Next month a concert celebrating the unique career of Humphrey Lyttelton, the great jazzer, broadcaster and quizmaster, will take place at HMV Apollo in Hammersmith, west London. The show, which takes place on 25 April, has been constructed about Lyttelton’s twin talents: blowing a trumpet and giving people silly things to do.
comedy buzz
Veronica Lee
Udderbelly's 2010 season at London's Southbank has been announced and the line-up has some gems. American comic Rob Schneider, veteran of Saturday Night Live, will be the main overseas draw and The Wire fans will be rushing to An Evening With Clarke Peters. Irish comic Tommy Tiernan makes a rare UK appearance, while Sandi Toksvig returns to stand-up after a long absence and Alexei Sayle is doing a book reading and Q&A. Others appearing in the upturned purple cow are Ardal O'Hanlon, Alun Cochrane and Jack Whitehall.
Last year's launch season was a hit with comedy fans, as Udderbelly @ Southbank transported a bit of Edinburgh Fringe magic to its temporary Thames-side home, with several shows each evening and a large open-air bar and food area in front of the venue.
Udderbelly @ Southbank 13 May-18 July. Book here
Last year's launch season was a hit with comedy fans, as Udderbelly @ Southbank transported a bit of Edinburgh Fringe magic to its temporary Thames-side home, with several shows each evening and a large open-air bar and food area in front of the venue.
Udderbelly @ Southbank 13 May-18 July. Book here
Veronica Lee
theartsdesk has previously written about concerns felt by many about UK libel laws. Now comedian Robin Ince has organised a fundraising comedy gig (which he will host) to raise awareness about scientist and author Simon Singh, who is being sued by the British Chiropractic Association. It will be held at the Palace Theatre in London on Sunday 14 March and the line-up includes Dara Ó Briain, Tim Minchin, Marcus Brigstocke, Robin Ince, Ed Byrne and Shappi Khorsandi, while scientists Simon Singh and Dr Ben Goldacre will speak.
Funds raised from The Big Libel Gig will be donated to the Coalition for Libel Reform, established by the charities Index on Censorship, English PEN and Sense About Science. Buy tickets here
Funds raised from The Big Libel Gig will be donated to the Coalition for Libel Reform, established by the charities Index on Censorship, English PEN and Sense About Science. Buy tickets here
Veronica Lee
Comic and reality TV star Jason Wood has died at the age of 38. Wood was a genuinely popular comic among fans and within the industry, and was for many years an Edinburgh Fringe staple. His comedy relied on his distinctive voice and astonishingly accurate impressions of male and female divas - from Dame Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand to Johnny Mathis and Neil Diamond. In 2004 he had the dubious honour of being the first participant to be voted off the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, which was later won by Natasha Kaplinksy. But Jason liked to turn setbacks to his advantage: he was once given a stinging one-star review at the Fringe by The Scotsman and he simply added "A star - The Scotsman" to his show posters.
His agent released a statement saying that Wood died in his sleep last Saturday night and that a postmortem was being carried out.
theartsdesk
theartsdesk received a New Year's gift last night when we were given a significant accolade from BBC Radio 5 Live. In Web 2009 with Helen and Olly, the station's podcasters and self-styled "internet obsessives" Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann recognised theartsdesk as one of the five "essential sites of 2009" in a series of awards to the "cream of weblebrity".
theartsdesk
The morning after the day before has dawned. If you're not inclined to join the shopping queues, theartsdesk is happy to suggest alternatives. Our writers recommend all sorts of cultural things you could get up to in the next week.
theartsdesk
As we all have only one shopping day left, theartsdesk hopes to make Christmas Eve a little easier by offering a few enlightened recommendations. From our writers on new and classical music, opera and ballet, film and comedy, here is a list of CDs and DVDs that we hope will enhance your 11th-hour shopping experience. Happy Christmas from all at theartsdesk.