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.
Why comic Hartley Pool keeps going back for more
28/04/2008 … If you’ve ever taken a day off work to travel to London and perform in the Comedy Store’s King Gong competition with only two stand-up gigs to your name, then…
Dean Burnett reviews a DVD of Seventies Geordie comics
22/04/2008 … The Seventies were a mixed decade for comedy, giving us everything from Fawlty Towers to Bernard Manning, whose success – we can only hope – was very much a…
Michael Monkhouse on why only English jokes are funny
04/04/2008 … Omid Djalili once quipped: ‘I'm the only Iranian comedian in the world.
Stand-up and improv need each other, says Benny Harris
27/03/2008 … I’m a British expat who belongs to an improv troupe in Hollywood and performs stand-up in comedy clubs in the Los Angeles area, so I have some opinions about Charlie…
Hartley Pool on entertaining the expats
25/03/2008 … Have your dreams of Ross Noble-like fame come crashing down in the face of one bemused looking Japanese tourist, a rather unfriendly looking cat and an overly enthusiastic…
© ITV Charlie Partridge thinks gags are over-rated
12/03/2008 … A familiar bit of advice given to many aspiring open-spot comedians (apart from to gig at every opportunity) is to trim the fat off one’s set – aiming to cut…
Dave Cohen on 20 years of new material nights
07/03/2008 … Here’s an anniversary you won’t be reading about anywhere else.
Michael Monkhouse pays tribute to his namesake
03/03/2008 … It's no fun being called Monkhouse.
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