The Comedy Club BlogFunny Business - BBC Series
The Comedy Club’s Funny Business 4-Part BBC Series Starts - Monday 21st Jan. 10pm
— BBC2 Wales / Sky 991 —
Following the storming success of The Comedy Clubs 2006 hit documentary; Welcome to my World - Funny Business. The BBC quickly commissioned an exciting and stirring 4 part series with The Comedy Club to find the UK’s next Welsh comic star - Funny Business!
The Prize - The competition was fierce, alive with optimism and dreams but there could only be one winner. And the prize? The holy grail for any up and coming comedian - a contract with The Comedy Club to perform across the UK on the prestigious comedy circuit.
The Judges - Judging the competition were Comedy Club director Ian Franklin & top stand-up comedian Rudi Lickwood, a highly credited headliner already managed by Ian and recently the highlight of Channel 4’s ‘Get me the Producer’. How did the acts fair under scrutiny from the judges? Was it smiles all round or was the truth too much to take? Don’t look for Simon Cowell; Funny Business is a national talent contest with bite.
The Comedians - Some entrants rode on a wave of magnificent applause, others faded in the face of competition, others were simply mad, but who had what it takes to be a winner? From filling the rafters with laughter to finding humour in the darkest moments for many unlucky comics’ every moment of the Funny Business series is gripping and real.
The Journey - Funny Business takes this exciting journey one step further; following the winner(s) onto the comedy club circuit and really testing their mettle. With over 30 venues across the UK, The Comedy Club is a huge stage for these comedians; so who has what it takes to become the next welsh comic star? You’ll have to watch to find out!
4-Part Series - BBC2 Wales / Sky 991 - 10pm - 21st Jan | 28th Jan | 4th Feb | 11th Feb
Funny Business -The Tour ‘08! - As a result of this fantastic competition, we have discovered many new stars on the comedy circuit proud to be Welsh and ready to come to a venue near you. A stop of the tour will bring you 4 stars of this documentary and will run from Feb 08 - April 08. Contact Us
Hold your own Comedy Club night - Enjoy the UK’s top professional comedians at your venue. Filming for the final episode of the series followed the winner(s) around many of our Comedy Club venues, so with more TV & Media projects on the horizon, now is a great time to book a Comedy Club night. Benefit now from the media coverage surrounding The Comedy Club. Find out more online or Call 08700 425656.
RL - Bridgend said,
January 17, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
If i like one of the comedians but they didn’t make it to the final, can i still request them for the Funny Business Tour?
The Comedy Club said,
January 17, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
We aim to be as flexible as possible with our service as who people find funny is very much down to personal taste. We will do our best to ensure you get the best line-up for your stop of the Funny Business Tour ‘08 with your favourite requested comedians. Of course comedian booking is still subject to availability.
Please call 08700 425656 or email info@hahaheehee.com for more information. Best regards. The Comedy Club
Les Saville said,
January 17, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
I’ve seen so many adverts for this series i’m just glad it’s finally here, it looks brilliant. Role on Monday - getting the mates round and the beers in.
Les Saville. CARDIFF
KCJ2008 said,
January 19, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Yeah i know it’s great, I was at the open mic night in Cardiff when it was being filmed. I thought Kevin Coleman was probably the best on the night i saw but i don’t know who won it on the final night.
I haven’t really tried to find out either, i’m sure it must be in the news on this a little while back but don’t want to ruin the surprise for myself. From what I’ve seen, I know it’s going to be close.
Kasey
Les Saville said,
January 22, 2008 @ 7:55 am
well i stuck to my word and got my mates round, can’t wait for next monday now. my favourite so far has to be frank honeybone. He looks like a comedians’ comedian who would go down well on the circuit - best of luck to all of them though.
favourite joke so far - “I told my careers adviser that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian and he pissed himself…well I thought that’s alright then” haha.
Gary Jones said,
January 22, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
saw funny business last night and thought it was great, Ian seems like a genuine guy and everyone’s got a tough job to impress Rudi. I had images of this agent coming to wales and knocking our entrants down like flies, but has been really good watch.
Lets hope part 2 lives up to the expectations.
KCJ2008 said,
January 24, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Yeah, was a good one. Rod Woodward wasn’t it? Anyway, keep seeing loads of adverts on the BBC so i think it’s going to get quite a few more viewers. If it comes back next year i’ll definitely putting my name down. Kasey
The Comedy Club said,
February 1, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
You can now enjoy the previous week’s episode on BBC iPlayer. The link’s at the top of the page so you now watch the brilliant funny business on your lunch break!!
Les Saville said,
February 2, 2008 @ 1:12 am
Time to place your bets on who wins folks! I still think it’s between Frank Honeybone, Rod Woodward and Kevin Coleman as the outsider. What do you think? The final’s on Kevin home turf so he might be able to cause a stand-up upset.
Les Saville. CARDIFF
John S. said,
February 4, 2008 @ 11:02 am
John S.
Thanks for the BBC iPlayer tip off. I managed to catch up with the last 2 episodes so i’ll definitely be watching tonight.
I think Dan Mitchells’ got a good chance. I’m not from Wales but really hope the comedy club helps one of these guys get big. This competition will be like that Spice Girls audition tape!
Good luck guys!
David said,
February 4, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Thank you Comedy Club for the finest series on TV this year. Funny Business has been a real ray of light for the Welsh comedy circuit and just what we needed. Of all your comedy clubs, it would be great to get one down here either in Cardiff or Swansea. I’d be the first along to enjoy a proper night of Stand-up comedy, if only we had the chance.
The Funny Business Series is awsome - Thanks you Comedy Club and all your comedians who came down to help with the series!
David
Gary Jones said,
February 5, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Part 3. What an episode! I thought Kevin was extrememly lucky to be in the final, but did great once he was there. Rod Woodward and Frank Honeybone are 2 comedians who clearly have a bit of stage time under their belt but still must have been hard under the pressure.
I’ll definitely be looking for Dan Mitchell doing more stand-up comedy, he’s a comedian on the edge of making it in my opinion. Very good still.
Dean Burnett - an English agent, running English and foreign clubs…Dean’s accent and speed of delivery was just too great. Ian Franklin was a top bloke throughout but can appreciate his view on this one.
Anyway, rambling now! Best of luck to Kevin and Rod on the comedy club circuit. £60,000 worth on contacts, that’s not funny, that’s comedy!
Gareth Williams - Anglesey said,
February 5, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Can I get Rudi Lickwood down to my club?
Gareth Williams - Anglesey said,
February 6, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
I was also thinking about some of the welsh comedians in the competition too. Don’t mind who, just some of the finalists I guess.
Thanks.
Gareth
The Comedy Club Ltd said,
February 7, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Hi Gareth,
Thanks for getting in touch. Rudi Lickwood and the acts that appeared in the show can certainly be booked for a comedy night or event you have planned.
Please call 08700 425656 to speak to a Comedy Club team memberor email info@hahaheehee.com.
Best regards,
The Comedy Club Ltd
Jeff Baker said,
April 15, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
After tonight’s XXX show, I’m doubting my own existence.
David Wing said,
April 16, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
FXXXXXG funny. That’s all i have to say. Love the rap Jeff.