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 ReadingOur 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 ReadingPodcast 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 ReadingIn 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 ReadingThere 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 Reading11 January 1953 – 2 November 2020The novelist recalls his friend, the actor and joyful comedian who suffered badly from stage fright and was too shy to publish his own storiesLynn Shelton remembered by Mark DuplassRead the Observer’s obituaries of 2020…
Continue ReadingNetflixPuncturing his country’s national stereotypes stays just the right side of charming in Eldjárn’s twinkly routine‘First Icelandic standup on Netflix” may be as hollow a claim as “the most Nobel prize-winners in the world per capita” – a compatrio…
Continue ReadingNetflixPuncturing his country’s national stereotypes stays just the right side of charming in Eldjárn’s twinkly routine‘First Icelandic standup on Netflix” may be as hollow a claim as “the most Nobel prize-winners in the world per capita” – a compatrio…
Continue ReadingNatalie Palamides’s drag king show remains both raucous and subtle, as it explores grey areas around consentThere can be sacrifices when live comedy transfers to TV – and I expected them with Natalie Palamides’ hot-button anarcho-clown show Nate. But s…
Continue ReadingNatalie Palamides’s drag king show remains both raucous and subtle, as it explores grey areas around consentThere can be sacrifices when live comedy transfers to TV – and I expected them with Natalie Palamides’ hot-button anarcho-clown show Nate. But s…
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