Norm Macdonald’s Nothing Special: a standup says farewell

The revered comic, who died last year, recorded his last Netflix set at home in 2020. It has the feel of a wake, as fans including David Letterman pay tributeAfter two years of closed venues and Zoom comedy gigs, I’m in no hurry to ever again watch sta…

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Iain Stirling: Failing Upwards review – familiar territory, but funny nonetheless

Amazon Prime VideoThe comedian plays it safe with his subject matter, but delivers his show with affable warmth and animation“Why can’t I just be normal?” laments the comic and voice of Love Island, Iain Stirling. To which watching fans can only reply:…

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Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This? review – Saturday Night Live star’s random gags

Soho theatre, LondonThe SNL cast member has some impressive off-the-cuff riffs with the audience but never crafts an answer to his own questionIf you saw Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Redd on a mixed bill at a comedy club, he’d be the highlight…

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Josh Thomas on autism, his podcast and being honest to a fault: ‘Why am I telling you this now?’

The comedian and showrunner’s new podcast, How To Be Gay, marries interviews with personal stories. But he saved his ‘last secret’ for usGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email and listen to our podcastIn an episode of Josh Thomas’s new podcast, Ho…

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Oliver Twist: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

This comedian has gone through the entire internet to find the funniest videos, including a Bo Burnham song, Issa Rae’s web series and Rowan Atkinson interviewing Elton JohnGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email and listen to our podcastOlå, Oli h…

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Oliver Twist: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

This comedian has gone through the entire internet to find the funniest videos, including a Bo Burnham song, Issa Rae’s web series and Rowan Atkinson interviewing Elton JohnGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email and listen to our podcastOlå, Oli h…

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Sandi Toksvig: Always have a chair – the whole ‘standup’ thing is overrated

The comedian, presenter and author on pre-show rituals, poor advice and the thrill of a hydraulic log-splitterWho inspires you?My wife, Debbie. She is a remarkable woman. Wise and witty. I cannot believe my luck to have found her.Can you remember a gig…

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Joe Lycett review – pranks, partygate and ghostly goats

Cambridge Corn Exchange From his parody Sue Gray report to his Twitter spat with Alan Sugar, the new stage show by the loveably impudent joker collects and comments on his most successful comic stuntsAs the Sue Gray report – or the long wait for it – a…

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Athena Kugblenu review – class act flips conventional thinking on its head

Soho theatre, LondonThe daughter of an aspirational mum and an overqualified dad, Kugblenu ruminates on privilege, parenthood and Nigella recipesIt’s 25 years since New Labour told us: “We’re all middle class now” and it’s not a claim that’s weathered …

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Toasting not roasting: these comedians would surely mock Netflix’s hall of fame

Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Joan Rivers and Robin Williams are given their dues in The Hall but the event is oddly sanctimoniousHow should we celebrate great comedians? Netflix’s latest exercise in live comedy is called The Hall: a new pantheon for l…

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