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.
Gareth Morinan has (possibly) the last word on Fringe censorship
16/05/2012 … While reading all the palaver about Stuart Goldsmith’s calling himself a prick in the Edinburgh Fringe programme, I thought ‘an official person from the Fringe…
Chortle editor Steve Bennett asks if England's biggest Fringe festival is a wash-out
15/05/2012 … I should be happy.
Chris Hallam on the axing of My Family
14/05/2012 … Zoe Wanamaker complains that the My Family was axed last year because, she was told, ‘the BBC didn't want to have any more middle-class sitcoms’.
Laurence Clark is disappointed with Ben Elton's attitude to the disabled
13/05/2012 … The whole nation took a sharp intake of breath at two words uttered by Ben Elton on BBC Breakfast.
Liam Mullone wonders whether censoring words for penis is just the tip of the, er, iceberg...
10/05/2012 … My formative years were spent in Edinburgh.
Mark Little on the increasing conservatism in comedy
10/05/2012 … Who is squeezing the 'political' life out of the Fringe? Since 1979 I have been performing my solo spoken-word comedy.
Simon Caine gives would-be comics tips for the gladiator arena of comedy
02/05/2012 … This week, I came second at the Comedy Store’s King Gong show, on only the second time I’ve ever taken part.
30/04/2012 … Has there ever been a golden age of British sitcom? Perhaps it’s time the whole idea was laid to rest.
We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.