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Michaela Coel, The Comedy Women in Print Prize, 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 91Èȱ¬1's I May Destroy You series
Image credit: 91Èȱ¬/Various Artist Ltd and FALKNA Productions /Natalie Seery

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28 minutes

Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel

The 12-part series I May Destroy You, written by Michaela Coel, is on 91Èȱ¬ 1 at 10.45pm, starting from Mon 08 June, and continuing on Tues 09 June and then on Mondays and Tuesdays until 14 July 2020, and on the 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer.

Images:

Main image above: Michaela Coel as Arabella in I May Destroy You

Image to the left, from Left: Marouane Zotti (Biagio), Michaela Coel (Arabella), Weruche Opia (Terry) andÌýCamille Dugay (Mathilda) in I May Destroy You

Image credits: 91Èȱ¬/Various Artists Limited and FALKNA Productions/Natalie Seery

Comedy Women in Print Prize

Comedy Women in Print Prize

ÌýThe shortlist forÌýthe is:

Queenie by Candice Carty-William
Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen
The Blessed Girl by Angela Makholwa
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary:
Reasons to be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson

The winner is announced on 14 September 2020.

Image: Lolly Adefope, one of the CWP judges

Image credit: Idil Sukan

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Mon 8 Jun 2020 19:15

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