From first love to unfollowing – culture that sums up romance in 2020

A book redefining marriage, a riotous show about dating, the secret meanings of breakup songs and a sex show to put your back out … ahead of Valentine’s Day, our critics pick works that sum up passion in our turbulent timesFrom Adam and Eve in the book…

Continue Reading

John-Luke Roberts: master of nonsense rails against comedy blandness

The oddball standup delivers deliciously terrible, wonderful jokes as he leads the charge for alternatives to the mainstreamWhen John-Luke Roberts scored an Edinburgh fringe success with the absurdly titled All I Wanna Do Is [FX: GUNSHOTS] With a [FX: …

Continue Reading

John-Luke Roberts: master of nonsense rails against comedy blandness

The oddball standup delivers deliciously terrible, wonderful jokes as he leads the charge for alternatives to the mainstreamWhen John-Luke Roberts scored an Edinburgh fringe success with the absurdly titled All I Wanna Do Is [FX: GUNSHOTS] With a [FX: …

Continue Reading

David Baddiel – Trolls: Not the Dolls review – standup surveys the online cesspit

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonThe comedian leads us from weird to wonderful to ‘the absolute worst of humanity’ in his new show about social mediaTwitter has curdled public discourse, says David Baddiel; it has normalised angry and extr…

Continue Reading

Maisie Adams: ‘The funniest word? Fiscal, it sounds proper saucy’

The standup, writer, and actor on the things that make her laugh the mostI’m obsessed with This Country. All the relationships are completely dysfunctional yet there’s a real warmth to the whole thing. There’s not one weak episode. Continue reading……

Continue Reading

Nigel Ng review – primetime culture-clash comedy

Soho theatre, LondonThe Malaysian standup is strongest when he delivers adroit gags about Asian versus British stereotypes, from dogs to food allergiesAsians do this and Brits do that. That’s the territory of Malaysian comic Nigel Ng’s maiden hour, whi…

Continue Reading

Howay the laughs! Is there a Geordie sense of humour?

We’re brutal, awkward, daft and surreal, say the rising stars of Tyneside’s booming comedy scene. Our writer braces herself for a gag-heavy night on the toonAnyone who’s had a night out in Newcastle knows it’s friendly, fun and feels as if anything cou…

Continue Reading

Njambi McGrath: ‘The funniest number? 3, it looks like a bird’s-eye view of a bum’

The Kenya-born UK comedian and author on the things that make her laugh the mostJim Jefferies does a brilliant routine about Americans’ right to bear arms, and the ridiculousness of arguments of self-protection. Continue reading…

Continue Reading

Vault festival 2020: all of the latest reviews

Keep track of the shows at the sprawling arts extravaganza beneath Waterloo Station in London. This page will be updated throughout the festivalUntil 1 MarchFunny, tragic and full of hope, Dumbledore Is So Gay blends a charming nerdiness with an earnes…

Continue Reading

Max & Ivan: ‘Brass Eye’s Paedogeddon is the most amazing TV ever’

The comedy writers, radio presenters and standup double act on the things that make them laugh the mostMax: Ivan is obsessed with Too Many Cooks – and not just because he finds it easy to learn the words to the song.Ivan: That’s how the Hare Krishnas l…

Continue Reading