Russell Howard's Good News

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Russell Howard's Good News
4 / 5

Channel: BBC Three and BBC Two
Series: Nine
Aired: 2009 - present
Writers: Russell Howard (with material from others throughout)
Cast: Russell Howard (all series up to Series 8 had an extra comedy performer at the end)

Russell Howard came to my attention on Mock the Week (as I'm sure he did most people's). For those of us who are not lucky enough to live in London for the comedy scene, or in a place where they have regular comedy shows (without the fear of spending over £20 on one comedian who may or may not be funny), television is the only place we can find comedians we like.

Originally on BBC Three (the platform for younger comedy), Good News is a show that looks at what's been happening around the world with a comedian's hat on. Howard has his own very unique style of comedy in that he stands on the stage and his mouth spews out everything he's thinking about; whether it be weird, wonderful, a bit iffy or even just general musings on every day life. If you've ever seen his stand-up live (in person or on DVD) you won't be disappointed with Good News: it's an extension of his routines but tailored to be about the news.

And, as the title suggests, it's the Good side of the News we're focusing on (although I've noticed in more recent series there have been some of the more Bad News kind of stories). He picks up on the insane, both in Britain and in America, and often traverses the world in search of their own style of Good News Stories. Honestly, if you've no idea of politics and find Have I Got News For You too in-depth, I'd thoroughly suggest Howard: if you're not laughing you're learning.

There are numerous categories he covers during the show, including a guest whom he interviews with a style that is nothing but an extension of his comedy. This is the part of the show that I find particularly intriguing: it would be enough to just do the show on his own, but Howard expressly invites others to come and be laughed at in the gentlest of manners. They are not, of course, there to be laughed at and their presence is never precarious; in fact, through Howard we relive the sheer excitement he feels for his guests and the work that they do. He is fascinated by all and sundry, like a child (his comedy could be considered child-like, though not childish), and what's more, he is genuine about it all. When watching other interview shows, I can never be certain that whomsoever may be interviewed will be respected by those in charge: that's not something you can tell with some people, but Howard wears those feelings upon his sleeve in this case.

Because this is something I believe we need now more than ever, at the end of every episode he closes with 'It's Not All Doom and Gloom', wherein he shares with us a true Good News story; something to inspire and possibly make us cry; not for sadness, but for the pure spirit of people. This segment is something I'd wish the news programmes of the norm would do more of. The amount of times I've been watching the BBC News in front of my nephew during the day and the amount of times the words 'rape', 'murder', 'sex' and 'war' have been mentioned is horrific. How can you ever explain those things succinctly to someone like that? I'd rather watch a Watershed programme like Russell Howard's Good News in front of him. As if swearing is the only thing we have to protect our children from.