Mock The Week returns to free-to-air TV channel, TLC, this Sunday at 9pm with the first of five summer specials hosted by Dara Ó Briain. The opening episode delivers a comedy powerhouse line-up featuring series regular Rhys James, Ed Gamble, last on the show in 2021, Sara Pascoe, Ahir Shah, Josh Pugh and Laura Lexx. Together, they take a satirical look at some of the week's biggest news stories, including Peter Murrell’s SNP funds controversy and the Makerfield by-election.
Dara Ó Briain on some of the items that former Scottish National Party CEO, Peter Murrell, purchased with embezzled funds, “It is a weird mix of incredibly expensive luxury goods, like a £2,618 salt and pepper grinder and like.. curry paste… which is clearly only there because he went out to get curry paste and then at the till went ‘oh no I’ve only got me embezzling card’.”
Ed Gamble suggests, “he bought the campervan obviously, and the hand cream and loads of PlayStations and stuff. I recognise it straight away – that guy is building a wankmobile.”
Ahir Shah adds, “I’m also pretty upset that he didn’t get caught in the campervan because that could have been Scotland’s O.J. and the Bronco.” To which Dara Ó Briain responds, “Oh my God that would have been amazing… just him driving and shoving curry paste into his face… while Nicola is in the back going I’ll just pepper grind…”. Ed Gamble points out, “she wouldn’t be in the back because she didn’t know about any of it.” Dara Ó Briain jokes, “at some point, do you think this will be a L’Oreal ad with somebody doing this with their hair and it will cut to Nicola Sturgeon going ‘even I noticed’!”
Covering the Makerfield by-election, Dara Ó Briain asks why Andy Burnham is running, who Sara Pascoe likens in the picture of the week to a “sex robot for women with low self-esteem”. Josh Pugh replies, “Because he’s a middle-aged man and it’s that or fishing.” He adds, “His big plan is to just put a few buses on. It’s not how to win an election, that, it’s trying to get some reception guests back from a wedding.”
Discussion then turns to Robert Kenyon, Andy Burnham’s opposition representing Reform UK. Laura Lexx says, “As misogynistic, sexist scandals online go, I think this is one of the funniest because I genuinely think a reason for not becoming a politician, is because you previously stated that you would lick Carol Vorderman’s arsehole…”. She clarifies, “…he didn’t say it but he just said it’s what we’re all thinking.” Sara Pascoe questions why Carol Vorderman demanded an apology, “surely that’s a compliment” to which Ed Gamble adds, “to be fair to Carol Vorderman, she was Rear of the Year and not Anus of the Annum.”
Rhys James adds, “If he wins, that’s two plumbers winning by-elections in a row. Andy Burnham is just going to turn up at the next one with a moustache going, ‘it’s-a me, Andio!’”
Also in the first show, female birds masturbating, and a terrible German accent from Ed Gamble while delivering the internal monologue of Thomas Tuchel scores a big laugh from the panel.
Mock The Week: Summer Specials airs Sundays at 9pm on free-to-air TV channel, TLC, and in next week’s episode, Dara Ó Briain and Rhys James are joined by Michelle Wolf, Hugh Dennis, Sara Pascoe, Glenn Moore and Scott Bennett.
MOCK THE WEEK: SUMMER SPECIALS - EPISODE ONE TLC SUNDAY 7 JUNE, 9PM.
Watch Mock The Week on Thomas Tuchel and The World Cup
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