Alan Connor's Blog, page 7

Heat Map | BBC Radio 5Live

I am a panellist on Heat Map this Sunday.

Under discussion: cultural appropriation, Kanye West and The Communist Manifesto.

See also: 5Live’s Arts Club
Other episodes
Image from Kew Bridge series

Arts Club with Will Gompertz | BBC Radio 5 Live

I am a guest on the first episode of BBC Radio 5 Live’s Arts Club. Tickets for the recording are available from The Bill Murray club in Islington.

Update: More episodes with me —

2 Feb 2018 : Art for Trump, Dylan v Cohen, What does Banksy look like and is The Bayeaux Tapestry a bit rubbish? (My sacred cow: The Laughing Cavalier)
16 Feb 2018 : Florence, portraits and the music of our youth (My sacred cow: The Great Bear)
18 Mar 2018 : Awards Shows, the NME, and TV shows for the Obamas (My sacred cow: Julius Caesar)

Recording: Thu 1 Feb 2018, The Bill Murray, 39 Queen’s Head St, London N1 8NQ [tickets]
Broadcast: BBC 5 live, Sun 4 Feb 2018 and on podcast
See also: The Will Gompertz Fringe
Image from the RWA Exhibition, 2007

Arts Club with Will Gompertz | BBC Radio 5 live

I am a guest on the first episode of Arts Club with Will Gompertz. Free tickets for the recording are available from The Bill Murray club in Islington.

Recording: Thu 1 Feb 2018, The Bill Murray, 39 Queen’s Head St, London N1 8NQ [tickets]
Broadcast: BBC 5 live, Sun 4 Feb 2018 and on podcast
See also: The Will Gompertz Fringe
Image from the RWA Exhibition, 2007

American-style crosswords | The Guardian

I’m writing some American-style puzzles at the Guardian.

For British solvers, the main differences are that abbreviations and fragments of phrases are allowed. All squares are part of an across as well as a down, so there’s more ambiguity.

The puzzles are presented as printable PDFs, but are better approached as .puz files using Across Lite or better still Crossword Solver.

And We’re Off! [ medium: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
Cheers! [ medium: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
PO… [ tougher: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
Store’s In What? [ gentler: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
Cryptic Currencies [ gentler: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
(miscellaneous) [ gentler: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]
Money Talks [ tougher: .puz / .pdf / solution .pdf ]

See also:

My book, Two Girls, One On Each Knee
And also The Crossword Century
Image taken in NYC, 5 Nov 2008, the day after the election

Masterclass: Craft of Comedy Entertainment | Bafta

I’m part of the panel for a Bafta event:

A panel of comedy entertainment producers and writers discuss the recent renaissance in entertainment television, covering programme development, writing, casting, and the role of satire.

6:45pm, Tuesday, 17 October 2017
Princess Anne Theatre, Bafta, 195 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EU
Tickets

Richard Osman’s House Of Games | BBC2

I am listed as question editor for a new quiz which starts today on BBC Two: Richard Osman’s House of Games.

particularly pleasing… This is trivia, plus; it requires a bit of wit, and imagination, even, certainly silliness — Sam Wollaston, Guardian

the BBC’s new infectiously funny prime time show… deserves praise for finding a sweet spot which fits all audiences — Adam Bloodworth, Metro

it shouldn’t be a surprise that [Richard Osman’s House of Games] is terrific… The victor gets to choose between a dartboard, pasta maker, cushion and dressing gown, but really, we’re all winners here — Robert Epstein, Independent

viewers couldn’t stop laughing… The show’s debut was a success by all means as fans loved Richard’s new format — Helen Daly, Express

BBC Two, 6pm weeknights from Mon 4 Sept
See also: my book, The Joy of Quiz
Also in quiz: Only Connect

Alternative Election Night | Channel 4

I have been enjoying working on Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night:

Jeremy Paxman, David Mitchell and Richard Osman present an all-night feast of comedy and comment in Channel 4’s very different take on election night

9pm, 8 June 2017, Channel 4

Election Lexicon | BBC News

By me for BBC News: Election Lexicon, the words which “caught the ear” in a week of campaigning.

12 May: Battle bus, hovercraft, draft manifesto, shambles, blame
game, Monsieur Zen, airbrushing, photoshopping and The Big Six

Inside No 9 | BBC2

I am proud to have performed the minor role of “crossword consultant” for this excellent episode of Inside No 9, The Riddle of the Sphinx:

I’m further proud to have filled the role of some kind of muse:

BBC Two, 10pm, 28 Feb 2017
Two Girls, One on Each Knee
Steve Pemberton set the episode’s crossword as ‘Sphinx’, which is also the Guardian’s cryptic on the day of broadcast
Interview with Sphinx at the Guardian crossword blog
More Inside No 9

Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe | BBC2

I am a proud member of Team 2016 Wipe, which is broadcast after Christmas.

Update 14 May 2017: Bafta winner, Comedy & Comedy Entertainment Programme

9pm, 29 December 2016, BBC Two
More Wipes