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.
Adam Baker on the slow progress of British Jewish humour on to TV
28/02/2011 … There was an excellent Channel 4 documentary seven years ago called Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy, that pretty much argued that if American comedy was…
Catia Cronin on the variety revival
25/02/2011 … I am Joe Bloggs.
John Fleming on the attitude it takes to be a comedian
23/02/2011 … Yesterday I had lunch with a comedian in her twenties – not inexperienced but not yet fully supporting herself on her comedy performing.
Sally Holloway on what makes a great comic
22/02/2011 … At Christmas, like everyone else, we get out our Christmas crackers and offer them to our guests.
Ashley Frieze's guide to bad musical comedy
21/02/2011 … I’ve heard people complain that musical stand-up is cringeworthy, unfunny and unworthy of the conventional applause that most song endings trigger.
Diane Spencer on 'bringing her A-game'
17/02/2011 … ‘Some telly people want to see you, so bring your A game.
But the only predictable thing about Edinburgh is its unpredictability, writes John Fleming
16/02/2011 … A lot of people have been asking me about performing on the Fringe for the first time this year.
Dave Cohen on the curse of the comedian
10/02/2011 … If I had to describe the ten years I spent as a working stand-up in and around the Eighties using just one word, what would it be? An impossible task, but I reckon…
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