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.
Lee Kyle on his jealously of the middle-class safety net, and how he's trying to redress the balance
05/04/2018 … Every year, when I turn up at the Edinburgh Fringe, I see massive posters for shows by comedians that I, nor anyone else I encounter, has ever done a gig with, or…
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…
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.
Stand-up Sonia Aste offers a guide for rookies
13/03/2018 … I visit a lot of green rooms doing stand-up.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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