Latest news with #FrankieBoyle
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
The Stand Edinburgh comedy club celebrates 30th birthday
The Stand, based in Edinburgh, hosted its first regular club night in 1995, in the basement of a pub in the Grassmarket, before opening at a permanent venue on York Place in 1998. The club also has sites in Glasgow and Newcastle, as well as being one of the staple venues at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, and has launched the careers of many comedians in Scotland, including Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges. The milestone was celebrated at The Stand's Edinburgh venue on York Place last week, which The National was invited to attend. READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe Former SNP MP and The Stand co-founder Tommy Sheppard took to the stage, as well as a host of familiar faces on the comedy circuit - including Gareth Mutch, Vladimir McTavish, Robin Grainger and Liam Farrelly. Reflecting on The Stand's history, Sheppard told guests that the venue has had "such an important part of Scottish cultural life" in the last 30 years. He said: "We did it because we wanted a platform to be in the capital city of Scotland for people who wanted to perform stand-up comedy, because up to then the only way you could get in the business was to go to London." Sheppard added that The Stand has stuck to the principle that "stand up comedy is not just about making people laugh". "It's also about making people think, it's about saying the unsayable, about criticising the rich and powerful through the vehicle of humour," he continued. "By doing that we give a voice to the audience from this stage and we allow people to get through their lives and get through their world a little bit saner and a little bit happier than they might do otherwise." Sheppard also reflected on the "difficult" state of the sector, as he said: "This is what people in the business call a 'very challenging trading situation'. "It means that a lot of people who used to go out once a week, now go out once a month. They used to spend a tenner, and now they try to keep it to one drink if they come out." READ MORE: Edinburgh Fringe programme launches with 3350 shows across 265 venues He added that while The Stand's presence at the Fringe is "not as big" as it once was, the comedy club had "consolidated" its position this year with the four venues it had secured. This August, festival-goers can look forward to more than 60 different events across the capital – ranging from stand-up comedy to spoken word, to a series of "In Conversation" events with the likes of First Minister John Swinney, Glasgow University rector Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, independent MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and filmmaker Paul Laverty. The National also told how several Palestinian comedians are set to make their Fringe debut at the Palestine Comedy Club, which will be held at The Stand on August 18, 19 and 20. Sheppard urged people to show their support for the club, not just "so that we are confident in building towards a successful Fringe, but also towards the next chapter in our history". He added: "We are not done yet, not by a long shot."
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Frankie Boyle's net worth revealed as wealth soars
Although he made the bold claim that he thinks money is "pretty pointles s" despite his fortune IN THE MONEY Frankie Boyle's net worth revealed as wealth soars COMEDIAN Frankie Boyle boosted the value of his personal company to more than £4.2 million last year. The stand-up's firm has just posted a healthy set of financial figures. 2 Frankie Boyle's wealth has soared in the last year Credit: PA:Press Association 2 The comedian's earnings have skyrocketed since 2005 The Glasgow-born comic's earnings have rocketed since he shot to fame on the BBC panel show Mock the Week in 2005. Boyle, 52, has earned a fortune from television appearances, documentaries and sell-out tours. Latest accounts for his company McShane Karate show the firm has total assets of £4,953,846. That is made up of £2,340,357 held in an account, £964,980 owed by debtors, tangible assets of £1,386,957 and a £261,552 investment portfolio. The company owes £734,023 to creditors within a year leaving it with shareholder funds of £4,219,823 - almost double the previous year's figure of £2,233,288. Boyle set up the London-based firm in 2014 and the accounts cover the period up until August 31 last year. Despite his earnings, Boyle has previously described money as 'pointless' and said he did not enjoy splashing out on so-called luxuries. In an interview with fellow comedian Frank Skinner, he said: 'I think ultimately money is pretty pointless. 'When you get to the point that you have money you realise that luxury and that whole idea you were sold of 'Oh it would be nice to go on a cruise', well it really isn't. "It's like being at a China Buffet King on roller skates for two weeks. Frankie Boyle leaves fans in stitches over outfit on Taskmaster 'And these meals that they sell, a romantic meal on the beach and then there's sand on your food and that table moves in the sand and the waiter is smoking a fag. 'None of it is any good. It's like trying to eat the picture of a burger off a menu, it's all just a sales pitch.' Boyle won a Bafta Scotland award in 2023 for his Channel 4 documentary Frankie Boyle's Farewell To the Monarchy. His debut novel, which is called Meantime and is set in Glasgow, was published in 2022 and he completed a UK stand-up tour last year. Last year, he revealed he is considering quitting stand-up to write 'cosy crime' novels.
