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Dan and I have completed the first of our series of Challenge Films for Sty TV sponsored by Wicked Pig pork snacks. Click below to watch us make a bundle (or not)…

And a trailer…

This new BBC-2 sitcom about an Anglican vicar of an inner-city London church nearly passed me by. In fact, I only watched the first episode on a whim. But while I considered the first episode to be a mere curiosity, I have to admit that the series is progressing into something better.

My thoughts after episode one were that it seemed a slightly odd and unpromising premise. Almost as if we are scraping the bottom of the barrel of sitcom settings. And while the Anglican church has previously been tackled as a setting, it was done (most notably) in the twee and old-fasioned universe of Dibley. Rev meanwhile, is set in one of those looming grey churches that you pass on the train or the bus in built up cities. During episode one, I felt like criticising this because it was a sitcom setting that so few of the TV audience would actually be familiar with. But I think I was wrong: my enjoyment of Porridge has never been marred by my never having been in a prison.

What you certainly can’t fault Rev’s setting for, is its ease of applicability to the power struggles of a traditional sitcom template. After all, our hero is lorded over by his Archdeacon, and finds himself trapped in a crumbling leaky church with a rather feeble congregation of misfits as supporting characters.

However, while I could see this all worked very much in Rev’s favour, I found myself wondering whether there were actually that many potential plot scenarios. I mean, once the obvious wedding, funeral and bring-and-buy sale episodes have been broadcast, what’s left? Or was this just my ignorance speaking?

The best plot idea I could come up with was a film director coming to the church and offering The Rev Adam Smallbone a bulk of cash in return for being able to use St Saviour’s as a setting. Cue Adam excitedly telling the Archdeacon and his whole congregation, before later realising that the film is an R-18 adult film complete with PVC nuns. The obvious moral dilemma then ensues as Adam has to talk to God about how he didn’t know it was porn, and whether this is an unacceptable way to make the church money.

Could be a laugh.

The only other topics I could think of using for storylines were embracing the multiculturalism of London with an episode about relations with a local mosque, and maybe something about a debating society (at a University or a school or maybe even on a radio programme).

After watching episode one I remember thinking that the actors all deserved better lines. The script seemed a bit rough round the edges. And the direction seemed frustratingly flat. This last point was most interesting of all to me, because I felt like I was watching a three-wall studio sitcom that had been recorded on location. It seemed odd. Was this, I wondered, the death of studio sitcoms? When a studio sitcom is being filmed on location to no great effect and for seemingly no reason. There were only really 3 locations (as with most studio sitcoms) the church, the vicar’s house and the pub. However these criticisms were all to disappear after an episode or two more.

You see there were two things in particular that made me want to watch more after episode one. The first of these was Tom Hollander, who plays the main character Rev Smallbone. I really enjoyed his performance of dignfied frustration and well-meaning optimism. The second thing that made me want to watch more of this series was a tiny moment towards the end, with the vicar and a member of his congregation (Colin) sitting on a bench discussing the flaws of Richard Dawkins’ approach to religion. It was an excellently scripted little moment, and frankly, far better than the rest of the episode around it.

I remember thinking, if this is an indication of what’s to come, then I must watch more.

And so I tuned into episode two, and I found a marked increase in quality. Writer James Wood proved that he has more imagination than me, by coming up with a great plot about a local evangelical church which had me thoroughly entertained. Again, the performances (particularly of Rev Smallbone and Colin, but also of Olivia Coleman’s Alex) were excellent, but the writing seemed better, and the direction much improved.

Indeed, as the series has developed it has become increasingly clear that this is no three-wall studio sitcom after all. We’ve had scenes in lapdance clubs and even on the set of the One Show. This latter episode reminded me of a cross between something that would happen in Father Ted and the TV studio scenes of Michael Frayn’s 1967 novel Towards The End of The Morning.

There is in fact a lot to enjoy about Rev. And far from considering it a one-off piece of viewing on a whim, I will now happily watch the whole series. My reservations about the first episode have fallen away, and I think James Wood has written an intelligent and very amusing series. Most brilliantly of all, Wood and Hollander have between them created a main character who is both a vicar and a real person. He asks God why he has been given such a pathetic ‘flock’ to shepherd. He wants to know why money is a constant worry rather than preaching. He says “fuck.”

