In 2021, Pointless fans had to come to terms with the fact that change is the only constant in this crazy, crazy world when the show’s co-creator and co-host Richard Osman left to pursue other career opportunities such as being an incredibly successful crime novelist, and taking the main seat on his own game show Richard Osman’s House of Games.
Good for Richard Osman, it all seems to be very going well for him. But for Pointless?
Taking its cue from satirical current affairs show Have I Got News For You?, which settled on a revolving carousel of guest hosts when its regular host Angus Deayton was forced to step down instead of plumping for a permanent chair, Pointless has welcomed a series of co-hosts in the past couple of years.
First up were Sally Lindsay, Stephen Mangan, Lauren Laverne, Alex Brooker, Konnie Huq and Ed Gamble. Next came Andi Oliver,...
Good for Richard Osman, it all seems to be very going well for him. But for Pointless?
Taking its cue from satirical current affairs show Have I Got News For You?, which settled on a revolving carousel of guest hosts when its regular host Angus Deayton was forced to step down instead of plumping for a permanent chair, Pointless has welcomed a series of co-hosts in the past couple of years.
First up were Sally Lindsay, Stephen Mangan, Lauren Laverne, Alex Brooker, Konnie Huq and Ed Gamble. Next came Andi Oliver,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Filth, Pride and Philomena among film nominees; awards take place on Jan 19 in London.
Sandi Toksvig will present the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain annual Awards at Riba, in London, on Jan 19, 2015.
In the two film categories, Pride (Stephen Beresford), The Selfish Giant (Clio Barnard) and Starred Up (Jonathan Asser) are up for Best First Screenplay, while Filth (Jon S Baird), Metro Manila (Sean Ellis & Frank E Flowers) and Philomena (Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan) will compete for Best Screenplay.
TV programmes up for awards include Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight), The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall) and House of Fools (Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer).
A special award for outstanding contribution to writing and writers will be presented on the night.
Full shortlist
TV Drama – Long Form
Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Happy Valley (Sally Wainwright), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight)
TV Drama – Short Form
The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall), Turks & Caicos (David Hare), [link...
Sandi Toksvig will present the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain annual Awards at Riba, in London, on Jan 19, 2015.
In the two film categories, Pride (Stephen Beresford), The Selfish Giant (Clio Barnard) and Starred Up (Jonathan Asser) are up for Best First Screenplay, while Filth (Jon S Baird), Metro Manila (Sean Ellis & Frank E Flowers) and Philomena (Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan) will compete for Best Screenplay.
TV programmes up for awards include Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight), The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall) and House of Fools (Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer).
A special award for outstanding contribution to writing and writers will be presented on the night.
Full shortlist
TV Drama – Long Form
Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Happy Valley (Sally Wainwright), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight)
TV Drama – Short Form
The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall), Turks & Caicos (David Hare), [link...
- 12/5/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
It's been a whopping 30 years since Spitting Image first hit our screens on ITV in 1984. The satirical puppet show quickly became one of the most-watched shows of the 1980s and early 1990s.
I wasn't able to fully appreciate the series when it was first on TV. When I watched it in the early '90s as a child, I found it funny mainly because of the silly puppets, even if I didn't quite understand what was going on. But in retrospective viewings, it still holds up as a genuinely hilarious satire of politics, entertainment, sport and general UK culture of the era.
It's quite incredible to think that Spitting Image hasn't been on air since 1996. To put that into perspective, the Spice Girls had only just been unleashed, Tony Blair hadn't been elected yet, and Lorde had only just been born.
As a show that is heavily reliant on topical...
I wasn't able to fully appreciate the series when it was first on TV. When I watched it in the early '90s as a child, I found it funny mainly because of the silly puppets, even if I didn't quite understand what was going on. But in retrospective viewings, it still holds up as a genuinely hilarious satire of politics, entertainment, sport and general UK culture of the era.
It's quite incredible to think that Spitting Image hasn't been on air since 1996. To put that into perspective, the Spice Girls had only just been unleashed, Tony Blair hadn't been elected yet, and Lorde had only just been born.
As a show that is heavily reliant on topical...
