blackfriars of Bell Street, and Monkey Barrel Comedy in Edinburgh, and will be available to stream free on YouTube.
More Acts Added To Latitude Line-Up

6 days ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

Jordan Gray, Marcus Brigstocke, Jin Hao Li and Lee Peart are among the latest batch of acts added to the Latitude Festival line-up. Across the weekend, audiences can expect a rich mix of thought-provoking storytelling, fearless journalism, and standout comedy.
Stars Of Gwyneth Goes Skiing To Marry On Edinburgh Fringe Stage

6 days ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

After years of creating unhinged theatre together, Linus Karp and Joseph Martin – the real-life couple behind ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing, Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story’ and’ The Fit Prince (Who Gets Switched On The Square In The Frosty Castle The Night Before [Insert Public Holiday Here])’ are getting hitched on the Pleasance Grand stage – marrying live during the Edinburgh Fringe. And everyone is invited. If you buy a ticket.
Not So New Comedian of the Year - Results

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

By Bruce Dessau on The annual Not So New Comedian of the Year final has taken place at the Museum of Comedy in London, championing older stand-up talents. Entrants have to be 35 or older. And the results are as follows. 1. Sean Patrick2. Fred Ferenczi3. Jim BrownThe other finalists were: Abbie MurphyCathal O' RiordanDick DenhamEmmy FylesEugene DusauzayKen GrinellLeslieGoldRabiah Coon Articles on beyond the joke contain affiliate ticket links that earn us revenue.
U&Gold Celebrates The Good Life With Special Fronted By Dame Penelope Keith

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

Fifty years ago, The Good Life made its debut. Now, the nation’s favourite comedy channel U&Gold is giving this British comedy classic the celebration it deserves with a feature-length retrospective: The Good Life: Inside Out (1x120’). Produced by Double Yellow Entertainment, this one-off special is set to air on U&Gold later this year. Leading the retrospective is The Good Life star Dame Penelope Keith, who famously brought the iconic Margo Leadbetter to life.
Griff Rhys Jones on tour with ‘The Cat’s Pyjamas’.

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

By Bruce Dessau on Comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter Griff Rhys Jones is set to embark on a national stand-up tour this autumn with the second leg of his sell-out 2024 show ‘The Cat’s Pyjamas’.
Edinburgh Run And Tour For Josie Long

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

By Bruce Dessau on Things have never felt more frightening. The few rays of political hope the Left have had over the past few years have been snuffed out. We’re waking up every day to a bleaker world than we thought was possible. But at the same time, the kids have got a hamster, and I'm not saying that cancels everything else out, but I am saying that he’s a part of it as well. Josie Long is recovering from a concussion that honestly seems to have helped with dealing with things.
Tour Dates For Jamie MacDonald

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

By Bruce Dessau on As a white, middle-class, straight male with an ok career Jamie fits the current stereotype of a loathsome, over-privileged, toxic bastard. However,based purely on the fact that he is blind , he’s constantly told he’s a role model. FYI he isn’t toxic. But surely he should have the choice to be without people continually telling him he’s a hero? Jamie MacDonald is an award winning blind Scottish comedian, writer and voice over artist.
Sara Pascoe And Cariad Lloyd Return For More Weirdos Book Club

1 week ago | beyondthejoke.co.uk | Bruce Dessau

Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club is returning for a third series. Hosted by Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd, the podcast has already delighted listeners across its first two seasons, earning a loyal following and amassing over 1.2 million downloads. The new series launches on 29th May and will be available on all major podcast platforms. Listeners can subscribe now to catch every episode as it drops. Weirdos Book Club is the exception to the book club rule - you don’t even need to have read the book.