Foodie funnies: James Acaster and Ed Gamble’s podcast Off Menu goes on the road

As it fills the Royal Albert Hall on tour, the comedians’ ‘dream restaurant’ show questions what ingredients a live performance really needs‘I can’t believe this many people like your podcast!” That’s Elis James talking, as he and his pals James Acaste…

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Leech or saviour? Edinburgh fringe show spotlights theatre’s vexed relationship with critics

Attachment: The Leech Show is a merry romp about an influential reviewer and sums up the industry’s paradoxical attitude to theatre criticismAdvice has been circulating among fringe companies about how to appeal to theatre critics. The idea is to dig u…

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Jason Manford: ‘My celebrity crush? The Rock. He should be president of the world’

The comedian on extreme nail-biting, a run-in with a copper, and buying his own Chitty Chitty Bang BangBorn in Salford, Greater Manchester, Jason Manford, 42, began his comedy career at 17. He was nominated for the Edinburgh fringe’s Perrier award in 2…

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Bleak Expectations review – agreeably funny Dickensian spoof as cosy as a woollen teapot

Criterion theatre, LondonCaroline Leslie’s production sends up the less problematic Victorian foibles with a terrifically spirited barrage of juicy one-liners, blunt anachronisms and pleasing melodramaAs a commercial prospect, you can’t fault this stag…

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Script, what script? Why Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz can’t quit improv

The beloved sitcom’s scene-stealer may now be hot Hollywood property, starring alongside Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage, but he refuses to move on from his first love. As he scores a Netflix special and heads for the UK, he explains its allurePlenty of Ho…

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Script, what script? Why Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz can’t quit improv

The beloved sitcom’s scene-stealer may now be hot Hollywood property, starring alongside Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage, but he refuses to move on from his first love. As he scores a Netflix special and heads for the UK, he explains its allurePlenty of Ho…

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Afghanistan Is Not Funny: the comedian transformed by the war on terror

Henry Naylor travelled to Afghanistan in 2003 to research his fringe farce Finding Bin Laden. His sobering new show takes stock of the country’s fate sinceWas Henry Naylor’s agent right when he warned the writer and comic, at the height of the “war on …

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Jon Richardson: ‘My personal decline is much funnier than that of the country’

The comedian on supermarket petrol stations, working with his wife Lucy Beaumont and the comedy heroes he fell in love with in the 90sHow did you get into standup?Sadly, by leaving the town I grew up in [Lancaster] and my family. I hope things are diff…

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Kemah Bob: ‘I get so much bad advice from men who’ve never done comedy before’

The comedian and podcaster on the charms of British sitcoms, starting her own club night and hot new talent on the circuitWhat drew you to British comedy?Probably Skins or The Inbetweeners. Growing up in Texas I watched my fair share of BBC America – t…

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Mo’Nique and Netflix reportedly settle lawsuit alleging discrimination

The Oscar-winning comedian and actor accused the streamer of racial and sexual discrimination over a proposed comedy specialMo’Nique and Netflix reportedly have settled her lawsuit that accused the streaming service of racial and sexual discrimination …

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