I like him. He’s a rounded character with depth and sympathy.

In conclusion then, Rev is very entertaining and well worth a watch. It’s not rip-roaringly hilarious, but it does have some great funny bits, like the trip to the lapdance club in episode three. The only aspects that I’m still not sold on are the Archdeacon’s contstant taxi rides, and Miles Jupp’s performance as Nigel which seems a tad cartoony compared to the general realism of everyone else. But these are minor quibbles that don’t detract from an enjoyable sitcom.

I look forward to episodes 5 and 6…

The Edinburgh comedy awards have long championed the best and most creative comedy. For years they were sponsored by Perrier, these days they endure a lager brand name. And they have just incurred the wrath of my favourite stand-up, Stewart Lee, by coming up with the most unimaginative, meaningless and generic way of promoting their new-found alliance.

They want the Internet public to vote for their ‘Comedy God,’ from all previous winners and nominees.

Yes, the idea is so beige and pathetic that it’s pretty embarrassing to think someone was paid to come up with it. It associates the best, most creative comedy, with commercial blandness and tired ITV talent show-style voting.

In a now well-circulated e-mail rant, Stewart Lee implored “Who among those you are asking to vote has even heard of [1984 nominees] The Frank Chickens, who for all anyone under 30 knows may be the best act on the list? It is not possible for the outcome of this vote to have any credibility.”

He’s right of course. And that’s why I’m asking you all to vote for the Frank Chickens as your Comedy God.

No, I’ve never heard of them either. Apparently they are “an obscure, disbanded Anglo-Japanese avant-garde musical group who specialised in singing about Japanese social conditions.”

The Frank Chickens are currently in second place. Click here and make them God.

Some say that getting passionate about this is missing the point. That the real purpose is to advertise Fosters and its new association with the comedy awards. But I disagree. Anyone who’s stupid enough to pay for the experience of drinking a pint of chilled Aussie piss* deserves their fate. This is really about championing creativity, imagination and the greatness of Edinburgh’s comedy scene. And having a laugh at the expense of marketing dullards.

Remember: drink local Real Ale, and vote for the Frank Chickens.

*brewed in the UK

Well that was unexpected.

You may remember that myself and (Konkers Technical Director) Dan entered a competition run by Wicked Pig pork snacks to find a new comedy double act. The film, ‘Disparate Set Pieces’ saw us playing caricatures of themselves, in a film about making films. It was basically a satire of the kind of ridiculousness we often get up to over at The Bakery.

To our immense surprise – our film won!

That means myself and Dan, rather bizarrely and unexpectedly, are the new faces of Stytv and Wicked Pig pork snacks. Look:

What does this mean?

Well, firstly, according to the terms and conditions:

Richard and Dan will not express preference for any other snack category for a 12 month period

Which, given Dan’s appetite, will be something of a challenge. But more importantly:

Over the next few months we are going to be set a series of comic challenges, which we will have to tackle and document on film. The challenges will be set by Wicked Pig, and will come as a complete surprise to us. God alone knows what they’re going to get us to do . . (!)

We received a very kind e-mail the other day from the current Head of Speech for CSR FM, a Mr Rick Suter, who asked permission to repeat Konkers over the Canterbury airwaves.

It’s lovely to know that the current administration at CSR have even heard of us, let alone listened to Konkers. It seems so long ago now that we were all crammed into that Christchurch recording studio, learning the ropes. We said that we were most happy for Konkers to once again be heard by late night taxi drivers, stoned students and other DJs. So far as I’m aware Konkers hasn’t been broadcast for a fair while (although I may be mistaken, as previous exec teams have been atrocious at communicating their actions, and may have simply put the show out without permission).

As yet there is no word on when the series will be put out, although I have politely asked Rick to keep me informed of times and dates. A cursory examination of the schedule however reveals that there appear to be non-specific ‘Speech’ slots which seemingly contain random speech shows. Here’s hoping, for the benefit of any new listeners, that Konkers is put out in the right order and at a regular time.

