Latest news with #JoshWiddicombe
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Comedy duo receive blow after their major Sky documentary series is axed after just two series
He kickstarted his career in the comedy scene by mocking news stories and satirising the press. But now Nish Kumar has received a huge blow after his journalism documentary series was axed by Sky after just two seasons. Hold The Front Page saw the comic join Josh Widdicombe in a journey across the country, paying visits to various local newspapers. The duo attempted to find local news stories in each area including Blackpool, Bradford and the Isle of Wight. Their journalistic career appears to have come to a premature end, however, after Sky Max canned their show with no plans for more seasons. A TV insider told The Sun: 'The irony of the scenario is not lost on the creative team behind the show, because as a comedian involved in satire Josh is often making swipes at the media. 'But he got a taste of what its like to have to report on what's going on and realised just what a tough job it can be - particularly when you have to start out in the local press.' During his time touring the UK's regional news offices, Nish, who is most famous for fronting the Mash Report, reported on local operas, spicy curries and a church of wrestling. The audience remained low, however, spelling the end of the documentary series. And viewers have previously taken to review site IMDb, penning mixed feedback on the show, giving it an average 5.8/10 rating. 'Feels like it could have a better balance of Nish and Josh doing fun stuff, and coverage of the journalism aspect. By the second episode it also starts to feel too scripted.' 'I badly wanted to enjoy this, but, unfortunately it just doesn't work, and for the most part, it was excruciating viewing. 'I am a big fan of Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe has his moments, but come on, the pair spent their entire time being too clever, too smug, what happened here guys, you're way better than this.' Viewers have previously taken to review site IMDb, penning mixed feedback on the show, giving it an average 5.8/10 rating 'This show is an easy watch but it is not real, it's corny, staged and too produced, instead of making an effort and making a show on this premise feel original and fresh they took the untalented predictable and stale route.' But others were more positive and will be disappointed to learn that the show has been cut. '2 saves the day... the chemistry between the two leads has developed to a point where their bantering is now genuinely funny and some of the one-liners are laugh out loud.' 'I like both comedians anyway so thought I'd give this a try. It was good fun so I binge watched them all. 'It actually gave a really good account of how hard it is to be a journalist in today's fast paced way of life and some of the scenes were laugh out loud funny.' It's the latest blow for Nish after the BBC axed his Mash Report in 2021, adding it was 'very proud' of the programme. The show, a satirical take on the week's news which featured Rachel Parris, first aired in 2017. Nish hit back at the broadcaster's decision to cancel the programme, posting a picture of himself in front of the words 'Boris Johnson is a liar and a racist'. The comedian captioned his tweet: 'A lot of people asking me for a comment and here it is.' The BBC said in a statement: 'We are very proud of The Mash Report but, in order to make room for new comedy shows, we sometimes have to make difficult decisions and it won't be returning. 'We would like to thank all those involved in four brilliant series and hope to work with Nish Kumar, Rachel Parris and the team in the future.' In 2018, broadcaster Andrew Neil singled out the satire show while complaining that the corporation's comedy output was too left-wing. He called the BBC Two programme 'self-satisfied, self-adulatory, unchallenged left-wing propaganda'.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Comedy duo's huge Sky show is axed following ratings flop
HE built a comedy career out of mocking the press, now Nish Kumar has seen his own bid at being a newspaper reporter fall at the first hurdle. The comedian joined fellow funnyman Josh Widdicombe on Hold the Front Page, which last aired in 2024, which saw them see what it was like to be a hack. 1 But after a pretty mediocre response to the six-part show, bosses at Sky Max have decided to drop the axe - with no plans for another season. A TV insider said: "The irony of the scenario is not lost on the creative team behind the show, because as a comedian involved in satire Josh is often making swipes at the media. "But he got a taste of what its like to have to report on what's going on and realised just what a tough job it can be - particularly when you have to start out in the local press." Nish, best known for fronting The Mash Report on BBC Two, joined all-round funnyman Josh on a jaunt round the country where they found themselves in multiple newspaper offices. It included stopping off in Bradford to spend time on the city's Telegraph & Argus where they reported on everything from a church of wrestling to extra hot curries and the local opera scene. They also visited Josh's home county of Devon where they got down and dirty on the mud to report for The Moorlander newspaper, bringing news to over 100,000 people in the area. They also went on the hunt of an escaped prisoner and attended a local sci-fi convention. The duo even ended up in sunny Benidorm where they worked on the Euro News bringing stories to expats wanting to keep informed. But the reviews and the viewing figures were generally poor and their brief foray into journalism has now come to an abrupt end. Shame. Sky were approached for comment.
