The Establishment Club

02/11/2017

Jonathan Pie on working with RT

Pie has also been criticised for having launched his career on Russia Today. The Kremlin-backed broadcaster was quick to spot Pie’s online appeal, and offered him a contract before anyone else did. ‘I’ve been given a lot of s**t for that; I’m Putin’s puppet, blah-blah-blah,’ he says, ‘But, to give you some context, they offered me 500 quid a week which was more money than I’d ever seen in my life. And they gave me total artistic control. They never wanted to see a script. It allowed me not do any more s**t jobs working in call centres.’

From - https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/11/im-not-marching-towards-some-utopia-im-marching-towards-my-oscar-jonathan-pie-interviewed/

At some point in the early 21st century, comedy stopped being funny. Politics became the biggest joke on earth, thanks to Trump, Corbyn, Trudeau, Rees-Mogg et al. The professional humourists couldn’t…

19/10/2017

For reasons that baffle us The Times has refused to print Victor Lewis-Smith's response to the unsubstantiated claims made by David Aaronovitch in his column last week. While we are not ruling out human error at Dirty Digger Towers, there's always a chance that something more unseemly is at work. For the avoidance of doubt or misinformation, here is Victor's response.

Sir,

Many thanks for the extensive coverage that your newspaper is giving to my and Keith Allen's nascent collaboration with RT, the latest example being David Aaronovitch's column on October 12th. Satire programmes have been appearing on the RT channel for many years, so it's flattering to know that you regard our embryonic project as being newsworthy, when their many previous successes (the excellent Jonathan Pie, for example) were not.

However, we were less pleased to see your columnist dismiss our "Unlawful Killing" documentary about the Princess Diana inquest as "a stupid film", because our work was forensic and accurate, whereas Mr Aaronovitch has always struck me as being uncharacteristically confused about this topic. For example, on p143 of his 2009 book "Voodoo Conspiracies", he told his readers that the "jury gave the verdict that Diana, Princess of Wales died by accident", and that they blamed the paparazzi. Neither statement is true. In reality, the jury brought in a verdict of "Unlawful Killing" (hence the title of our film) by unidentified vehicles, which means that - in law - Princess Diana's death was a criminal act of homicide or manslaughter. The subsequent failure of the authorities even to search for the criminals who killed her is one of many reasons why I (like millions of others) suspect a cover-up over her death.

Victor Lewis-Smith

12/10/2017

Since David Aaronovitch is so kind to promote our non-existing TV show, we'll re-pay the favour...

You can buy his latest book PARTY ANIMALS: MY FAMILY AND OTHER COMMUNISTS at all regional Oxfams 💩

09/10/2017

On Saturday The Times published an article 'Kremlin backs revival of Cook's subversive comedy club' (07.10.17). While we are delighted that there is such media interest in our little pilot (half a page no less!) there are certain matters that need to be set straight.

Not only was the report misleading -to the best of our knowledge Mr Putin has shown very little interest in the comedy scenes of Bristol, Brighton, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle- but the journalist's use of quotation from Victor Lewis-Smith and Keith Allen is brazenly selective: a slipperiness that is disheartening if not wholly unsurprising from this questionable news organisation.

For the purposes of transparency, we have recorded the questions asked by Rupert's stooge and provide Victor's responses in full. Finally, we have included a scan of the published article for those of you who would rather not pay into the monopolizing Murdoch blob.

Questions from The Times (received 06.10.17)
When is the show due to air?
Have the comedians involved been given complete creative freedom? Are they allowed to make jokes about Russia and Putin?
Concerns have been expressed about a British satire show appearing on a network that critics claim is a propaganda outlet. What is your response to this?

Response from Victor Lewis-Smith (sent 06.10.17)
"The first question Keith Allen and I asked (as we made clear in my Broadcast Magazine article) is 'can we satirise Putin and Russia? Because if not, we're out of the office now'. We were attracted to a channel that already produces hard-hitting satire shows like 'The News Thing' and that launched Jonathan Pie.

