Rab C Nesbitt actor Gregor Fisher: ‘People say: I didn’t realise you could speak properly!’

He’s been in everything from Love Actually to Shakespeare with Al Pacino – but will he always be thought of as the string-vest-wearing boozy Glaswegian? Ahead of a tour as himself, the actor and Instagram cookery guru looks backFew actors are more inde…

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‘I drove a tank and went to Bratislava with my hairdresser’: how Ian Smith turbocharged his ailing standup

The Yorkshire comic was going nowhere with his act which relied on gimmicks, set-pieces and standing on tables. So he decided it was time to live a more interesting – and stressful – lifeWhat’s the opposite of an overnight success? Should we call Ian S…

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Hasan Al-Habib: Death to the West (Midlands) review – twinkling debut from British-Iraqi standup

Soho theatre, LondonThe comedian considers his Brummie and Middle East identities in a polished set about belongingBritish-Iraqi comedian Hasan Al-Habib’s eye-catching show is about coming from a part of the world blighted by poverty, danger and the wo…

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Hasan Al-Habib: Death to the West (Midlands) review – twinkling debut from British-Iraqi standup

Soho theatre, LondonThe comedian considers his Brummie and Middle East identities in a polished set about belongingBritish-Iraqi comedian Hasan Al-Habib’s eye-catching show is about coming from a part of the world blighted by poverty, danger and the wo…

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Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden: ‘I feel more at home on stage than I do in life’

Speaking at a screening of hit play The Fifth Step, the actor reveals he is ‘not comfortable at all on camera’Slow Horses star Jack Lowden has said it was a “relief” to return to the stage in the intense role of an alcoholic in the West End hit The Fif…

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Lake District theatre to be renamed after Victoria Wood and unveil new musical of her songs

Old Laundry theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere will change its name next year and premiere show to mark 10th anniversary of comedian’s deathA theatre in the Lake District is to be renamed for the comedian and playwright Victoria Wood and will stage a new…

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‘She spread love and naughtiness’: Simon Callow on directing Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine

Her natural performance in Willy Russell’s masterpiece seemed effortless but Collins found it hugely challenging – and still made every day a partyPauline Collins was a unique phenomenon: a superb light-comedy actress – as she described herself – who w…

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‘Everyone’s gonna hate me!’ Nick Mohammed need not fear – Celebrity Traitors fans will love his fabulous comedy

A fringe favourite for his Houdini and Dracula spoofs, ‘comedy’s best kept secret’ has finally had his breakout moment – in the least likely fashionWhen Nick Mohammed first toured his latest live offering, Show Pony, in spring this year, he’d already f…

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Nick Helm: No One Gets Out Alive review – metalhead is devilish on stage and a riot at the bar

Stand Comedy Club, GlasgowAn emergency in the audience halts the gravel-voiced comic’s set but he brings it to an uproarious close in the foyer ‘Why weren’t you like this through there?!” We’re in the foyer of the Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow, to which…

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Nick Helm: No One Gets Out Alive review – metalhead is devilish on stage and a riot at the bar

Stand Comedy Club, GlasgowAn emergency in the audience halts the gravel-voiced comic’s set but he brings it to an uproarious close in the foyer ‘Why weren’t you like this through there?!” We’re in the foyer of the Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow, to which…

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