This list of influential comics was Hopeless
Iain Todd says modern comedy owes a lot to Bob
31/01/2012 … Billy Connolly has been named the UK's most influential stand-up comic of all time, but I'd like to suggest someone else.
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.
Tue 31 January 2012
Fri 27 January 2012
I am going to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award
Yianni Agisilaou has a dream...
27/01/2012 … This year, in the fourth week of August, an event both usual and unusual will occur.
Wed 25 January 2012
Racist? Me?
Matt Price is accused of causing offense
25/01/2012 … I didn’t know I was racist until someone white, middle class and who has probably never faced prejudice pointed it out to me last night.
Wed 18 January 2012
Twice as nice?
Chris Hallam on the double act
18/01/2012 … What is the secret of a great comedy double act? Should any comic starting out on their career feel obliged to emulate Mitchell and Webb, French and Saunders or…
Tue 17 January 2012
Alternative Ulster
What's wrong with the Northern Irish scene? Nothing much, says Ciaran Bartlett
17/01/2012 … They’ve painted over all the graffiti in the tiny dressing room.
Fri 13 January 2012
What's wrong with Northern Irish comedy
James McLaughlin despairs of the live scene
13/01/2012 … Northern Ireland has recently developed itself a bona fide burgeoning comedy scene, based in Belfast.
Tue 03 January 2012
Do free Fringe shows put off reviewers?
John Fleming asks... Peter Buckley Hill replies
03/01/2012 … A lot of performers at the Edinburgh Fringe are there simply to get publicity, not to get big audiences.
Sun 01 January 2012
Ben Elton: It's not all bad...
Asif Baul looks back on the motormouth stand-up looking back
01/01/2012 … It says a lot about Ben Elton’s status as a comedy scapegoat that the Channel 4 announcer previewing his two-hour Laughing At The 80s programme, should make…