Jenny Eclair: Jokes Jokes Jokes review – deliciously carefree and crude
Standup show or book tie-in? Jokes Jokes Jokes is a bit of both, a panorama of Jenny Eclair's 65 years on Earth based on her autobiography of last year. It has only chronology to bind it together, which is fine for a book but can leave a stage show feeling – well, a bit lacking. But any deficit of focus or argument is made up by the tremendous carefree vim our host brings to her task. Jokes both good and crude are delivered with a gleeful cackle and a capering lap of (usually dis-)honour, arms aloft, from one side of the stage to the other.
She deserves to celebrate: the show traces the career of a real trouper, who's faced down adversity, her own ego, sexism and the menopause, and always found a way to keep cheerfully telling the tales. It opens in 1960 ('just think series 4 of Call the Midwife …'), when Eclair, as she then wasn't, was born to a mum disabled by polio and a dad who may have been a spy. From the off, she sought fame; 'Jenny Eclair' is what she named the 'showbiz tapeworm' burrowing away inside her. But fame – via anorexia (after being branded 'too fat' at drama school) and performance poetry – was neither easily found nor easily held on to.
Eclair is endearingly frank about her foibles here, and keeps the Grumpy Old Woman shtick – those cliches of decrepitude to the fore on her last tour – in check. OK, so there's abundant 'aren't I awful?' sexual and scatalogical candour ('labia like spaniel's ears, darling!'). There are also several robust set-pieces, like the routine that begins 'every decade [of one's life] needs its own survival kit', and one comparing public peeing in one's 50s as opposed to one's 20s. Alongside those identifiably standup moments are heartfelt autobiographical scenes, like the vivid anecdote about feeling peckish at her mother's deathbed.
The show doesn't so much end as stop; Eclair's life is still in-progress, after all. You could wish for a more artfully constructed show – but you'll leave looking forward to the life story's next instalment.
Touring until 8 June
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Press and Journal
GALLERY: Danscentre takes centre stage at His Majesty's Theatre
It's up, up and away for the children of Danscentre, who perform their show Encore at His Majesty's Theatre this week. With a Step In Time – and hoping it is something Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – the young dancers take the stage in three acts of spellbinding dance, opening with a ballet version of the tale of magical nanny, Mary Poppins. In their eighth major production at HMT, the show features the school's mid and senior pupils in a diverse mix of dance styles, music and themes. In a celebration of youth, movement and the exciting and evolving world of dance, the young performers explore the latest dance trends alongside traditional theatre at its best. Aberdeen-born dance teacher Karen Berry founded the school 38 years ago and is currently also head of teacher training at the Royal Ballet School, splitting her working life between Aberdeen and London. Over the years, many of the school's students have gone on to perform professionally – former pupils include actress Laura Main, who plays Shelagh Turner in Call The Midwife. Dancers Harris Beattie, of Northern Ballet, Alfie MacPherson, of Scottish Ballet, and Angela Towler, choreographer at Rambert Ballet, are also among the school's former pupils. The dancers performing this week will showcase skills in ballet, modern, contemporary, commercial and tap, with the youngest performers taking on the roles in Mary Poppins, followed by excerpts from some of the great ballets performed by a breathtaking corps de ballet and soloists who are trained by Danscentre. Act Three, meanwhile, is made up of Legends and Icons of the film and music worlds, with a special performance on Saturday by the dads, who become 007 for one night only in their charity dance, Gullfinger. Ms Berry said: 'I can't believe I've been teaching for 38 years, and I have no idea how I am at this stage now. For me, it's not just about the students who have gone into successful careers in the arts, but for all those students we have trained who continue to dance just because they love it. 'Seeing those students come back with their own children, join our adult classes, or dancing at university and being educated audiences in dance makes me feel we have done our job at Danscentre.' She adds: 'Over the years I've been blessed with the best people around who are not only great colleagues but are dear friends. It's hard to put into words how grateful I am.' Encore opens tonight and runs until Saturday at His Majesty's Theatre at 7pm and Saturday matinee at 2pm. Tickets are still available. Photographer was there to capture all the action.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Celebrities in new series Shark! taught by diving instructor with missing limbs
