Jeremy Hardy on The Last Resort 1987

Comedian Jeremy Hardy doing a stand up spot on 'The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross' in the early-ish days of Channel 4

More Jeremy Hardy videos

Jeremy Hardy is one of Britain’s most well-established ‘alternative’ stand-ups, unafraid to mix his socialist politics into his topical act.

He is best known as a regular on Radio 4 panel games such as The News Quiz, I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue and Just A Minute. And TV appearances include QI, Blackadder Goes Forth and Mock The Week.

He was nominated for the Perrier Award in 1987, and won it the following year, and has appeared at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival as well as numerous tours of the UK and Ireland.

He has been a regular columnist for London’s ES Magazine and the Guardian and has written two books, Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, based on his Radio 4 series of the same name and When Did You Last See Your Father.

In 2002, he travelled to the West Bank to make a film documentary about the International Solidarity Movement called Jeremy Hardy vs. The Israeli Army.

Original Review:

Hangdog Hardy’s tetchy set has always had an air of despairing futility, which certainly improves with age. The risk is that he slides into polemic, rather than comedy, as he gets on a particular hobbyhorse – and it’s a trap he can't always avoid.

Typically, his routine will start strong, with a barrage of fervent material deriding youngsters and the Tory Party past and present, all with good reason and better jokes.

He stumbles over a few gags, backing up his endearingly confused demeanour. ‘Imagine how good this material would be in the right hands,’ he self-deprecatingly acknowledges.

But once he’s built up our trust that he’s funny, Hardy slips gradually into lecture mode, bemoaning terrorism, politics and the sizeable catalogue of things that gets his goat. The laughs subside into smatterings of applause – a sign that the audience agree with him, or find that he’s made a point particularly pithily, rather than the reflex of laughter that something’s hilarious.

Still, despite his flaws, Hardy’s becoming a national treasure, a sort of pet, avuncular Leftie to follow in the pipe-smoke of Tony Benn.

A truly special and enduring talent. I've loved this guy ever since the alternative explosion of the eighties.

Michael Monkhouse, August 2010

He went a bit "Mark Thomas" in the late Nineties which one feels he felt was the right thing to wear at the time. He hasn't taken it off since which is sad as his early Nineties' material could easily be called a Yoof TV Alan Bennett.

Mandy Allan, January 2010

Saw Jeremy at Bromsgrove Artrix on 27th November. he's doleful, dishevelled and generally depressed but it is also very funny. Yes, he is left wing, and yes he does preach a bit - but its well worth listening to his logic and his humour shines through. I would definitely go and see him again. Saw Frankie Boyle earlier in the month and Jeremy is easily better.

graham clowes, November 2008

Laid back, intelligent, through provoking and very funny. Would definitely see him again.

Charles Thomson, October 2007

Very sharp guy. Very clever, occasionally funny but mostly tedious because he shoves his student left-wing politics in your face relentlessly. Everyone but him is a Nazi, apparantly. It's shame since he's clearly talented.

Nozza, March 2007

eremy is clever, sharp, orginal, philosopher, preacher, satirist...the list goes on and on. But most importantly of all, Jeremy's material is ALWAYS funny!

Jon, November 2006