The National
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Frankie Boyle among stars to blast BBC over Gaza documentary delay
MORE than 600 famous figures including comedian Frankie Boyle and Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon have accused on the BBC of 'political suppression' in its decision to delay the airing of a documentary on Gaza's doctors. The documentary titled Gaza: Medics Under Fire was reportedly ready to be broadcast in February but has been shelved following the controversy around How to Survive a Warzone, which featured the son of a Hamas official. The production firm behind the documentary on Gaza doctors, Basement Films, said the BBC has postponed airing the film until after a review into How to Survive a Warzone is completed. A number of NHS doctors are reportedly writing to the BBC to air their frustrations over its decision to delay the screening of the film after they helped to introduce the documentary team to their counterparts in Gaza. Now more than 600 prominent figures have signed an open letter to director-general Tim Davie expressing 'deep concern' about the 'censorship of Palestinian voices'. READ MORE: BBC 'sorry' for wrong pronouns during Supreme Court gender report The letter accuses the BBC of 'demonstrating bias' in its reporting of events in Gaza, including in repeatedly delaying the broadcast of Gaza: Medics Under Fire, which signatories say represents 'political suppression'. 'This documentary was scheduled to air in January but has since been indefinitely delayed. It has undergone rigorous editorial scrutiny. It has been fact-checked and signed off repeatedly, and yet the BBC refuses to set a broadcast date,' the letter states. 'This is not editorial caution. It's political suppression. The BBC has provided no timeline, no transparency. Such decisions reinforce the systemic devaluation of Palestinian lives in our media. 'It's hard not to conclude that the BBC's gatekeeping is rooted in racism. The message is clear: Programmes about the ongoing genocide, told from Palestinian perspectives, are held to a different standard. 'If the voices of Palestinian doctors aren't considered credible – just as the voices of Palestinian children were previously dismissed – then whose voices does the BBC consider legitimate? 'Every day this film is delayed, the BBC fails in its commitment to inform the public, fails in its journalistic responsibility to report the truth, and fails in its duty of care to these brave contributors.' Demanding a release date for the documentary, the letter added: 'No news organisation should quietly decide behind closed doors whose stories are worth telling.' (Image: PA) Other signatories of the letter include ex-BBC journalist Karishma Patel – who quit the BBC over its reporting on Gaza – and actress Maxine Peake (above). Historian William Dalrymple has also criticised the broadcaster's decision as he said the broadcaster is 'wrecking its reputation' over its failure to hold the Israeli Government to account. The independent documentary production company Basement Films said it was 'deeply disappointed' that its film had not yet been aired yet, amid suggestions that the BBC had reversed an original plan to press ahead with the screening. 'There is no moral or professional reason why a mistake in one film should repeatedly prevent the release of another film,' the company said. The BBC has been approached for comment. Calls for BBC to become 'public service mutual' Elsewhere, media expert Tom Mills has called major reform at the BBC insisting it should become 'public service mutual', with members actively involved in its operations. Mills – who wrote The BBC: Myth of a Public Service – said these powers will create a 'direct relationship' between the public and the broadcaster, enabling them to hold management to account and be involved in setting the BBC's strategy. (Image: Tom Mills) The Aston University sociologist has made the call ahead of the review of the BBC's Royal Charter in 2027, which defines the BBC's constitution and public purposes. He points out that while the BBC is funded by the public, they have no control over how it works, while governments 'have interfered' with the broadcaster's independence and 'weakened' its public service mission. 'Unless the BBC is radically reformed, it faces a bleak future of dwindling audiences, collapsing funding and eventual irrelevance, depriving British audiences of one of the few national institutions with a duty to serve their needs and interests,' he said. 'The next BBC Royal Charter should mutualise the BBC, transforming it into an organisation owned and controlled by the British public. 'A mutualised BBC would continue to be an independent public service media institution, but one founded on a genuinely democratic relationship with the public.' Setting out proposals for the reform, Mills said members of a mutualised BBC would be 'sovereign' and represented by a members' council which would organise members' participation in the BBC's activities and directly hold the BBC executive to account. He added that any future funding mechanism by the BBC must be 'free from government control' and rated progressively on ability to pay. Other proposals include:
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Susan Sarandon and Frankie Boyle among signatories urging BBC to air Gaza film