- 2/26/2014
- Digital Spy
The story behind the making of the film and the religious storm it caused are the subject of Holy Flying Circus
As Brian Cohen, the hapless hero of Monty Python's Life of Brian, finds out, it can be tricky stepping into the shoes of someone worshipped by all. And the fear of not passing muster is on the minds of all six actors cast as Pythons for a BBC comedy drama about the release of the film in 1979.
Holy Flying Circus will tell the story of the making of Life of Brian and the righteous fury that surrounded the release of its satirical take on the gospels. It is the first attempt to dramatise the activities of the sextet who transformed the nature of comedy in this country and produced a British film now critically regarded as one of the very best.
Coming together this summer to play Michael Palin,...
As Brian Cohen, the hapless hero of Monty Python's Life of Brian, finds out, it can be tricky stepping into the shoes of someone worshipped by all. And the fear of not passing muster is on the minds of all six actors cast as Pythons for a BBC comedy drama about the release of the film in 1979.
Holy Flying Circus will tell the story of the making of Life of Brian and the righteous fury that surrounded the release of its satirical take on the gospels. It is the first attempt to dramatise the activities of the sextet who transformed the nature of comedy in this country and produced a British film now critically regarded as one of the very best.
Coming together this summer to play Michael Palin,...
- 8/15/2011
- by Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
Stephen Fry is set to portray God in a new BBC4 comedy. The actor and presenter will play the almighty in 'Holy Flying Circus', based on the religious controversy caused by Monty Python movie 'Life of Brian', which took a comedic look at the life of Jesus Christ. The actors from the original film have also been recast; Darren Boyd will play John Cleese, Steve Punt will portray Eric Idle and Charles Edwards will be Michael Palin. Richard Klein, head of BBC4, said: "This is a smart and witty take on both the nature of censorship and the world of...
- 7/2/2011
- Virgin Media - TV
The Lord of Twitter is set to become to Lord of Everything, with the tweeted news this morning that Stephen Fry is to play God is the forthcoming BBC drama about the excessive ecclesiastical response to the 1979 film Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
We reported earlier in the week that the film had been cast and now it seems filming is already underway for the scheduled transmission on BBC4 in Autumn.
Fry, as God (who curiously is the only character to appear in all of the Python films), will be playing alongside Darren Boyd (John Cleese), Charles Edwards (Michael Palin), Steve Punt (Eric Idle), Rufus Jones and Phil Nichol as Terrys Jones and Gilliam respectively and Tom Fisher plays the late Graham Chapman.
This morning Mr. Fry tweeted,
Then tweeted a lovely picture of himself in the make up chair, which was live for a few moments before the following appeared…...
We reported earlier in the week that the film had been cast and now it seems filming is already underway for the scheduled transmission on BBC4 in Autumn.
Fry, as God (who curiously is the only character to appear in all of the Python films), will be playing alongside Darren Boyd (John Cleese), Charles Edwards (Michael Palin), Steve Punt (Eric Idle), Rufus Jones and Phil Nichol as Terrys Jones and Gilliam respectively and Tom Fisher plays the late Graham Chapman.
This morning Mr. Fry tweeted,
Then tweeted a lovely picture of himself in the make up chair, which was live for a few moments before the following appeared…...
- 7/1/2011
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Stephen Fry is set to portray God in a new BBC4 comedy. The actor and presenter will play the almighty in 'Holy Flying Circus', based on the religious controversy caused by Monty Python movie 'Life of Brian', which took a comedic look at the life of Jesus Christ. The actors from the original film have also been recast; Darren Boyd will play John Cleese, Steve Punt will portray Eric Idle and Charles Edwards will be Michael Palin. Richard Klein, head of BBC4, said: "This is a smart and witty take on both the nature of censorship and the world of...
- 6/30/2011
- Virgin Media - TV
BBC Four has ordered a one-off comedy surrounding the controversy arising from the release of Monty Python film Life of Brian. The Thick of It's Tony Roche will pen the 90-minute piece, entitled Holy Flying Circus, which will star Darren Boyd as John Cleese and Charles Edwards as Michael Palin. Holy Flying Circus - named after the group's BBC sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus - will also feature Steve Punt as Eric Idle, Rufus Jones (more)...
