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.
Sun 21 July 2024
Wed 10 July 2024
I made an AI chatbot to do comedy crowd work...here's what I found out
Ted Hill on how he got ChatGPT to act like an MC
10/07/2024 … Following yesterday's report that artificial intelligence can write jokes as good as most humans, comedian Ted Hill shares his experiences of try to build a…
Sun 07 July 2024
Is the crowd-work craze killing scripted jokes?
Maybe.. but the best comedy defies TikTokification, says Dylan Dodds
07/07/2024 … As a comic preparing to head to the Edinburgh Fringe, I enjoyed Brian Logan's receny Guardian article on the increasing popularity of crowdwork videos online.
Thu 04 July 2024
We need to lobby hard for the comedy scene we love
By David Elphick of the Live Comedy Association
04/07/2024 … I first entered the world of live comedy in 2001 as General Manager at the Jongleurs comedy club in Nottingham and have been involved in the industry ever since.
Tue 02 July 2024
© Ray Burmiston How the cost of living crisis is impacting the Edinburgh Fringe
A view from Dylan Emery, actor, director, producer and... financial journalist?
02/07/2024 … If you want to go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to make money, then either you are either a) a well-established act with tight cost controls or b) a pickpocket.
Mon 01 July 2024
Want to get ahead in comedy? Don't be in London
Aaron Twitchen says moving out of the capital made him a better comic
01/07/2024 … For too long, London has been seen as the centre of the comedy industry.
Sat 29 June 2024
Tories are beyond satire... but I still gave it a go
Joe Venable on writing a Rishi Sunak musical in the space of just a month
29/06/2024 … Is there any point to this? I asked myself that a lot, when I set out to write a satirical musical about Rishi Sunak’s election campaign.
Fri 28 June 2024
© Michelle Huggleston Photography We need satire more than ever... so where is it?
Robin Morgan says TV should be using comedy to connect to voters turned off by politics
28/06/2024 … I grew up watching topical comedy on TV – Mock The Week was the gateway to watching live stand-up comedy, but before that, I remember watching Have I Got News…