Why trolls don't bother me
Mat Ricardo on why anonymous insults say more about the poster than him
02/02/2018 … I was once a guest on Jonathan Ross's chat show.
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.
Fri 02 February 2018
Tue 09 January 2018
Are intersex stand-ups 'too dark' for comedy?
Amazon Jackson doesn't think so
09/01/2018 … This was the initial knee-jerk reaction from one comedy buddy when I first announced my intention to ‘come out’ as an intersex person during my set at…
Wed 03 January 2018
'Ladies and gentlemen...'
Mat Ricardo thinks he could, and should, be a little more inclusive
03/01/2018 … Recently-ish, I posed a question on social media.
Thu 28 December 2017
Goodbye Gethin
Noel James remembers a colleague we lost in 2017
28/12/2017 … I don’t expect most of you to have heard of Gethin Thomas, yet within the small but lively world of Welsh language comedy he was a big deal.
Tue 05 December 2017
Comedy could change the world for disabled people
So says Lee Ridley – aka Lost Voice Guy
05/12/2017 … This country has a very weird relationship with disabled people.
Mon 04 December 2017
When things go wrong, it feels so right...
Mat Ricardo on allowing a little chaos into performance
04/12/2017 … Quite a long time ago, I was doing a gig.
Thu 23 November 2017
Comedy in the age of the snowflake
Edward Ginn wonders why so many young comics aim for offence
23/11/2017 … The first time I came across the term ‘Snowflake Generation’ was a few weeks ago when my dad accused me of being part of it.
Wed 15 November 2017
How I've felt threatened as a woman on the comedy scene
Samantha Pressdee on the ways she has been undermined
15/11/2017 … Solidarity to all the women who have ever felt threatened on the comedy scene.