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Front Row: Michaela Coel, The Comedy Women in Print Prize, Bristol's Colston statue

08/06/2020

Michaela Coel, The Comedy Women in Print Prize, Bristol's Colston statue

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Michaela Coel, The Comedy Women in Print Prize, Bristol's Colston statue

Actor and writer Michaela Coel on I May Destroy You, and Bristol's Colston statue.

BAFTA-winning Michaela Coel discusses her new TV show I May Destroy You; Lolly Adefope on The Comedy Women in Print Prize; Ekow Eshun considers Bristol's Colston statue.

Michaela Coel, the double-BAFTA winning actor/writer/director of the TV series Chewing Gum, discusses her new show I May Destroy You, a 12-parter telling a story about one young woman’s date rape and her attempt to piece together what happened to her. 

Yesterday in Bristol the statue of Edward Colston, who made his fortune from slavery, was noosed, pulled from its plinth, dragged and rolled through the streets of Bristol and dumped in the harbour. We hear a personal account from local artist and journalist Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley who was there. Jasmine reflects on the event and its meaning and writer Ekow Eshun, who is chair of the committee that commissions the art that goes on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, further considers the cultural significance of the toppling of the statue, and what should now happen to the remains.

Today the shortlist for the UK and Ireland’s only awards to shine a light on funny writing by women - The Comedy Women in Print Prize – has been announced.  It’s the award’s second year and the shortlisted stories demonstrate the unique way humour can tackle hard-hitting subjects such as mental health, addiction and gender discrimination. Kirsty is joined by one of the panel of judges, comedian Lolly Adefope.

Presenter Kirsty Lang
Producer Simon Richardson
Studio Manager Matilda Macari

  

Main image: Michaela Coel as Arabella in BBC1's I May Destroy You series
Image credit: BBC/Various Artist Ltd and FALKNA Productions /Natalie Seery

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