The secret life of Paul O’Grady – by his friends: ‘His number’s still saved in my phone. I can’t delete it’

He rose to fame as foul-mouthed drag star, Lily Savage, then abandoned the wig and became a national treasure. Friends including Sandi Toksvig, Amanda Holden and Gaby Roslin remember a true, terrific one-off‘I can’t believe it’s been a year,” says Malc…

Continue Reading

Leslie Liao review – heard the one about the Netflix staffer turned standup?

Soho theatre, LondonIn a lively but disjointed show, the comedian – who used to work in HR for the streamer – delivers routines on office life, dating apps and 90s R&BFrom the mailroom to the boardroom, they used to say about improbable ascents up …

Continue Reading

‘Why would you not want to be woke?’ Inside the TV comedy workshops infuriating the right-wing press

They’ve been called ‘a disaster for the arts’ and lambasted for ‘pursuing a heavily woke agenda’. So what actually happens at a comedy workshop? Our writer joins 30 working-class standups determined to break into TV A bunch of comedians are pouring int…

Continue Reading

Bill Bailey: a comic maestro of bits, bobs and barbs at the Tories

Thoughtifier, a new European tour, brings familiar whimsy from the Strictly Come Dancing champ. But does the mirth cramp his musical stylings?Forty years into his performing career, you know what you’re going to get with Bill Bailey. Musical noodling: …

Continue Reading

‘We’re going back to silly’: what’s the next turn for British comedy in era of nostalgia?

It’s no joke for new shows as classic favourites live on while investment in sitcoms and sketches faltersThere is a quip beloved of comedians, when asked if their industry is going down the pan: “Nostalgia? It ain’t what it used to be.”But for fans of …

Continue Reading

‘One-off talent’: UK comedy composer Steve Brown dies aged 69

Hit composer scored TV and radio as well as the stage shows X-Factor and TONY!The British comedy composer Steve Brown, who collaborated with the likes of Harry Hill, Steve Coogan and Lenny Henry, has died aged 69 from lung disease, his agent announced….

Continue Reading

‘One-off talent’: UK comedy composer Steve Brown dies aged 66

Hit composer scored TV and radio as well as the stage shows X-Factor and TONY!The British comedy composer Steve Brown, who collaborated with the likes of Harry Hill, Steve Coogan and Lenny Henry, has died aged 66 from lung disease, his agent announced….

Continue Reading

John Cleese brings Fawlty Towers stage show to the West End

Theatrical adaptation of the sitcom, opening at the Apollo theatre in May, will combine three episodes including The GermansTorquay’s hapless hotelier Basil Fawlty is to make his West End debut, almost 50 years after his first appearance on television….

Continue Reading

Pandemonium review – Armando Iannucci’s furiously funny takedown of No 10

Soho theatre, LondonBoris Johnson and his successors Less Trust and Riches Sooner are satirised in a superb political pantomime directed by Patrick MarberKeenly anticipated since its summer announcement, Pandemonium finds the last seven years of Britis…

Continue Reading

Pandemonium review – Armando Iannucci’s furiously funny takedown of No 10

Soho theatre, LondonBoris Johnson and his successors Less Trust and Riches Sooner are satirised in a superb political pantomime directed by Patrick MarberKeenly anticipated since its summer announcement, Pandemonium finds the last seven years of Britis…

Continue Reading