A spoof universally acknowledged: comic Rosalie Minnitt on her bonnet-crazed Jane Austen parody

The standup is hitting new heights of pastiche with Clementine, a riotous one-woman show about a Regency belle seeking a tailcoated beau. As the Edinburgh hit goes on tour, Minnitt explains why her mum’s doing the drivingEvery now and then a comedy con…

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Give Edinburgh fringe the same status as Olympics, departing head urges

Shona McCarthy says public authorities have routinely ignored needs of world’s largest arts festivalThe Edinburgh festival fringe should be given the same status as major sporting events like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games, its outgoing chief e…

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Harry Hill: New Bits and Greatest Hits review – a truly silly comedy craftsman

Capitol theatre, HorshamHill at 60 remains so joyful and daft that you will never stop chuckling for longSome people’s art evolves over time. If you’re waiting for Harry Hill’s to do so – curious, perhaps, to see what late-period Hill has in store – mi…

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‘A huge chunk of men don’t want a funny partner’: the podcast revealing the horrors of dating as a comedian

When Amy Gledhill and Harriet Kemsley both realised the other was newly unattached, the standups decided to create Single Ladies in Your Area, a hit podcast about divorces, dating and unwanted DMsA few months ago, comedians Amy Gledhill and Harriet Kem…

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The Last Laugh review – Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse’s antic triple act

Theatre Royal BrightonBob Golding, Simon Cartwright and Damian Williams, who have played the comedy giants before, summon them like spirits to the stage in this tribute‘You tell ’em a joke they’ve heard before, and: silence.” So says Eric Morecambe in …

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Rob Braslin: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

The nipaluna/Hobart comedian on the genius of Conan O’Brien, the brilliance of Conner O’Malley, and the other weird and wonderful corners of the net that make him laughThe party sort of feels over for the internet. We all know when a house party is ove…

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Eddie Kadi: ‘People think I’m always ready to crack jokes. If you’re a doctor, I don’t ask you to operate on me!’

The standup and presenter on preshow prayers, blending dance with comedy and the night he bombed at the BBCHow did you get into comedy?I feel like comedy got into me. At university, I hosted talent shows as part of the African and Caribbean society, an…

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Amy Hetherington: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

The Darwin comedian shares the clips that make her lol, from five-second wonders and perfect (dumb) jokes to toddler f-bombs and an unexpected mini horse cameoHello internet!I’ve pulled over on the side of the Nullarbor to think about what I love about…

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Mark Ravenhill reveals 10 new plays to be performed over two days

The writer of Shopping and Fucking will direct cycle of bawdy comedies inspired by scenarios from a 17th-century Italian collectionA premiere by Mark Ravenhill has been an event ever since the British playwright’s explosive debut 30 years ago with Shop…

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Ran Chen: the 10 funniest things I have seen (on the internet)

This comedian has a whole show about her love for cute animals videos – and there are plenty here, including a very sleepy panda and an alligator having a spa dayMore summer essentialsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSince the…

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