The comedian’s childhood was defined by racist abuse and his mother’s violence. As he publishes his autobiography, he talks about how it shaped him as a performer and activist“I’m fascinated by it. It’s history.” Lenny Henry is explaining why he has de…
Continue ReadingThe standup behind Baby Cobra found fame with her candid material on sex and pregnancy. Back with a memoir, she talks about her work ethic, the taboo of miscarriage – and performing in front of her in-lawsIn her memoir, written as letters to her two yo…
Continue ReadingTV’s most relatable comic – with TV’s most distinctive teeth – talks about sleeping in toilets, being ‘chavvy’ and how Twitter trolls drove him to therapy‘Have you ever been to Disneyland?” Rob Beckett asks, buzzing with the energy of a small child as …
Continue ReadingShe’s had small roles in hipster thriller Search Party and the new Tarantino movie but comedy is Berlant’s first love. Why? Because it’s ‘a place of terror’To fellow comic Bo Burnham, she is the “most influential/imitated comedian of a generation … a m…
Continue ReadingFrom Lizzo to Prince Charles to race and the British standup circuit, the rising comic lets rip London Hughes is the talk of the town. Every town. At this year’s Edinburgh festival fringe, her sold-out, roof-raising show To Catch a Dick narrowly missed…
Continue ReadingFrom skewering Sarah Palin to handing us Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, here are 10 of the SNL legend’s most hilarious moments The 50 best comediansA nice girl with an anarchic bent and a tongue as sharp as a boning knife, Tina Fey has dominated sketch comedy (…
Continue ReadingFrom apocalyptic standup Frankie Boyle to the many hilarious faces of Tina Fey, Steve Coogan, Sharon Horgan and Kristen Wiig, we present the funniest comics of the eraOur No 1 comedian’s funniest momentsMore of the best Theatre | TV | Dance | Film | Al…
Continue ReadingComedian, TV presenter, pop star … the ‘British Will Smith’ was geared for Hollywood stardom until his life came crashing down. Now, in a powerful play about death in custody, he’s making a fresh bid for stardom ‘People are going to come to the show th…
Continue ReadingSitting near a performer puts you in the firing line – but it also makes you an invaluable part of any comedy showJohn Oliver looked into my eyes and cocked his head. We held each other’s gaze. On the “stage” of an upstairs room in a grimy little pub, …
Continue ReadingOnce based in a rundown boozer, DryWrite nights encouraged risk and giddy game-playing – their spirit is felt in Killing Eve and across British theatre todayWhen Phoebe Waller-Bridge performed her script Fleabag at the Edinburgh fringe in 2013, it land…
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