The standup comedian’s new Radio 4 series picks through the minefield of cancel culture – and offers up a few mea culpas“If real life was like social media, it would look like The Good Place,” says standup Athena Kugblenu, referring to the sitcom about…
Continue ReadingThe mock classical actor created by Nigel Planer and Christopher Douglas scaled the heights at the RSC and the ‘Nash’. Now, he’s ready for a comebackIf you’ve ever marvelled at an actor “truthpumping”, “perf-quaking” or spraying their “actoplasm” acros…
Continue ReadingOne 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 ReadingThe 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 ReadingThe 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 ReadingBBC2, 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 ReadingHis 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 ReadingShe 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 …
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