WEEKEND: BBC2’s festive comedy duo reach around 2m
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Has there ever been a comedy straight man in a double act who found a new partner and switched role to become the funny guy? Bob Mortimer has done just that and I’m struggling to think of a precedent.
If you don’t know what the straight man’s role is, think of Ernie Wise’s face as Eric Morecambe slaps him round the chops. Ernie’s job was much more than setting up the laughs. He was the backbone of every routine . . . the maypole around which his brilliant pal cavorted.
That was Bob’s job, when he was one half of Reeves and Mortimer. He played the adoring acolyte, awe-struck by the confidence of Vic Reeves, in a partnership that took them through stand-up comedy, panel games and sitcoms.
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing review — comic babble and the odd catch in the throat thetimes.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetimes.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
TV guide: 24 of the best shows to watch this week Shorts Yule Love, Samhlú, Dementia Choir at Christmas, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 06:00 Updated: Thu, Dec 17, 2020, 09:56
Sunday BBC2, 8.10pm It’s gentle, often a bit silly, a whole lot of fun – and even those who have never picked up a fishing rod in their lives adore this programme. The best buddies have a festive treat for viewers, and it’s also rather special for Bob Mortimer because it takes him back to his roots in Middlesbrough. He and Paul Whitehouse spend time angling on the river Esk and Tees in the hope of catching an elusive glorious grayling. Bob also tries to prove to Paul that the spirit of Christmas really does still exist, which could prove trickier than landing any fish.
On Demand Tiny Pretty Things (Netflix, from Mon) In 2015, authors Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton welcomed the publication of Tiny Pretty Things, their collaborative novel about life at an elite ballet school. It was an instant success and has won numerous plaudits since - and now it s been turned into a 10-part TV series. The story follows the fortunes of a group of hugely talented teenagers from a variety of backgrounds, both poor and privileged, who have left their homes and families behind to pursue their dreams of becoming professional dancers. They are enrolled at the Archer School of Ballet, which is aligned with the city s renowned professional company, City Works Ballet. But it soon becomes clear that the institution is hiding a multitude of sins. Lauren Holly, Kylie Jefferson and Brennan Clost star.