“Do writers for The Times have the freedom to criticise Murdoch's phone tapping, his domination of the mainstream media in Britain etc? Because concerns have been expressed about him using his publications and TV stations to propagandise his causes and his own business interests.

“Finally, Lin Cook, Peter Cook's widow was delighted to give us the right to use the name "The Establishment Club", on stage and on TV. She was aware and happy about our relationship with RT which began two years ago."

“We haven't even made a pilot programme yet, and haven't decided whether we will be using the name "The Establishment Club" for RT. But we're deeply flattered that The Times is taking such an interest in our little project at such an early stage"

Victor Lewis-Smith
Owner, Associated Rediffusion Productions Ltd

30/09/2017

You've got until midnight to submit an video audition and be part of a new TV show with .

Think you're as funny as ? Show us! www.est.club

EstclubTour: Edinburgh

29/09/2017

outtakes: Erich McElroy on being an American expat.

You've got ONE DAY left to upload a video showcasing your comic talent - come on then! www.est.club

EstclubTour: Edinburgh

29/09/2017

Here's Terry Alderton on the - fresh from the bus last month.

You have until TOMORROW at midnight to upload your video audition for your chance to be part of a satirical TV show with RT UK: www.est.club

EstClubTour: Edinburgh

28/09/2017

The legendary from the stop in Edinburgh.

There's still time to audition, upload a video to our site before the end of September for your chance to be part of a new comedy TV show with : www.est.club

EstClubTour: Edinburgh

28/09/2017

Here's the BBC News with Will Franken - snippets from the comedy battle bus in last month.

Just a few more days until video auditions for the CLOSE, make sure you show us what you're made of: www.est.club

EstClubTour Bristol

27/09/2017

outtakes: ' means Brexit' - by the outstanding from our tour stop in Bristol.

Video auditions for the close THIS SATURDAY! If you've got a voice that you want to be heard, upload a short video to our site and you could be part of a new TV show with RT UK: www.est.club

EstClubTour Bristol

26/09/2017

The bus best bits: Here's comedian on religion

Show us what you've got for your chance to be in a new satirical TV show with RT UK - upload your video here: www.est.club

EstClubTour: Newcastle

26/09/2017

best bits: Here's on being a vegan...

You've not got long left to submit your video audition to www.est.club and show us your comic genius. All auditions CLOSE at midnight this Saturday!

EstClubTour: Brighton

25/09/2017

Here's taking centre stage in front of the infamous green screen.

Video submissions for the CLOSE at the end of this week. If you think you're a comedy genius, show us! Upload a short video sample of your talent here: https://est.club/

EstClubTour: Manchester

24/09/2017

Outtakes: Introducing on the comedy battle bus last month.

Show us your talent and upload a video audition. Submissions close at the end of the month: www.est.club

EstClubTour: Edinburgh

23/09/2017

That time went on 8 out of 10 cats, another snippet from the .

If you haven't uploaded your video audition yet, get on with it! Flex your comedy biceps for your chance to be part of a new TV show! Auditions close at the end of this month: www.est.club

EstClubTour: Brighton

22/09/2017

'The Daily Hate Mail' - brought to you by the incredible during the stop in Newcastle.

Writer, poet, comedian? Show us what you've got for your chance to be part of new comedy TV show with RT UK! Upload a sample of your talent here: https://est.club/

EstClubTour: Newcastle

21/09/2017

Nothing to see here...just a impression from Becky Fury, fresh from the bus last month! Submit your video audition and YOU could be on TV being all hilarious with RT UK: https://est.club/

EstCLubTour: Edinburgh

21/09/2017

That time the Irish went to - just a spot of Will Franken on the .

There's still time to upload your audition for your chance to be in a new satirical TV show with RT UK. Get on with it! https://est.club/

EstClubTour Bristol