Mainly, this is a committedly silly hour of stories about Bea's life – about her professional jockey mum, whose career explains why Aisling talks so fast; her excitable trips to hip-hop dance movies with sister Sinead; and her recollections of that hardy perennial of standup, teenage dancefloor mating rituals. On that level alone, it's highly effective. The pace and high energy of her delivery, and the multiplicity of her accents, interruptions and asides, recall Russell Kane, with more charm. Her roleplays are electrified into life by the wattage of Bea's performance, as when she plays her teenage self, pretending not to be thrilled that two boys are squaring up over her. "John Junior! Sean Senior! Stop fighting! You both fingered me equally well!" … [Read more...] about Aisling Bea – Edinburgh festival 2013 review
Us explainers
Ivo Graham review – old Etonian’s awfully droll domestic jokes
This is certainly his strongest hour – although in some ways it’s as interesting for what is withheld as revealed. It picks up the threads of his 2018 set, as he reports on the recent birth of his daughter. An anecdote about rapping on TV, trading heavily on his fogeyish tendencies, explains that the fee funded a luxury pram. We get tales of not-so-riveting banter at antenatal classes, and the lowdown on why his “family of squares” would prefer their newest member not to be a “bastard”. … [Read more...] about Ivo Graham review – old Etonian’s awfully droll domestic jokes
Will France be put on the UK quarantine list?
Busy streets in Paris and Toulouse have made face masks mandatory, while only disposable, surgical masks are allowed on flights. … [Read more...] about Will France be put on the UK quarantine list?
Mexico: Ex-President Enrique Peña Nieto accused of corruption and bribery
El Chapo 'paid $100m bribe to former Mexican president Peña Nieto' Brazil's Odebrecht corruption scandal explained Last year, a witness testifying at a US trial of Mexico's drug cartel kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán said Mr Peña Nieto had accepted a $100m (£77m) bribe from the mobster. … [Read more...] about Mexico: Ex-President Enrique Peña Nieto accused of corruption and bribery
Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon reveals filming Maria’s wedding to Gary was ‘really tricky’ because of social distancing rules
Despite this, it's been said by Corrie bosses that coronavirus will not dominate the forthcoming storylines. However, kissing scenes will be banned in accordance with the on-set rules. … [Read more...] about Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon reveals filming Maria’s wedding to Gary was ‘really tricky’ because of social distancing rules