- 6/23/2011
- by By Paul Millar
- Digital Spy
Have pity on Darren Boyd, Charles Edwards, Steve Punt, Rufus Jones, Phil Nichol and Tom Fisher. For to these six men falls the unenviable task of portraying the six members of Monty Python's Flying Circus in upcoming BBC production Holy Flying Circus.Written by The Thick Of It and In The Loop co-writer Tony Roche with Owen Harris (Misfits, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl) directing, Holy Flying Circus will be a dramatic re-telling of the controversy surrounding the theatrical release of the Python's 1979 feature film The Life Of Brian. Though Brian - which I personally believe is far and away the best thing the Pythons ever did - was a big success on release the nature of the story - which revolves around...
- 6/21/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Monty Python’s 1979 film Life of Brian was a masterpiece of surreal and satirical comedy, and always places high when the various Best British Film of All Time polls are announced.
On release its controversial subject matter inevitably ruffled a great many ecclesiastical feathers and was banned in some places in the UK, a ban rumoured to have been upheld in Swansea until 1997.
The documentary The Secret Life of Brian charts the film’s development (from Eric Idle’s glb response to the question of what the Pythons were working on next – he quipped: Jesus Christ – Lust for Glory!) to the famous showdown on the BBC debate programme Friday Night, Saturday Morning. There Pythons John Cleese and Michael Palin were berated by the highly regarded broadcaster Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Mervyn Stockwood, for their film which they considered as blasphemous.
Now the BBC are...
On release its controversial subject matter inevitably ruffled a great many ecclesiastical feathers and was banned in some places in the UK, a ban rumoured to have been upheld in Swansea until 1997.
The documentary The Secret Life of Brian charts the film’s development (from Eric Idle’s glb response to the question of what the Pythons were working on next – he quipped: Jesus Christ – Lust for Glory!) to the famous showdown on the BBC debate programme Friday Night, Saturday Morning. There Pythons John Cleese and Michael Palin were berated by the highly regarded broadcaster Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Mervyn Stockwood, for their film which they considered as blasphemous.
Now the BBC are...
- 6/21/2011
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Holy Flying Circus to focus on comedians' struggle with church, councils and critics in runup to release of controversial film
"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy" is one of the most oft-quoted lines in British comedy history. But the religious controversy that engulfed the Monty Python film in which the quote featured, Life of Brian, on its 1979 release was no laughing matter – and is now to be the subject of a BBC drama.
Holy Flying Circus, written by Tony Roche, a co-writer of the political satire The Thick of It, will air this autumn on BBC4 and aims to use the Life of Brian controversy to explore the subject of free speech.
Monty Python's irreverent take on the story of Jesus Christ revolved around Brian Cohen, a reluctant fictional Messiah in first century Judea who is eventually crucified. Church leaders in the Us and the UK protested,...
"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy" is one of the most oft-quoted lines in British comedy history. But the religious controversy that engulfed the Monty Python film in which the quote featured, Life of Brian, on its 1979 release was no laughing matter – and is now to be the subject of a BBC drama.
Holy Flying Circus, written by Tony Roche, a co-writer of the political satire The Thick of It, will air this autumn on BBC4 and aims to use the Life of Brian controversy to explore the subject of free speech.
Monty Python's irreverent take on the story of Jesus Christ revolved around Brian Cohen, a reluctant fictional Messiah in first century Judea who is eventually crucified. Church leaders in the Us and the UK protested,...
- 6/21/2011
- by Ben Dowell
- The Guardian - Film News
Mock The Week returned with 2m on Thursday evening, while documentary The Duke At 90 outperformed Injustice, according to the latest audience data. Comedy panel show Mock The Week, presented by Dara O'Briain and featuring comics Chris Addison and Steve Punt, amused 2.01m (10.2%) on BBC Two from 10pm. The Duke At 90, featuring Fiona Bruce exploring the incredible life of Prince Philip, averaged 5.01m (21.1%) for BBC One in the 9pm hour, beating the penultimate episode of Anthony Horowitz's drama Injustice, which had 4.41m (18.6%) on ITV1 and 242k (1.4%) on +1. Andrew Marr's Megacities built 2.46m (11%) on BBC One in the 8pm hour and Question Time quizzed 2.68m (21.4%) from 10.45pm. When Piers Morgan Met Andrew Lloyd Webber mustered 980k (7.6%) on ITV1 from 10.30pm. On BBC Two, Clydebank Blitz educated (more)...