Powys County Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Machynlleth Comedy Festival returns as shows sell out
Preparations are underway for the 2025 Machynlleth Comedy festival as the annual event is set to return to the Powys town this weekend. Hundreds of comedians are set to descend on Machynlleth for a weekend of performances between Friday, May 2, and Sunday, May 4, performing in 'every conceivable venue across the town' according to the festival's co-founder. The lineup includes big names like Stewart Lee, Josh Widdicombe, Ed Byrne, Zoe Lyons, Mike Wozniak, Ivo Graham, Desiree Burch and Jamali Maddix, as well as dozens of underground and emerging performers on the comedy circuit. The 2024 festival saw up to 8,000 people visiting Machynlleth for the event, with similar figures expected this weekend for the fourteenth instalment of the festival as several shows have been completely sold out. Festival co-founder Henry Widdicombe said: 'When I look back at the initial vision for the Festival, what I'm most proud of is how the event is talked about by the artists who play it, the crew who work it, and the audience who attend it. 'Knowing the Festival could never grow beyond its current size we've always tried to keep it a special secret for those who love comedy. 'We don't take for granted that visitors have chosen to spend their May Day Bank Holiday weekend with us. 'Our talented crew will be working tirelessly to make the weekend the best of the year. Alongside this we continue to work on improving our access at the festival to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend, and we are continuing to reduce our environmental impacts as an event and ask for your help in achieving that. 'In a time that is increasingly challenging for small to medium sized festivals we want to thank our supporters more than ever. Powys County Council's increased level of support for this year's event is a welcome boost, and with Keep It Light Media and Barti Rum continuing their support we're able to bring you the event for another year. 'I believe in the power of small events to bring people together, celebrate life, and provide a valuable reminder to us all to have fun. So let's have a banger.'
Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Who Do You Think You Are? The best episodes and revelations, ranked
It has been more than 20 years since the comedian and conservationist Bill Oddie became the first famous face to have their family tree investigated by the BBC genealogy series. Since then, Who Do You Think You Are? has become a staple of the BBC schedules and over more than 170 episodes has treated its celebrity subjects and viewers to all manner of previously unknown facts about their pasts. With a new season — which includes episodes with Andrew Garfield and Mishal Husain — upon us, we've decided to look back at some of the most interesting episodes from the past two decades. From discoveries of royal heritage to revelations about darker characters in their families' past: there have been some truly memorable shows throughout the years. Here are our top ten episodes, but don't forget to leave your favourites in the comments below. 10. Emma Willis Most people go on the show hoping to uncover heartwarming family connections, but delving into the past can reveal a troubling legacy. The presenter set out to explore her Birmingham roots and was pleased to discover they run deep: her three-times great-grandfather, James Gretton, was born in the city and counted among the pioneering entrepreneurs who helped to earn it the nickname 'the city of a thousand trades'. So far, so uplifting. But things shifted when her journey took her to Ireland, where she uncovered a darker chapter: her five-times great-grandfather, Richard Fowler of Boggy Meadows, was a Protestant landowner known for brutally assaulting and torturing republican-minded blacksmiths. Josh Widdicombe at Hever Castle BBC/STEPHEN PERRY 9. Josh Widdicombe During his ancestry journey, the comedian uncovered a surprisingly regal lineage. He discovered ties to the Earl of Holland and learnt that his 13-times great-grandmother was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. But the biggest revelation was that his 12-times great-grandmother was in a 'love triangle' with the queen and that he was related to Anne Boleyn. It was even suggested that he may be directly related to King Henry VIII. He also found out that his 23-times great-grandfather was King Edward I, making him a descendant of French royalty. 'To say it's exceeded my expectations is the understatement of a lifetime,' the comedian said about the show. 'I was just expecting a couple of farmers. It's proper blue blood, isn't it?' 8. Lesley Garrett The truth about the soprano singer's two-times great-grandfather had long been buried — a tightly held family secret, hidden even from her father. To the outside world, Charles was a local councillor and a respected figure. But within the family, a darker story loomed. According to his son and daughter-in-law, Charles had been responsible for his wife's death. They believed he had deliberately replaced her medication with carbolic acid, which killed her. Although the coroner ruled it an accidental death caused by a medication mix-up, suspicion ran deep. Convinced of foul play, the family severed all ties with Charles and never looked back. 7. Matt Lucas The comedian went on a mission to explore the history of his beloved late grandmother Margot, who came to the UK in 1939 as a Jewish refugee. In one of the more poignant and moving episodes of the show, Lucas travelled to Berlin and Amsterdam to uncover the hardships and tragedy that befell her and his family as Jews in Nazi Germany before they escaped to safety in the UK. He also stumbled upon an extraordinary connection between his family and the Second World War diarist Anne Frank. 6. Jeremy Paxman Although this episode didn't offer up the most shocking revelations, it was one of the most interesting and watchable. The Newsnight and University Challenge presenter began the show quite unphased by what he might discover, talking of looking to the future, not the past. It was with this in mind that his reaction to discovering the abject poverty his family in Glasgow had survived only a few generations before was even more moving. 