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and comedian Frankie Boyle are among hundreds of signatories calling on the BBC to air a Gaza documentary on the stories of Palestinian medics working amid Israeli bombardment which the corporation has delayed showing. Figures from across the film, TV, journalism and cultural sectors have signed their name in an open letter urging BBC director general Tim Davie to air the unreleased documentary, Gaza: Medics Under Fire. The letter has been sent on behalf of the UK Screen Industry, made up of a 'group of concerned film and TV professionals'. The documentary, which includes eyewitness accounts from frontline Palestinian health workers in Gaza and documents attacks on hospitals and clinics, was due to air in January. But it was delayed by the BBC until an ongoing review into a different programme in the region was completed. The BBC pulled the documentary How to Survive a Warzone in February after it emerged its 13-year old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. The letter, signed by more than a dozen anonymous BBC staff, said: 'This documentary was scheduled to air in January but has since been indefinitely delayed. It has undergone rigorous editorial scrutiny. It has been fact-checked and signed off repeatedly, and yet the BBC refuses to set a broadcast date. 'This is not editorial caution. It's political suppression. The BBC has provided no timeline, no transparency. Such decisions reinforce the systemic devaluation of Palestinian lives in our media. 'It's hard not to conclude that the BBC's gatekeeping is rooted in racism. The message is clear: Programmes about the ongoing genocide, told from Palestinian perspectives, are held to a different standard. 'Every day this film is delayed, the BBC fails in its commitment to inform the public, fails in its journalistic responsibility to report the truth, and fails in its duty of care to these brave contributors.' Also among the 600 or so signatories are Channel 4 News international editor, Lindsey Hilsum, and actors Game of Thrones' Indira Varma, Killing Eve's Dame Harriet Walter, and Sweetpea star Olivia Cooke. Director Mike Leigh also added his name to the list along with actress Miriam Margolyes and Bend It Like Beckham's Juliet Stevenson. Ruhi Hamid, a filmmaker who signed the letter, said: 'As a documentary filmmaker, I know how much work, risk, and responsibility goes into telling the truth – especially in places like Gaza. 'When the BBC, a public service broadcaster, chooses to suppress a film that highlights the lifesaving work of doctors under siege, it doesn't just fail the filmmakers. It fails the public. 'It sends a message that some truths are too inconvenient to air, and that some lives – especially Palestinian lives—are less worthy of compassion or coverage. 'That's not just editorial judgment. That's a failure of journalistic integrity – and it's dangerous for our entire industry.' Rose Glandfield, a documentary editor who also signed the letter added: 'As a Jewish woman from a family of pacifists, I was raised with the belief that our humanity is defined by how we respond to the suffering of others, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or religion. Bearing witness to injustice and standing up for those in danger is not only a moral imperative, it is a core part of my identity.' The production company behind the new documentary, Basement Films, said they gathered 'searing testimony from multiple Palestinian doctors and healthcare workers' and are 'desperate' to confirm a release date. The broadcaster has responded to the delay and said it will release the documentary 'as soon as possible'. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We are committed to journalism which tells our audiences the stories of this war, including what is happening in Gaza. This documentary is a powerful piece of reporting and we will broadcast it as soon as possible. 'We have taken an editorial decision not to do so while we have an ongoing review into a previous documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone.' The BBC previously apologised over 'serious flaws' in releasing How To Survive a Warzone with Davies saying he lost 'trust' in the film after learning of the Hamas connection. It is understood that the BBC will respond to the letter in due course and will not cancel the documentary. The broadcaster launched a review into the film and has delayed the release of the new documentary with no current date in place for when it will air.
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Legendary Scots venue set for MOVE to new location after launching careers major Brit stars
Bosses said they are "very excited" about the future LAST LAUGH Legendary Scots venue set for MOVE to new location after launching careers major Brit stars ONE of Scotland's most iconic comedy clubs is moving after 25 years in its current home. Bosses at The Stand Comedy Club announced the move which involves a new 25-year lease. Advertisement 2 The Stand is moving after 25 years 2 Performers have included Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges and Susie McCabe The club is moving 100 yards from its base at Woodlands Road in Glasgow to the nearby Lansdowne Church. The Stand's director, Mike Jones, said: "After 25 fantastic years in our current venue, it's the right time for The Stand to make a new move that will allow us to grow into the future. "We're very excited to be moving to The Lansdowne Church which is such an iconic building in the city. "It will enable us to meet our future ambition, expand our programme into new areas and become a greater community hub in the West End of Glasgow." Advertisement Venue manager Fraser Milroy added: "We will be taking all that history, love and expertise into the new venue with us. "The people of Glasgow have a strong connection with this club - we want them to have that same ownership and pride when we move." Household names who cut their teeth on the stage include Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges and Susie McCabe. The club will be revealing more about their move and expansion as work commences over the summer months in time for a grand opening later this year. Advertisement Katherine Ryan makes shock claim 'very rich' male comedian showed TV co-stars sex videos backstage at gig The new venue will offer higher audience capacity, full disabled access and a permanent bar separate from the club. It is based in the former Websters Theatre which briefly closed over safety fears.