The celebrities were said to be taking a big risk as they swam with ever-increasing sized sharks in the Bahamas in a new ITV series to mark the 50th anniversary of Jaws The seven celebrities who agreed to swim with sharks in an ITV series which marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, were taught to dive by an instructor with missing limbs. The seven stars - who all admit to being scared of the sea - were Call the Midwife's Helen George, comedians Sir Lenny Henry and Ross Noble, Countdown's Rachel Riley, McFly's Dougie Poynter, Amandaland's Lucy Punch and TV presenter Ade Adepitan. All have now returned from filming Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters with their lives intact, but were constantly reminded of the dangers involved by their Australian instructor - who was missing an arm and a leg, courtesy of a tiger shark. For the five-part series, due to start next month, the celebs were challenged to confront their greatest fear and flown to the island on Bimini in the Bahamas, home to around 10 different species of shark. Once there, they took the plunge together alongside hammerhead, bull and tiger sharks. While there is no voting or elimination process in the show, the dives got progressively harder, with each involving a bigger and tougher breed of shark, and the celebrities were allowed to sit out if they felt overwhelmed. One insider said: 'The sharks they were free diving with were definitely dangerous and they were shocked when they realised what had happened to the expert, who'd had an arm and a leg bitten off.' Despite the series being shown as tribute to half a century since the Oscar-winning Jaws was released in 1975, the 'ocean-phobic' stars did not attempt to recreate the movie scenes. 'There were no Great Whites involved in the making of this show,' the source said. 'But it was not for the faint-hearted, that's for sure. Some were more scared than others.' Viewers will have to wait to see if any of the stars sustained injuries during the making of the programme, which was filmed last year. Yesterday presenter Rachel said that taking part was a 'dream come true' adding: 'It was the best trip, the best experience, the best everything, of my life.' Describing it as 'wet and wild' she added: 'Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters is a totally new type of entertainment show, with so much integrity and a love of sharks and conservation at its heart. And with the best bunch of people you could hope to work with.' The mum-of-two said she'd first been asked to take part a year ago. 'They said we're thinking of sending some celebrities out to the Bahamas for a few weeks to swim with some of the biggest, scariest wild sharks in the world.' Helen agreed that it had been brilliant, saying: 'One of the most insane experiences of my life, learning about this incredible creatures, with equally incredible humans.' Ross described it as a 'great adventure' and quipped: 'No, it's not a wind up, it's a real thing.' And pop star Dougie marvelled that it was the closest he'd ever get to a 'real Jurassic Park experience'. ITV entertainment boss Katie Rawcliffe said audiences should enjoy the combination of blue chip natural history programming with ITV's skill at entertainment, and called the famous faces taking part 'some of the bravest celebrities out there'. Karen Plumb, of Plimsoll Productions, said the aim was to give viewers a new perspective on sharks. 'We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin – delivering 50 years after Jaws – will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late.'
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
BBC Call The Midwife star Helen George lands new TV role on rival channel
BBC Call The Midwife star Helen George lands new TV role on rival channel Helen George, who's best known for playing Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife, has landed a new TV role on a rival channel Call the Midwife Christmas Special trailer Helen George, famed for her role in Call the Midwife, is set to appear in a thrilling new TV series on ITV. The upcoming reality entertainment show, titled SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, will see a star-studded cast encounter sharks up close. ITV has announced that 40-year-old Helen will be joined by Sir Lenny Henry, Ade Adepitan, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch, and Countdown's Rachel Riley. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's iconic film Jaws, the show promises an "adrenaline-fuelled, challenge-heavy journey in the Bahamas". The format involves celebrities confronting their deepest fears as they swim among increasingly formidable shark species. Filmed on the picturesque island of Bimini in the Bahamas, known for its diverse shark population including Bull and Hammerhead species, the show offers both excitement and stunning scenery, reports the Express. Helen George is famous for Call The Midwife (Image: BBC ) Article continues below Casualty star Olly Rix addresses future on BBC medical drama READ MORE: Karen Plumb, Head of Factual Entertainment at Plimsoll Productions, shared her enthusiasm: "The team at Plimsoll is uniquely positioned to pioneer this format that blends conservation with wildly entertaining pop culture. "We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin - delivering 50 years after Jaws - will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late." The cast has now been confirmed for the new ITV series (Image: ITV ) Away from her aquatic adventures, Helen Skelton, established BBC presenter, offered a fleeting glimpse into the upcoming 15th series of Call The Midwife, a programme she has been intricately involved with since its inception in 2012, playing Trixie Franklin. Recently, Helen excited her social media followers with an update on Instagram, posting a charming photo of a small Nativity setup located within Nonnatus House and captioning it: "Summer nativity scenes," hinting that production for the beloved Christmas special was still underway. Helen shared a glimpse of the Christmas special (Image: BBC ) Fans are full of anticipation as this year's double Christmas episode is set to intrigue audiences as it switches between the usual setting of Poplar and a departure to Hong Kong. Moreover, eight more series are rumoured to be gracing screens on BBC One starting January 2026, following the festive episodes. Audiences can look forward to catching SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, coming soon to ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player. Article continues below Call the Midwife enthusiasts can binge-watch past episodes on BBC iPlayer.