- 6/10/2011
- by By Andrew Laughlin
- Digital Spy
Steve Punt has admitted to feeling a "twinge" of jealousy when his former comedy partners David Baddiel and Rob Newman played Wembley in 1993. Together with Hugh Dennis, the comedians had all starred in BBC sketch show The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Newman and Baddiel later became the first comedians to perform at and sell out the 12,000 capacity Wembley Arena. Asked how he felt about that show, Punt told Metro: "I wouldn't have been human if I hadn't felt a twinge of jealousy. When you get to Waterloo station and there's a 20ft David Baddiel looking at you, you're conscious that you've been outmanoeuvred. "On the other (more)...
- 1/11/2011
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
The writer, comedian and original lad has moved in and out of the spotlight over the years. His controversial new comic movie will ensure he's centre stage once more
As cameras rolled on the set of the new film comedy The Infidel, the screenwriter could be spotted hunched over a state-of-the-art laptop in a dark corner. Director Josh Appignanesi was intrigued. "It is a bit late to alter the script," he called over. But far from refining comic dialogue for the actors working around him, David Baddiel was deep into his next project. "I am working on my depressing novel," came the reply.
For around 20 years now, the 45-year-old writer has darted in and out of popular consciousness like a restless moth. Here is a man who longs to shelter in obscurity just when he is faced with the glare of publicity and who, conversely, is never more keen to...
As cameras rolled on the set of the new film comedy The Infidel, the screenwriter could be spotted hunched over a state-of-the-art laptop in a dark corner. Director Josh Appignanesi was intrigued. "It is a bit late to alter the script," he called over. But far from refining comic dialogue for the actors working around him, David Baddiel was deep into his next project. "I am working on my depressing novel," came the reply.
For around 20 years now, the 45-year-old writer has darted in and out of popular consciousness like a restless moth. Here is a man who longs to shelter in obscurity just when he is faced with the glare of publicity and who, conversely, is never more keen to...
- 3/29/2010
- by Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
Pozzitive.co.uk is billed as a new online ‘Encyclopaedia Of British Comedy’ and was launched by Pozzitive owners David Tyler and Geoff Posner with the aim of providing a friendly, insider’s-eye view to the wealth of information they have, all of which is now at your fingertips.
Pozzitive is a multi-award winning comedy production company (6 BAFTAs, 6 Sony Awards and 2 International Emmys), and over the years have produced and directed such classic TV , Radio and Online projects as “Spitting Image”, “Coogan’s Run”, “Not The Nine O’Clock News”, “French & Saunders”, “Harry Enfield & Chums”, “Dinnerladies”, “Little Britain”, “The Paul & Pauline Calf Video Diaries”, “Saturday Live Again”, “Radio Active”, “Carrott’s Lib” and “The Young Ones”.
They continue to work on comedy projects such as Armando Iannucci’s ‘Charm Offensive’ and ‘Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation’. They are also currently producing the second series of popular sitcom “Cabin Pressure...
Pozzitive is a multi-award winning comedy production company (6 BAFTAs, 6 Sony Awards and 2 International Emmys), and over the years have produced and directed such classic TV , Radio and Online projects as “Spitting Image”, “Coogan’s Run”, “Not The Nine O’Clock News”, “French & Saunders”, “Harry Enfield & Chums”, “Dinnerladies”, “Little Britain”, “The Paul & Pauline Calf Video Diaries”, “Saturday Live Again”, “Radio Active”, “Carrott’s Lib” and “The Young Ones”.
They continue to work on comedy projects such as Armando Iannucci’s ‘Charm Offensive’ and ‘Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation’. They are also currently producing the second series of popular sitcom “Cabin Pressure...
- 6/8/2009
- by Paul Larn
- The Cinema Post
Michael Jackson was reportedly "appalled" to learn that two BBC presenters had compared his comeback tour to recent Ira activity in Northern Ireland. Speaking on Radio 4's The Now Show, comedians Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis had remarked: "I can't believe which '80s celebrities I want back less. Michael Jackson or the Ira." A teaser for the programme posted on the BBC website described the broadcast as a discussion of "the return to Britain of undesirables (more)...
- 3/20/2009
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
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