Latest news with #NishKumar
The Guardian
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘This could be our last year': student comedy troupes priced out of Edinburgh fringe
'I don't have any family connections in comedy or television, my leg up was that I went to a posh university that had this relationship with Edinburgh,' says Nish Kumar, who joined sketch group the Durham Revue while he was a student and got his first taste of the Edinburgh festival fringe – and his future career – as part of the troupe. 'The Revue going to the fringe created so many opportunities for me. There is nothing anywhere in the world like it. For all of its problems, I still see that it has this ability to change people's lives and teach people the job of being a comedian.' Now, as the cost of taking shows to the fringe continues to rise, current members of the Durham Revue and other student sketch groups say they are being priced out of the performing arts festival. 'We're looking at the fact that this could be our last year,' says Alannah O'Hare, co-president of the Durham Revue, which as well as Kumar, counts Ambika Mod, Ed Gamble, Bafta-nominated TV writer Tom Neenan and Taskmaster's Stevie Martin as alumni. The group has gone to the fringe almost every year since the mid-70s. 'There's a huge legacy there,' says O'Hare. 'But it's becoming increasingly impossible.' Durham isn't the only university with a legacy of developing comedy talent. As well as the Cambridge Footlights and Oxford Revue, there is the Bristol Revunions, rekindled in 2008 by Charlie Perkins (now Channel 4's head of comedy), which counts Jamie and Natasia Demetriou, Ellie White and Charlotte Ritchie as former members. In the north-west there are the Manchester Revue and the Leeds Tealights, which boasts comedians Annie McGrath and Jack Barry, producer Phoebe Bourke and comedy agent Chris Quaile among its alumni. Kumar first experienced the fringe's transformative effects in 2006. Every year, Revue members write sketches and put on shows in Durham, with the goal of creating an hour of comedy gold for the festival. 'That was the whole purpose, because we wanted to be professional comedians and there isn't an obvious route,' Kumar says. Performing every day for a month improved his writing, plus, he says: 'You get a certain comfort that means you're not having a full-blown physiological panic attack every time you stand on stage. That confidence never leaves you.' Students also get the chance to watch other shows, which 'teaches you a lot about what you can do in comedy' and helped Kumar understand that not every interesting comedian is a TV star, but there's a pipeline to it. 'I got to see Russell Howard in a room with 100 people and then six months later he appeared on TV,' Kumar says. Crucially, students get to experience this without racking up substantial debt. 'The opportunity to go as students where you're not putting huge amounts of personal finances at risk, it's a really fleeting opportunity,' says O'Hare. If students must fund the experience themselves, 'you'll lose working-class voices, you'll lose lower-middle-class voices,' says Kumar. 'But we won't lose art from posh people because they have independent wealth.' McGrath, who attended three fringes with the Tealights, agrees: 'Edinburgh has already become wildly unaffordable for so many acts and punters, and landlords have a lot to answer for. It's really sad as it could wipe out a generation of new talent. It also means there's a lack of diversity in what is being created if only the wealthiest acts and biggest names are able to go.' Her student experience was 'totally magical' and 'instrumental in shaping the path I took after university,' McGrath says. 'Edinburgh is where I met so many of my comedy contemporaries, and I managed to get an agent the summer I graduated which gave me the confidence to think this could be a viable career.' Durham Revue and other troupes fund fringe runs from profits of the previous year, with extra money raised by staging shows throughout the year and, if they're lucky, grants from their university. These are not guaranteed and becoming harder to secure as university finances are squeezed, say O'Hare and Evie Cowen from the Leeds Tealights. The biggest hurdles are venue and accommodation costs, says O'Hare. This year, the Revue will spend about £9,000 on accommodation – 60% of its overall costs – 'and that's students sharing beds, it's not luxurious living'. Cowen says the Tealights have found accommodation for £6,500, a huge increase on the £4,000 spent in 2023. To cover the increases, Durham Revue has started its first crowdfunder, to which Kumar and other alumni have contributed. Yet this 'does not offer a long-term solution', O'Hare says. Leeds Tealights turns 20 this year and hopes money raised from an anniversary show will cover festival costs. Both groups worry about how they will bridge the gap in 2026. 'It feels like the inaccessibility of it has accelerated over the past few years, and it's impacting young people and students and people starting out,' O'Hare says. Is there a solution? Kumar says lack of university investment is 'shortsighted'. 'I'd definitely like to see more bursaries coming in to help,' Kumar says. 'They're talking about placing taxes on streaming services to reinvest into UK television – I'd like to see more of that invested into grassroots arts programmes. We need to look at how arts funding has been slowly chipped away for the past 15 years.' If students from all financial backgrounds can no longer attend the fringe, 'you're losing a really valuable training ground,' Kumar says. 'Comedy is one of the things we still do well in this country. Not providing funding for it is insane.'
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Josh Widdicombe comedy show 'axed' after two seasons 'following low ratings'
A Sky comedy show featuring two huge comedians - Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe - has reportedly been axed after two seasons following low ratings A huge Sky comedy show, featuring stars Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe, has reportedly been axed following low ratings. Hold the Front Page, which began in 2022 and has two series saw the comedic duo leap into the unique and often sensational world of local news. The pair were seen travelling across the UK working for a different newspaper each week, fulfilling a mission to find local stories strong enough to make the front page. However, it looks like the pair failed to create a story engaging enough for viewers, as the show has reportedly been shelved, and won't be coming back for a third season, The Sun reports. "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," a source told the publication. "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." The Mirror has contacted Sky for comment. Throughout their time filming for the show, the pair visited a number of cities to get the latest scoop. During the first episode, they headed to the Isle of Wight to work for the County Press, where they met Princess Anne. During the same series, they also took a trip to Benidorm to lead the region's weekly British newspaper, the Euro Weekly News. Despite their best journalistic efforts, the duo failed to impress audiences, reportedly receiving low ratings as well as poor reviews for the show. It's not the only stroke of bad luck Josh has had on TV recently. At the end of last year, the star appeared on Saturday Kitchen where he narrowly avoided a painful experience. During the episode in November, Matt Tebbutt was busy whipping up fondue for the comic when Josh decided to get adventurous with the equipment. He cheekily tested the cheese-melting burner, even after host Matt had cautiously used garlic to anoint the pot before setting it beside the roaring blue flame. The comedian and Strictly Come Dancing Christmas 2024 star couldn't resist placing his hand directly above the flame and immediately recoiled, letting out a scream, to which Matt quickly warned, "Yeah, yeah, watch your hand!"
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'.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Comedy duo's huge Sky show is axed after just one series following ratings flop
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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 Comedians Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar on Hold the Front Page 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.
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.
