Features
Three Godless Christmas shows
Forget Nativity plays, a different kind of Christmas show is coming to town. And with a talk by Richard Dawkins and stand-up by Ricky Gervais, it's a gift for the non-believer, says Julian Hall
Inside Features
Julian Hall: Loony bins and 'rubbish' jokes
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
It goes without saying that someday you will be offended by a joke. You might have been one of those 30,000 recruits to the Brand/Ross complaints bandwagon, you might well have cringed when Billy Connolly made his infamous Ken Bigley joke a few years ago or you might hide behind the sofa when Frankie Boyle is in full swing with Madeleine McCann jokes to the right of him, paedophile jokes to the left of him.
Julian Hall: My favourite joke
Monday, 8 December 2008
During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year one of my friends remarked to me how irritating they found it when comedians remarked at the pleasure of making their own jokes.
Frank Skinner: 'Swearing can still be beautiful'
Friday, 5 December 2008
He's known for his racy humour, working-class background and love of football, but there's so much more to the comedian
Julian Hall: Yuletide capers
Friday, 5 December 2008
As the festive season gets underway the comedy calendar gets into a real yule log-jam and an already vast choice becomes that bit harder and suddenly going to see comedy becomes an agonising chore, well almost. Let me do what I can to ease the pain by flagging up a few gigs that have caught my eye.
Julian Hall: In praise of the female foursome
Thursday, 4 December 2008
While I am wary of damning anything after just one episode, I don't think that too many people were holding their breath that E4's Beehive, aired last night would deliver us an all-girl comedy band of the quality of Smack The Pony - and they were right not to.
Julian Hall: Not getting the joke
Monday, 1 December 2008
The British Comedy Awards are back on our screens this weekend (Sat 6 Dec, ITV1) and back on track after its hiatus last year when - although the jamboree was filmed - it stayed in the can because of irregularities with the phone voting system the previous year.
Eddie Izzard: Keeping it surreal
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Fans of the adorable comic genius have had to be patient while he has pursued a straight acting career. But at last he's back with a new show
You've gotta laugh at the Credit Crunch
Saturday, 22 November 2008
It didn't take long for credit crunch jokes to make their way round offices, inspiring comedians to make the most out of the plight of merchant bankers
Bill Bailey: 'People are obsessed by how I look'
Friday, 21 November 2008
Bill Bailey's talent embraces everything from bloke-in-a-bar gags to Chaucer and Pinter. Where will his quicksilver wit alight next?
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