Standups including Suzi Ruffell, Paul Sinha and Lee Peart reveal how hecklers, bookers and ‘the gay slot’ have affected their appearances in the spotlightThe comedian Stephen Bailey was hosting an Instagram Live earlier this year when he got a message …
Continue ReadingThe award-winning standup is known for his exuberance, but, as he writes in his memoir, he has had to dodge snobbery throughout his career. He discusses family, fame and being funnyRob Beckett is one of those comedians without whom many TV formats woul…
Continue ReadingThe comedian, 62, on growing up shy in Middlesbrough, losing his dad, meeting Vic Reeves, and the deep contentment of fishingI was quite a shy boy. Growing up in Middlesbrough, I felt a bit of an outsider. My three elder brothers are funny and boistero…
Continue ReadingFor character comics such as Zach Zucker, Bilal Zafar and Jay Bennett, performing as other people is a way to both escape from – and confront – their personal livesAfter an eventful 18 months away, Zach Zucker is back on a London stage, and making a me…
Continue ReadingLondon PalladiumChris and Rosie Ramsey’s material about their married life is jolly enough, but a five-minute advertorial is rather less soIt has 65m downloads and counting. It claims the record for the biggest live podcast audience ever. It sold out t…
Continue ReadingThe standup, most famous for Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, could make the familiar feel strange and newNorm Macdonald, former SNL cast member, dies at 61It was Frank Skinner who first brought my attention to Norm Macdonald. Years ago – I can’t…
Continue ReadingComics including Romesh Ranganathan pay tribute to ‘caring and terrific’ standup, whose death from cancer has been announcedThe comedian Phil Jerrod, known for his richly lyrical observations and tirades, delivered with surreal flights of fancy, has di…
Continue ReadingThe producer whose TV hits include The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey on finding the poignancy in life’s little moments, and heading back to the comedy circuit with his poetryComedians become actors, pop stars become TV presenters … we’re used to ar…
Continue ReadingThe producer whose TV hits include The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey on finding the poignancy in life’s little moments, and heading back to the comedy circuit with his poetryComedians become actors, pop stars become TV presenters … we’re used to ar…
Continue ReadingThe comedian, 33, talks about funny anger, homophobic hecklers, selling soffits and his trouble with Heinz pasta shapesAnger is a funny emotion. That’s how I accidentally got my consumer show. In my stand-up set, I’d read out my complaint letters. My g…
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