‘Rehab made me grateful to be alive’: Margaret Cho on sobriety, solitude and Stop Asian Hate

One of the world’s most outrageous comedians, Cho is leading the battle to end racism against Asian-Americans. She discusses hatred, hope and how humour saved her life● Warning: this article contains discussion of suicide from the startThe thing about …

Continue Reading

Rosie Jones: ‘I hope disabled people can see me on TV and think: if she can do it, I can do it’

The standup on representation, Matt Hancock, her new travel show and why she loves NorwichA Great British, Female, Gay, Disabled, Covid-Compliant Adventure was the original name for Rosie Jones’s new travel show. “But,” says its host, “we thought that …

Continue Reading

Kerry Godliman: ‘Ben Elton is often overlooked as a standup’

The After Life and PRU star and comic recounts her love of anarchic late night live TV, from Friday Night Live to The Word There was a lot more live telly on when I was growing up in the 80s. It all seemed to come to an end once the likes of Shaun Ryde…

Continue Reading

Funny Festival Live review – BBC series puts standups back on stage

BBC2, live and on catchupThis chance to see new comedy faces, including Judi Love, Michael Stranney and Toussaint Douglass, reaps easygoing rewardsVictoria Wood, Harry Hill and Eddie Izzard are among the comics celebrated in the BBC’s new Festival of F…

Continue Reading

BGT standup sensation Nabil Abdulrashid: ‘There’s so many people to annoy!’

His routines about race, identity and a black Winston Churchill clocked 3,000 complaints. As he looks forward to touring again, the standup explains why he won’t be toning things down Watch Nabil Abdulrashid’s audition for Britain’s Got Talent from las…

Continue Reading

Odd couple: can a leftie comic teach a Tory baroness standup?

She used to chair the Conservatives. He used to perform in his underpants. Could Nick Helm turn Sayeeda Warsi into a comedian?A Tory baroness and a leftwing comedian walk into a bar. As setups for a punchline go, it sounds fairly promising. But on day …

Continue Reading

Garth Marenghi: how the Edinburgh award winner found his Darkplace

Our series exploring the stage origins of hit comedies continues with the cult hospital horror show that scared up audiences to become a fringe sensationGarth Marenghi, serious horror writer and self-described “master of the macabre”, was born in 1950 …

Continue Reading

The History of Sketch Comedy review – Keegan-Michael Key’s love letter to laughter

Podcast The comic actor’s exuberant 10-part history unpicks the nuts-and-bolts of what makes sketches funny, from overlooked past acts to SNL, and British favourites including the Two Ronnies“The sexy dangerous first cousin of standup,” Keegan-Michael …

Continue Reading

Hot property: Jamie Demetriou on the rise of Stath Lets Flats

In the first of a series exploring the stage origins of hit comedies, the actor remembers creating the delusional letting agent at Bristol University“For a lot of series one, I don’t like Stath as a character,” says Jamie Demetriou, the comedian, actor…

Continue Reading

What a joke: the 10 funniest comedy shows of 2020

There wasn’t a lot to laugh about as venues closed and gigs were cancelled. But standups still delivered silly, edgy and heartfelt gags. Our critic picks his favourite new materialMore best culture of 2020 Continue reading…

Continue Reading