Film / News
GBBO hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding join 2021 Slapstick lineup
Great British Bake-Off hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding are the latest additions to the 17th annual Slapstick festival, which now runs from March 1 to 7.
They’ll be discussing their mutual love of Laurel and Hardy in one of 28 events, all of which will be live-streamed for the first time in the Bristol festival’s history.
Although Covid-19 has robbed punters of the communal chortling that is one of Slapstick’s greatest attractions, the enforced shift online also allows the festival to be accessed globally and attract more international guests.
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Comedienne Loretta Mary Aiken (1894-1975), better known by her stage name, Jackie ‘Moms’ Mabley, New York, NY, 1968. She’s celebrated in Whoopi Goldberg’s film, which is shown as part of Slapstick’s first focus on the screen comedy work of black artists.
Among the other highlights are comedy conversations with Rob Brydon, Bernie Clifton, Graeme Garden, Robin Ince and Stewart Lee; Slapstick’s first ever focus on the screen comedy work of black artists, featuring a rare French silent starring Josephine Baker and a screening of Whoopi Goldberg’s film about ‘Moms’ Mabley; Germany’s self-styled ‘UK Ambassador of Comedy’ Henning Wehn championing the, ahem, once seen, never forgotten work of his comedian/musician compatriot Helge Schneider; the granddaughters of WC Fields and Harold Lloyd sharing personal memories of these comedy greats; stand-up Lucy Porter and actor/impressionist/author/illustrator Jessica Martin celebrating the iconic Clara Bow; and a tribute to Hattie Jacques with her son Robin Le Mesurier (taking a short break from his own showbiz career as Rod Stewart’s guitarist).
The festival concludes with the release of a film shot during Slapstick 2020’s live 47 Years Without a Clue event at the Bristol Old Vic in which stalwarts from the UK’s favourite radio comedy series shared memories of the show with Rob Brydon.
“At the time of the recording, we had no idea the world was about to become engulfed in a global pandemic nor that we would be losing one of our most popular guests to it so soon after – the very lovely Tim Brooke-Taylor,” says festival director Chris Daniels.
“This lends new-found poignancy to the light-hearted banter and re-enactments of Clue games since we know now that our film captures the very last time Tim would be on stage with his longtime playmates Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer.
“But it feels right to remember Tim as he was – funny, charming, quick – and to give the income from ticket sales to his favourite charity, the Thames Valley Adventure Playground.”
IT Girl Clara Bow: the most popular screen star of the 1920s. Lucy Porter and Jessica Martin pay tribute at Slapstick 2021
Some Slapstick 2021 events are free to access, but most are priced between £3 and £10. Full festival passes are also available, price £39/£20 (under 24s). Visit the Slapstick website to peruse the full programme and purchase tickets.
All images supplied by Slapstick
Read more: Slapstick festival goes global as it moves to March 2021
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