‘Edinburgh made us!’ The stars catapulted to TV fame from the fringe

Lily Savage, The League of Gentlemen, Fleabag and a host of telly sensations started out on tiny stages at the extravaganza. In its absence, who will be next?Paul O’Grady’s first night at the Edinburgh fringe did not go according to plan. He made his f…

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Sibling revelry: the sisters who became ferociously funny comedy duos

When you’ve shared jokes since childhood, you can be brutally honest with each other. Flo & Joan and Ruby Wax’s daughters, Maddy and Marina Bye, on becoming family double acts They’ve been described as “the other popular comedy duo” from TV’s golde…

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Tim Minchin: ‘Closest brush with the law? Nude run, 1996’

The Australian comedian and musician on social media, the anxiety of love and Abba hitsBorn in Western Australia, Tim Minchin, 44, began his career as a comedian, winning the 2005 Perrier best newcomer award at the Edinburgh festival fringe. In 2009, t…

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Gina Yashere meets London Hughes: ‘America is super-racist but the glass ceiling is higher!’

In our series pairing veteran black artists with younger talents for a frank chat about their experiences, comedians Gina Yashere and London Hughes reveal why they both felt the need to quit Britain for the USBorn and raised in London, Gina Yashere, 46…

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The best blissfully silly comedy for lockdown

Looking for some escapist laughs? Here are a few tips, from John-Luke Roberts’ chaotic sketches to Flight of the Conchords’ smile-guaranteed songsHottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance to watch onlineStories are “a fantastic way of being …

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La Princesa de Woking: Sex, Brexit and big hair in Emma Sidi’s glorious spoof

Sidi’s new online soap opera brings all the overheated thrills of Mexican telenovelas to the home countiesIf a Mexican TV company set a Spanish-language soap opera in a bland British town, peppering the script with gratuitous references to the NHS and …

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Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava review – a deft dance across class divides

Amazon Prime VideoQuinoa, veganism and lakehouses are ticked off on the Bronx comic’s journey to affluence but her charm shines throughLockdown laughs: where to watch online comedyThe British are obsessed with class, it’s said – unlike in egalitarian A…

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Cancelled! Cancelled! Cancelled! Stars on the shows that couldn’t go on

How does it feel to see a show you’ve spent years working on being pulled? From Love Islanders to Foals, Laura Wade and Wayne McGregor, artists reveal their darkest days – and deepest worriesIain Stirling, voice of Love Island, standup comedianIf this …

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Hannah Gadsby: Douglas review – crusading comedy with great gags

Available on NetflixGadsby follows up her hit show Nanette with a swaggering set that blazes with well-earned confidenceHottest front-room seats: the best theatre and dance onlineThe last time Hannah Gadsby released a Netflix special, it changed h…

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Actor and comedian Jerry Stiller – a life in pictures

Stiller, who formed an entertainment duo with his wife, Anne Meara, has died aged 92. Here’s a look back on his roles, including those alongside his son, Ben Stiller Continue reading…

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