Nice! Cast of The Fast Show to reunite for a UK stage tour

The comedy series’ originators Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse will lead a 30th anniversary live show due to begin in MarchSwiss Toni, Competitive Dad and a pair of unsuitably smutty tailors were among the comic creations introduced by BBC sketch se…

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Pandemonium review – Armando Iannucci’s furiously funny takedown of No 10

Soho theatre, LondonBoris Johnson and his successors Less Trust and Riches Sooner are satirised in a superb political pantomime directed by Patrick MarberKeenly anticipated since its summer announcement, Pandemonium finds the last seven years of Britis…

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Pandemonium review – Armando Iannucci’s furiously funny takedown of No 10

Soho theatre, LondonBoris Johnson and his successors Less Trust and Riches Sooner are satirised in a superb political pantomime directed by Patrick MarberKeenly anticipated since its summer announcement, Pandemonium finds the last seven years of Britis…

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‘Look at the bloody tip!’: Jason Manford blasts messy theatre audiences

The comedian posted a video of the ‘shocking’ amount of litter left behind after his performance in a panto, saying, ‘You wouldn’t treat your own home like that, would you?’“It’s behind you” is the customary cry from the audience during panto season. B…

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‘There are dozens of Russell Brands’: female comedians say abuse is rife

Many women working in industry say allegations only scratch the surface of its culture of misogyny“When I was 18 I had an incident with a powerful male comedian in his 30s,” says Lucy (name changed), a female comic in her early 30s. “It was really harr…

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Edinburgh festival fringe: Ahir Shah’s Ends wins best show at comedy awards

32-year-old comedian whose set explores race, class and migration becomes first British-Asian to take prizeA show about multiculturalism has won best show at the Edinburgh comedy awards. Ahir Shah, the first British-Asian to win the prestigious award, …

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Late-night clown-therapy act among nominees for Edinburgh comedy awards

Julia Masli, Ahir Shah and Janine Harouni are on the eight-strong shortlist for the coveted £10,000 prize at the festivalA clown-therapy show that takes place in the middle of the night. A hymn to British multiculturalism. And a show at risk of imminen…

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Lorna Rose Treen’s ‘stupid joke’ named funniest of the fringe

Comedian ‘blooming chuffed’ as she becomes the second woman to win the award in its 14 yearsA one-liner described by its author as “stupid” has topped the poll for best joke of the Edinburgh fringe.Lorna Rose Treen was voted winner of the annual compet…

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How impressionists keep audiences laughing in an age of social media celebrities

Younger audiences may not recognise people comedians are impersonating but some performers say there’s still plenty to work with“If I see somebody become famous, and they’ve got tremendously predominant mannerisms and they speak a certain way which is…

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‘It’s a zeitgeist-capturer’: climate crisis and trans rights are talk of Edinburgh festival

Walkout by authors over fossil fuel links plus controversies about identity, racism and sexism are hot topics at politically charged eventWhen Jessica Gaitán Johannesson led a mass walkout at an Edinburgh book festival event last weekend, she told the …

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