Radio 2 Mastermind with OJ Borg
Why So Serious...
OJ Borg’s Mastermind is a radio show
which requires contestants to answer questions on a topic they know well. But
there’s a difference, in this case the disc jockey, OJ had the length of one song to research a topic set
by an expert – me!
It was a quirky opportunity to talk a
little about female clowning on the radio.
We started with 'phrases that you really hate'. Mine was 'I'm not being funny, but...' and then I set questions on the topic of
female clowning. This can be confusing as people usually think of circus
performers when the word clown is mentioned, and on this occasion, it was no
different.
How well would you do?
Question 1
- Miranda Hart
is a classic clown. She acts the fool and uses physical comedy in Miranda. Her
TV series is based on an earlier radio version called Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop.
Which radio station was it first aired on?
a) Radio 1
b) Radio 2
c) Radio 4?
When I began
studying women who clown I was immediately drawn to the, now, much missed Victoria
Wood. Wood’s various clown masks and performances allowed us to laugh at her
antics. She poked fun at herself. Her silliness was endearing and often thought
provoking.
Question 2
- What name did
Victoria Wood give to her Step Aerobic clown character?
a) Hayley Bailey
b) Barbara Rama
c) Diana Floss
in 2018 the
British Film Institute used photographs and publicity materials from the BFI’s
Special Collections, to celebrate pioneering women clowns from 1920s and 30s American
films.
Question 3
- The film
Funny Girl, starring Barbara Streisand, was loosely based on one of America’s
greatest clowns. What was her name?
a) Amelia Butler
b) Vicki Gabereau
c) Fanny Brice
