Burlesque for kids?
Mat Ricardo hopes there can be variety without nudity
03/04/2018 … Occasionally, when I'm talking to a new person, and we're talking about what we do, and where we work, and I mention in passing that one of the many places…
2018 Opinions
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.
Tue 03 April 2018
Sun 01 April 2018
Comedians to be licensed by the government
Watchdog to combat sick jokes online
01/04/2018 … • This was an April Fool's joke – at least for now – which we ran on the appropriate day.
Tue 13 March 2018
Green room etiquette
Stand-up Sonia Aste offers a guide for rookies
13/03/2018 … I visit a lot of green rooms doing stand-up.
Mon 12 March 2018
'Comedy for him was never a weapon; it was always a tonic'
Entertainment writer Graham McCann pays tribute to Ken Dodd
12/03/2018 … Today was the first time in my life that Ken Dodd made me cry instead of smile.
Tue 06 March 2018
Is alternative comedy making a mainstream comeback?
06/03/2018 … Look at the comedy listings across London and indeed any major city and you will find a very healthy explosion of deliberate anti-comedy.
Mon 05 March 2018
I've learned enough to become a hitman...
Mat Ricardo gives a progress report on his challenge to master new skills
05/03/2018 … As regular readers might know, I'm currently in the middle of developing my new one-man show, the concept of which is as follows: I released, onto the supermation…
Mon 26 February 2018
The 'good' delusion
Luke Mcgibbon on the terrible open-mic comedians convinced of their competence...
26/02/2018 … A friend of mine once said: ‘You know who is a true friend in comedy? Someone who, after a gig in which you did badly, doesn’t say anything, can’t…
Fri 23 February 2018
© Steve Best How fragile are radical feminists if they're threatened by debate?
Comedy promoter Alfie Noakes on the backlash he's facing
23/02/2018 … It has been an illuminating two weeks since I wrote an article for Chortle entitled Comedians Should Tackle Feminist Radicals .