They can’t stop you reading this article, whoever they are
16/10/2023 … Exactly 40 years ago, in October 1983, I moved to London and began writing topical jokes and sketches for BBC radio.
Latest 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.
Mon 16 October 2023
Tue 10 October 2023
© @maurocarrarophotos Why comics shouldn't fear putting their material online
By promoter and stand-up Sam Carrington
10/10/2023 … When I started in comedy 11 years ago there were lots of negative ideas about posting content online.
Mon 02 October 2023
It's a strange, uncertain year for comedy
....and it should be embraced, says Ian Lane
02/10/2023 … Not since the 1990s has there felt like such an uncertainty in the direction that the medium is going in.
Mon 25 September 2023
© ITV/Baby Cow Is comedy back in the ITV building?
Rhys Edwards on ITVX’s recent sitcom commissions
25/09/2023 … ITV has a tricky relationship with sitcoms, doesn’t it? For every Benidorm or Plebs, there’s far more of the likes of Shane, Sam’s…
Thu 21 September 2023
Joe Kent-Walter's Australia diary: Perth
2021 Chortle Student Comedy Award winner finally makes it down under
21/09/2023 … Well yes here we are! Two years after winning Chortle’s funniest kid in school competition (and at the other side of a 50+ email thread with organiser Stevie…
In defence of the TikTok comedian
Zara Gladman welcomes a space to be funny away from the misogynistic comedy circuit
21/09/2023 … It was the pandemic that prompted me to download TikTok.
Wed 20 September 2023
How the comedy industry uses humour to abuse and silence women
20/09/2023 … Over the last ten years, I have been researching the barriers to women’s participation in the UK comedy circuit.
Mon 28 August 2023
That Mitchell and Webb Sound at 20: A triumph of simplicity
28/08/2023 … In August 2003, David Mitchell and Robert Webb were set to front their own radio sketch show for the BBC and lead a new sitcom for Channel 4.