'We just don't know we're born, do we?' he tells the camera in one of the most poignant moments of a series famous for them. 5. Alan Cumming The award-winning actor and presenter of the American version of The Traitors discovered a fascinating story about his grandfather that was very different from that which he thought he knew. Thomas Darling, his mother's father, had died at the age of 35 under mysterious circumstances while serving in the military in Malaysia. When he began to look into the matter, it appeared that Darling may not have died in an accident as Cumming had first thought, but perhaps had been involved in playing Russian roulette. 4. Judi Dench Given that she is one of the greatest British actresses, you would have struggled to script the big reveal in her episode. After she learnt that she had roots in Denmark in the 16th century, things took a truly epic twist when it turned out that the great Shakespearean star was descended from people who lived in a castle in the Scandinavian kingdom. Even better, her family could be traced to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, families named in Shakespeare's Hamlet, perhaps explaining Dench's love of the theatre. Ainsley Harriot discovered his ancestors had accumulated enormous wealth BBC 3. Ainsley Harriott The television chef travelled to the West Indies to trace his Caribbean roots, believing he already had a good idea about where he came from, but was shocked to find that his family history wasn't quite as he had thought. He discovered that one of his ancestors was a 'free black woman' who had accumulated enormous wealth, but the biggest revelation came when Harriott was told that his great-great-grandfather James Gordon Harriott had not been a slave but a descendant of a long line of white slave owners. 2. Matthew Pinsent Although a few celebrities have found royal roots on the show, the former Olympic rower's journey ended up being elevated further — tracing his lineage back to Adam and Eve. At the College of Arms, he discovered rolls that showed his family roots went back to Edward I and William the Conqueror. But there was more: another showed that he could be linked to King David, Jesus, Adam and Eve and, therefore, effectively to God. That's quite the journey. 1. Danny Dyer The EastEnders and Rivals star's episode began with stories of poverty and workhouses, which didn't much surprise the self-styled Cockney hero. However, things took a dramatic and unexpected turn when historians pulled on a thread that led them back to the court of Henry VIII. His 15-times great-grandfather turned out to be Thomas Cromwell, and following the royal line it turned out he came from a long line of royals including Eleanor of Aquitaine, William the Conqueror and the French king Louis IX. In a show that's all about surprises, it's hard to see how that will ever be topped.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Josh Widdicombe reveals he suffered ‘mental collapse' that led to ‘horrific' insomnia
Josh Widdicombe has revealed severe burnout led to him suffering a 'mental collapse' in 2022. The comedian, 41, who is best known for appearing on The Last Leg and hosting the Parenting Hell podcast alongside Rob Beckett, experienced 'horrific panic-attack-led insomnia' during the breakdown. Widdicombe said his inability to sleep left him 'terrified about going to sleep at night'. Yet he resisted his doctor's advice to take antidepressants because he thought it was an 'admission of failure'. Writing in The i Paper, Widdicombe said: 'Like a lot of people who think there's some sort of shame or stigma involved, I was initially very resistant to taking antidepressants. 'But I couldn't sleep and I was terrified about going to bed every night.' Widdicombe said sleepless nights meant he struggled to recover: 'I couldn't make any changes to my life, because it was like trying to change the tyre on a car that was going at 120mph,' he said. 'Taking medication just allowed me to pull over into the hard shoulder and make those changes. 'It's a shame that there's still stigma attached to it,' he added. 'It really helped me to just deal with it and make the life changes I needed to make.' Widdicombe explained his anxiety stemmed from a fear that if he ever stopped working then all his success as a comedian would vanish. The comedian underwent multiple rounds of talking therapy and began meditating in order to 'readjust that feeling' of inadequacy and reorganise his priorities. 'I'd lost sight of what the quest was,' he said. Reflecting on his management of anxiety, Widdicombe said he doesn't think you ever fully 'recover' from mental health struggles. 'You've got to be eternally vigilant with these things,' he said. 'It's like that phrase 'no one's a recovered alcoholic, they're always a recovering alcoholic' and I think it's the same with these things. 'I feel slightly like I'm a footballer that had an injury, who will always be slightly playing knowing that I'm protecting that injury even though it's not there any more.' Back in 2023, Beckett revealed Widdicombe had been 'stretched beyond belief at home and at work' after committing to too many things, leading him to 'not enjoying life and feeling stressed and fed up'. 'I was feeling incredibly anxious and depressed,' Widdicombe admitted. 'I was drinking to get to sleep when I was feeling bad, which is a very bad thing to do because it's a depressant.' Widdicombe recalled reaching a turning point with his anxiety while filming The Last Leg's Christmas special in December 2022. After filming the episode, he decided to see a GP and was then prescribed antidepressants. Despite feeling 'embarrassed' of the medicationWiddicombe told two friends he was on antidepressants, and it turns out that both of them were on the same medicines. ` According to UK Government statistics published in 2024, 8.7 million adults in the UK are on antidepressants. 'You can't just go: 'I took this pill, and I feel better,'' Widdicombe said. '[But antidepressants] give me a safety net, or a cushion that allows me to function when it gets really tough and allows me to rebuild.' If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
