Latest news with #Chewin'TheFat
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Telly Festival's programme of activities revealed
Taking place from May 29 to June 1, the inaugural event aims to showcase Glasgow's TV talent whilst attempting to address the challenges facing the Scottish TV industry. The festival, conceived by Scottish author, producer, and screenwriter Claire Duffy, will feature a series of events across the city, showcasing the work of Glasgow's writers, producers, directors, and actors. Read more: Glasgow show to celebrate iconic member of The Beatles The festival programme was launched at Glasgow's VOCO Grand Central Hotel, the birthplace of television, where the first-ever TV broadcast took place in 1927. Scottish TV stars, including Colin McCredie, Sanjeev Kohli, and John Scougall, who will all be performing during the festival, attended the launch event. Festival organiser Claire Duffy joins Scottish actors Sanjeev Kohli, Colin McCredie and John Scougall to launch the programme of events (Image: Supplied) Other Scottish TV talent involved in the festival include Taggart's Blythe Duff, Scots Squad stars Jordan Young, Karen Barke, and Chris Forbes, and celebrated actor Siobhan Redmond. The festival has also garnered support from Scottish TV stalwarts, including actors Brian Cox, Dawn Steele, Joe McFadden, and Shauna Macdonald. As well as presenter Carol Smillie, and Still Game and Chewin' The Fat director Michael Hines. Read more: Glasgow fashion shop saves 12,500kg of clothing from going to landfill The festival will kick off on May 29 with the Glasgow Telly Legends Pick of the Pilots event, a panel discussion featuring stars and creators of some of the most iconic Glasgow series. Meanwhile, a guerrilla-style campaign of one-minute pilot videos showcasing the work of both Scotland's well-known and undiscovered TV talent will feature throughout the festival's run. These videos will be shown in pubs and other venues across the city. It will conclude on June 1 with a TV Pilot Open Mic Night, where scenes from potential new TV dramas will be performed live by some of Scotland's most fantastic actors. Claire Duffy, founder and organiser of the festival, said: "It's so exciting to be at this stage of festival prep. "Not many people realise that TV was actually invented in Glasgow almost 100 years ago - with the first-ever television broadcast taking place from the Grand Central Hotel in 1927. "It was incredibly meaningful to launch our programme of events at the same venue and, while we may have lost our way in the Scottish TV industry in recent years, it's so inspiring to be at the start of what I truly feel will be a resurgence for Scottish TV talent. "The Glasgow Telly Festival will be the catalyst to a new way of doing things to help bring back hope, creativity, risk-taking and opportunity into the TV industry again, and we can't wait to share our talented creatives with Glasgow audiences."
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Comedy star Karen Dunbar performing at two West Lothian venues during massive tour
Chewin' the Fat actor Karen Dunbar is bringing her comedy stage show to two West Lothian venues. The comedian and actor, writer, and DJ is embarking on a brand-new tour starting this weekend. The epic 80 date tour starts in Grangemouth on 2 May and runs until the autumn, and includes shows in Bathgate and Livingston. Karen will be stopping off in Bathgate on Thursday, May 15 at the Reconnect Regal Theatre and return to West Lothian later in the year for another performance at Livingston's Reconnect Howden Park on Saturday, September 27. The brand-new show for 2025, will see Karen sharing stories from her life and talking about her career, with – as you would expect from a stalwart of the Scottish comedy scene – a heap of humour and jokes. This is Karen's fourth tour with Aberdeen-based promoters Breakneck Comedy since 2023, and, as the company's founder Naz Hussain explained, it's their most ambitious to date. Naz said: 'This is the biggest tour we've ever organised, and I'm delighted that we're working with Karen for it. This is a big year for Breakneck Comedy – it's our 15th anniversary and to be able to deliver such a huge tour for such a well-loved Scottish act is the icing on the cake. 'Anyone who's been to one of Karen's shows before will know that it's a great night of laughs, jokes, stories, and anecdotes from her career, covering everything from her time on Chewin' The Fat, right through to her latest adventures as a DJ. "The fact that Karen has so many fresh new stories to share is testament to her talent as a comedian, and her amazing career.' Breakneck Comedy is renowned for bringing top comedians and performers to towns and venues that might not be on the usual tour schedule. 'I love bringing big names to towns that some promoters might overlook,' Naz added. 'It's really exciting to be able to put on shows all over Scotland and make it easier for people to be able to enjoy a great night of comedy and entertainment without them having to worry about catching a train home from the city.' Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Karen Dunbar reveals her favourite Chewin' The Fat character ahead of new tour
Karen Dunbar has revealed her favourite Chewin' The Fat character ahead of her new tour. The 53-year-old comedy legend confirmed that the hilariously prude science teacher she played on the BBC sketch show was her top persona to create. Karen spoke to the Glasgow Times ahead of her new up-coming tour this May, which will see her bring some of her famous characters alive again. She explained how the science teacher was one of her first ever creations, and was based on her own school experience. READ MORE: Anti-abortion group challenged during protest near hospital Karen Dunbar (Image: Sourced) Karen told the Glasgow Times: 'I loved the teacher character. She could be my favourite, the part was based on my biology classes at Ayr Academy. 'We had a love-hate relationship because I was always shouting out that if I saw something funny, I couldn't help myself. 'I wasn't a bad lassie but I had everyone laughing, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. 'I have actually been stopped by people who recognise the teacher after seeing me play her on Chewin' The Fat, they said I had her to a T. 'I will be bringing back a lot of my character for my new tour, it will have new stand up as well but definitely nostalgia too.' Karen started her career off in the sketch show Chewin' the Fat, before going on to star in her own show, The Karen Dunbar Show, which received various awards and nominations. Since then she has also featured in everything from Glasgow Panto to West End Theatre, performed Burns, Shakespeare, stand up and DJ-ed all in New York and last year DJ-ed at TRNSMT and in Ibiza. In 2014 she opened the Commonwealth Games in front of forty thousand folk and one billion viewers. Now she will take the stage in the city at Websters Theatre on Friday, May 2. There will also be opportunities to meet the Chewin' The Fat star and take photos with special VIP ticket options. Karen said: 'At the majority of my shows most people are pleased to see me before I even open my mouth. 'That familiarity from Chewin' The Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show gets crowds in the door, but it doesn't make them stay. 'I need to make sure I give good stuff that they can enjoy and work hard, but I love doing that. 'Performing in Glasgow means there is always a wee element of a ruckus, you can make the jokes more local too.' Speaking about her new fans and loyal followers Karen shared what they can expect at her tour. This includes life back when she first got famous to how she has been navigating life since - including her love and frustrations with new technology. She said: 'I have a lot of young fans coming and ones who have been there from the start. "The young ones surprised me but they love all the old stuff and seem to enjoy my new stuff which is great. 'For the tour I will be telling stories from Chewin' The Fat and the Karen Dunbar show, but also what my life is like now. 'I will be talking about my important relationship with my Amazon Alexa, we get in a lot of fights. 'For inspiration I am always looking about ordinary life and just thinking, is that funny? Can I make it something? 'I just love making people laugh, I have been that way since I was a kid. I think that is why I am always talking to my Alexa - it feels like I always have an audience.' You can get tickets here.
