One of the most inventive comics in Britain, documentary pioneer Dave Gorman gives us a genuinely thorough and methodical analysis of the four (or more) phases of his career. We discuss the TV show he’s least proud of, the wince-inducing way he found out a show wasn’t re-commissioned, and dig into the critical value of structure (Gorman-esque or otherwise…)

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Filed Under: Are You Dave Gorman?, Ben Miller, Dave (TV channel), Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Frank Skinner, Fringe, Googlewhack Adventure, Henry Normal, Inspiration, Interview, John Hegley, Ken Campbell, KenCampbell, Live, Money, Nick Doody, Phil Kay, Podcasting, Poetry, Quality Control, Reasons to be Cheerful, Reviews, Stage Persona, Steve Coogan, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Touring Comedian

Bird-flipping, bumhole-shouting Gein’s Family Giftshop are horror-obsessed, wildly inventive and deeply funny. We dig into the internal dynamics of the group, find out why they don’t wear wigs, and examine the crucial role played by their unseen fourth member.

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Filed Under: Chortle, Controversial, Dark Humour, David Lynch, Edinburgh, Fear, Feminism, Festival, Footlights, Fringe, Funz and Gamez, Horror, Improv, Inspiration, Interview, Isolation, League of Gentlemen, Physical Comedy, Podcasting, Provocateur, Puffin Island, Quality Control, Radio, Radio 4, Reviews, Risk, Simon Pegg, Sketch, Stage Persona, Steve Coogan, Structure, Success, The Mighty Boosh, Writing On Stage

With appearances on “Conan”, “Letterman” and “Totally Biased”, comic firebrand Hari Kondabolu has a lot to say, and the research to back it up.  We discuss the New Yorker’s politicisation post-9/11; a comic’s license to simplify a political argument; and what happens when a healthy social life requires a bit of discretion.  Hari also argues passionately against UK comedy’s fixation with producing a new fringe-ready hour every year, and we uncover that rarest of problems: when the crowd goes too wild…

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Filed Under: Ahir Shah, Chris Rock, Daniel Kitson, Dave Chappelle, David Cross, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Hannibal Buress, Hari Kondabolu, Interview, Louis CK, Marc Maron, Margaret Cho, New York, Observational Comedy, Podcasting, Political Humour, Quality Control, Reviews, Russell Peters, Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, Simon Munnery, SNL, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Structure, Success, Twitter, USA, Writing On Stage, YouTube

With his own Radio Four series and a raft of Mock The Week appearances under his belt, Nathan Caton remains astonishingly down to earth and level-headed. We explore panel-show tactics, discuss using comedy to heal people close to you, and learn how he was dropped by a leading agent out of the blue.  He’s happy, well-balanced and kind - will Stu manage to crack the bastard?

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Filed Under: Andy Parsons, Can't Tell Nathan Caton Nothing, Carl Donnelly, Chris Addison, Criticism, Dara O'Briain, Ed Byrne, Ed Gamble, Eddie Murphy, Edinburgh, Festival Comedian, First Open Spot, Fringe, Hugh Dennis, Ian Stone, Inspiration, Interview, Joe Wilkinson, John Maloney, Lenny Henry, Live At The Apollo, London, Micky Flanagan, Mock The Week, Observational Comedy, Radio, Radio 4, Reviews, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican, So You Think You’re Funny, Stage Persona, Stewart Francis, Storytelling, Success, The Comedy Store, Writing On Stage

Wickedly spiky and dry as sand, controversy-courting stand-up Jena Friedman has writing credits for “Letterman” and “The Daily Show” under her belt.  We discover her unusual origin, as her thesis on Chicago’s improv scene drew her into the undertow of the comedy world, and talk in depth about the courage required to “own” difficult material...

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Filed Under: Controversial, Criticism, Dark Humour, Edinburgh, First Open Spot, Improv, Jewish Comedy, Reviews, Risk, Sketch, Stage Persona, Structure, Success, Twitter, USA, Viral, Writing On Stage

In at the beginning of alternative comedy, and now a “venerated lefty” and Columnist Of The Year 2015, punchy pundit Mark Steel has lost none of his passion. We discuss his BBC Radio 4 series which pokes fun at the British on a town-by-town basis, learn about the startling revelations of his personal history, and hear how he rubs shoulders with the enemy, backstage at “Question Time”… 

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Filed Under: Charlie Chaplin, Edinburgh, Festival, Frank Skinner, Frankie Boyle, Fringe, Greg Davies, Interview, Jimmy Carr, Live, London, Louis CK, Mark Thomas, Michael McIntyre, Political Comedy, Political Humour, Question Time, Radio, Radio 4, Reviews, Richard Pryor, Risk, Shappi Khorsandi, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Touring Comedian, Twitter

An irrepressibly charming personality, Aisling Bea’s standup bubbles over with unusual perspectives and ludicrous family stories; few acts have climbed as high as fast. She talks here about finding a balance between her sitcom success and her comedy career, intimidating herself, and loving working…

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Filed Under: 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Actor, Aisling Bea, Dave Gorman, Edinburgh, Fear, Feminism, Festival, First Open Spot, Free Fringe, Fringe, Holly Walsh, Improv, Interview, Ireland, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Josie Long, Katherine Ryan, Live, Live At The Apollo, London, Nish Kumar, Old Rope, Onstage Persona, Pappy’s, QI, Quality Control, Reviews, Risk, Sharon Horgan, Stage Persona, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Tiffany Stevenson, Trollied, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

One of the most recognisable faces in UK comedy, Matt Lucas charts his journey from Shooting Stars’ improvising baby-grow nutcase George Dawes, to the double-act with David Walliams that made him a household name, to his most recent foray into purely physical comedy Pompidou. We explore his writing and creative process, and as well as unpacking the controversy surrounding Little Britain and Come Fly with Me, we learn what drives Matt, and whether his success has brought him happiness.

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Filed Under: Alan Davies, BBC One, BBC3, Ben Miller, Character, Charlie Chaplin, Criticism, Double Act, George Dawes, Harry Enfield, Improv, Inspiration, Interview, Ivor Dembina, Little Britain, London, Nicole Kidman, Owen Jones, Peter Kay, Physical Comedy, Reviews, Rhys Thomas, Shooting Stars, Sketch, Stage Persona, Success, Vic And Bob