Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Anthony Harvison on Tommy Cooper's death, 25 years on
20/04/2009 … When the plane carrying rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper crashed on February 3, 1959, it would come to be remembered as the…
Anthony Harvison pays tribute to Tony Hancock
08/04/2009 … Watching the majority of today's sitcoms makes me despair.
Says Sean Prower, a teenage fan of vintage shows
03/04/2009 … The BBC’s new head of radio comedy, Jane Berthoud, says that with audiences of more than five million, radio comedy remains ‘a jewel in the crown of British…
02/04/2009 … Of the many salient points Stewart Lee has already made in his often laugh-out-loud funny Comedy Vehicle was his vitriolic diatribe against the public voting for…
31/03/2009 … I’ve heard many urban legends in my time.
...whatever Horne & Corden might do, writes Ian Hawkins
30/03/2009 … I have written in various formats for print and broadcast, and happily, have never been accused of being so bad at it as to have brought about the death of an entire…
New Zealand-based English comic Diane Spencer offers tips to the rookies
27/03/2009 … The fat rookie in a custom-built Stormtrooper’s outfit, complete with snug codpiece, strode onstage with about one minute of material and stood there for six,…
But if you do, here are Dave Cohen's survival tips
25/03/2009 … It’s that time of year again.
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