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BBC Northern Ireland Comedy Pointing the finger and poking some fun - The Blame Game A new season of comedy, set to tickle the ribs of BBC
Northern Ireland viewers, kicks off in January with the no-holds-barred series, The Blame Game.
Already a hit on its home of BBC Radio Ulster, The Blame Game will make its television debut on BBC ONE NI on Friday 27 January at 10.35pm. The Blame Game has been amusing BBC Radio Ulster listeners since its beginnings in October 2005 as host Tim McGarry and his team of outspoken panellists name, shame and, more importantly, blame just about everyone and everything for all the latest news and current affairs headlines. The Blame Game panel is a mix of established and up-and-coming talent with one thing in common – they are not afraid to speak their minds. One of Northern Ireland's top contemporary comics, Colin Murphy, joins Belfast funny man Jake O'Kane and Dublin newcomer Neil Delamere as regular members of The Blame Game panel. Each week, they will be joined by a special guest comedian. Having already struck up plenty of rapport over the months on BBC Radio Ulster, Colin, Jake and Neil can ensure plenty of quickfiring banter, insults and, of course, finger-pointing as they battle it out to see who's the best at apportioning blame – and Colin and Neil set about their own private battle of north versus south. Like the BBC Radio Ulster version of the programme, The Blame Game on BBC ONE NI will feature a series of rounds in which no subject is too taboo and no one is exempt from condemnation as the panellists pinpoint the perpetrators behind the week's biggest stories. Recorded in front of a studio audience, rounds include an impromptu look at the papers, questions from the audience and a vox pops section from the public. The Blame Game host Tim McGarry says: "The Blame Game does for politics what Johnny Adair does for house prices in Troon. "We all love a good whinge and when you can't complain then it's always good to blame. And if you don't think the programme is funny, don't blame me, blame the panel!" The Blame Game producer Raymond Lau says: "The Blame Game is quite simply a different way of doing topical stand up. In an age of soundbite politics and political correctness, the only people left who can actually tell it like it is are comics. "Informing, entertaining and very possibly annoying, The Blame Game will hopefully raise as many eyebrows as it does belly laughs. "Very typically Northern Irish, The Blame Game picks up on that quintessential trait we seem to have, where we don't just like to complain about things, but apportion blame as to why things are not working, usually in an attempt to clear ourselves of any responsibility. "We perhaps should have called it It's Not My Fault, the irony being, if you don't like the show you can blame me." Tim McGarry The Hole in the Wall Gang's Tim McGarry, who is a familiar face on
BBC Northern Ireland through programmes such as Give My Head
Peace and Hearts & Minds, is the host of The Blame Game. Like a cheap pair of binoculars, Tim has the rather unenviable task of keeping the other comedians focussed on the questions asked. Why do you think Northern Ireland people like to apportion blame? "Because it's more fun than admitting you're wrong." How have you enjoyed hosting The Blame Game on BBC Radio Ulster? "It's been great. Everyone on the show has enjoyed themselves and that comes across on the radio." Are you looking forward to hosting The Blame Game on television? "Absolutely, although I'm worried that people will be disappointed by how ugly the rest of the panel is." What can BBC ONE NI viewers expect? "A good laugh, devastating satire and lots of jokes about Derry." What aspect of The Blame Game can we blame on you? "I bring order to the anarchy. I keep things under control and keep it funny when the panel dries up." Colin Murphy One of Northern Ireland's top comedians, cool man Colin Murphy
is no stranger to BBC Northern Ireland, having recently fronted
the programmes, TV Fads and Ad Fads. A popular draw on the standup circuit – including the Edinburgh Festival – Colin has also appeared in BBC NI comedy programmes such as Return of the Empire, People Like Us, Something for the Weekend, Elvis Has Left the Building, Comedy Nation, Comic Asides and The Empire Laughs Back, I Fought The Law and the dramas Holy Cross and Eureka Street. Colin is also a regular compere at the Empire Comedy Club. Why do you think Northern Ireland people like to apportion blame? "Otherwise things would be all our own fault." How have you enjoyed being a panellist on The Blame Game on BBC Radio Ulster? "Getting paid to slag people off? What's not to like?" Are you looking forward to The Blame Game coming to BBC ONE NI? "It's about time." What can BBC ONE NI viewers expect? "Slanging matches, slagging and talking crap. Just your average BBC Northern Ireland show." What aspect of The Blame Game can we blame on you? "A healthy disregard for my own safety." Jake O'Kane Jake O'Kane is a well-known face on the Northern Ireland comedy
circuit, being compere at the Empire Comedy Club for more than
10 years now. As well as gathering a loyal following doing stand-up with his observation of 'Norn Iron', Jake has also appeared in the BBC NI programmes The Stand Up Show and Two Ceasefires and a Wedding. Why do you think Northern Ireland people like to apportion blame? "Because it's always somebody's fault." How have you enjoyed being a panellist on The Blame Game on BBC Radio Ulster? "To be associated even tangentially with gods like George Jones and Uncle Hugo has been a thrill." Are you looking forward to The Blame Game coming to BBC ONE NI? "Yeah. And the money's not bad either." What can BBC ONE NI viewers expect? "Hopefully a lot of people getting annoyed over nothing much." What aspect of The Blame Game can we blame on you? "I bring age, experience; an amazing memory for facts, age, experience, an amazing memory for facts, age, experience, an amazing memory for facts, age; experience, an amazing memory for facts. Can I have my tea now?" Neil Delamere Neil Delamere is the resident Dubliner of The Blame Game team.
One of the most hotly-tipped headlining acts on the Irish comedy
scene, Neil has taken his comedy talent around the world performing
at festivals in places as far-flung as Montreal, Adelaide and the
Edinburgh Festival, where he debuted in 2004 to good reviews. Neil comperes various comedy gigs around Dublin. Why do you think Northern Ireland people like to apportion blame? "Because it keeps their minds off other stuff – the weather, global warming." How have you enjoyed being a panellist on The Blame Game on BBC Radio Ulster? "Yes, it's been great. Jake O'Kane keeps touching me in inappropriate ways throughout the show though. It's to put me off. He's very much a diva in that way." Are you looking forward to The Blame Game coming to BBC ONE NI? "Yeah, it should be fun and obviously we can do different things on TV than on radio. McGarry will have to stop wearing a bustier for a start." What can BBC ONE NI viewers expect? "Us abusing various people, institutions, inanimate objects and fish." What aspect of The Blame Game can we blame on you? "I am to blame for my limited local knowledge of Northern Ireland and in the mistakes I make trying to understand stuff that the lads keep trying to explain to me. What exactly is brown lemonade?" The Blame Game starts on BBC ONE NI on Friday 27 January at 10.35pm. The series returns to BBC Radio Ulster in February. | 
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