If you are a new listener – welcome! Please be my guest and listen again to the whole series (plus a bonus BBC Radio Kent episode) courtesy of our Listen Again Player!

If there is any further news from CSR, you’ll be sure to find it on this ‘ere blog!

A new film by myself and Dan Fryer…

This was a bizarre, and slightly schizophrenia-inducing short film to make, showing what making creative projects with me and Dan is like. In fact, everything from KONKERS to the Bakery’s catalogue at large has been made under similarly ridiculous circumstances.

We have entered this into a film competition looking for a new comedy double act. Time will tell what they make of it . . .

Earlier this month “Coffee & Corks” held a night of comedy and spoken word with top-notch foolery and storytelling from the legendary Devilstick Peat, as well as poetry from compere Rick Bollinger, and lots more besides.

As mentioned in the local press, there was also stand-up comedy from me . . .

Now, I’ve run away and hid from all previous invitations to perform at the cafe, but this time I finally gave in because it was in aid of the Macmillan cancer charity. Cancer’s a pile of shit and 2 people close to me lost family members to it last year, so I decided to stop being such a bloody coward and try to make people laugh to help raise money for this cause. Thankfully it went rather well.

A very poor quality audio recording was made, and can be heard below. It was originally made just for my own reference, and the sound quality is far too poor to join the likes of KONKERS over on the Bakery Audio Player. But hopefully you can all ignore the constant ruffle of my coat on the microphone and still enjoy the material. I’d like to be able to refine the set and perform it again some time, so maybe there will one day be a decent recording. Until then, I hope you enjoy this wee curiosity.

WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR TEACHERS!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO CHARITY STAND-UP SET, LIVE AT “COFFEE & CORKS”

This here Konkerbury site started long ago to support the KONKERS radio series, and throughout the last couple of years has taken in much satirising and cajoling of the University of Kent, as well as academic institutions in general. Well, imagine our surprise then when myself and the other chaps at The Bakery were charged with the task to make some creative promotion for the University of Kent.

Ladies and gentleman, we present our specially-commissioned promotional material for undergraduate placement years (in the form of 3 comic films, some absurd wallpapers and a ridiculous website) . . .

www.jobmarketjulian.co.uk

362 years ago this week, Parliament abolished Christmas and Canterbury was in uproar. Weeks of chaos ensued, and the city wall ended up with a great big hole in it…

Here’s our second Christmas treat for you – a full cast, festive production for BBC Radio Kent! You can hear our 5-minute production “The Year Christmas Was Banned” Compleat and Unexpurgated on Dominic King’s show around 5.45pm today.

LISTEN LIVE – BBC RADIO KENT 

Or, if you missed the broadcast . . .

LISTEN AGAIN – BAKERY AUDIO PLAYER

Written, directed and edited by myself and KONKERS editing wizard Dan Fryer, it features Tony Cooper and John Hippisley, bringing to life the real historical figures of the Town Crier & Mayor William Bridge respectively. We would like to extend a special thanks to Prof. Jackie Eales for allowing us the interview which forms the backbone of this feature, and for all the historical information with which she consequently armed us. 

News came of a great Insurrection at Canterbury, about keeping of Christmas-Day; The Mayor of the Town endeavouring to allay the Tumult, and exercising his Authority according to the Ordinance of Parliament against such vain and superstitious Observations, was very much abused by the rude Multitude, had his Head broke, and was dragged up and down; the Tumult was so great. The Cry was, “For God, King Charles and Kent!”Proceedings in Parliament, December 1647

Above – the rioters themselves: Alaric King, Jack Jamison, Jan Grimshaw, Me (in a suit) and Kylie Grant. Thanks to them all for their outstanding ability to make disagreeable noise.

Canterbury’s Christmas riots are a fascinating (and peculiarly little-remarked-upon) period of local history. It’s also a delight to produce a bit of comedy/drama for the radiogram for the first time since the days of Konkerbury, so we hope you all enjoy this extra special Christmas treat.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!