The death of American alt-comedy
Ismael Loutfi yearns for the time stand-up wasn't macho and reactionary
18/07/2025 … I started performing stand-up when I was 18, towards the end of Obama’s first term.
2025 Archives
Fri 18 July 2025
Edinburgh Fringe 10x10: Ten sketch shows
...and solo and double acts who do multiple characters
18/07/2025 … Maybe it’s the finances of it; maybe it’s slightly out of fashion – but there seem to be few sketch shows at the Fringe this year.
© Expectation/C4 The Change is over
A ‘huge blow’ as Channel 4 drops Bridget Christie comedy
18/07/2025 … Channel 4 has dropped Bridget Christie’s comedy The Change, despite the comedian’s plans to end the story with a third series.
A Short Walk To The Pub with Alexander Ubiquitous
18/07/2025 … Are TV executives stuck in a rut when it comes to commissioning shows in which middle-aged male comedians talk to each other? Here’s Channel 4’s new…
'I’m a real billy-big-bollocks on stage'
Q&A with Chortle Hotshot Jessie Nixon
18/07/2025 … Jessie Nixon is the final Chortle Hotshots to be profiled here – the five Edinburgh Fringe debutants who we selected from gigs around the country…
AXED: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Critics say cancellation was a political sop to Donald Trump
18/07/2025 … American comedy talk show institution The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is to end in May, the CBS network has unexpectedly announced.
Thu 17 July 2025
© C4 Meet the comics on C4's A Comedy Thing
Line-up and formats for new digital channel announced
17/07/2025 … Channel 4 has revealed the comedians and formats to feature on its new digital channel dedicated to comedy.
Taking the pissoir
Rosie Holt writes a play about Rachel Reeves' urinal
17/07/2025 … Satirist Rosie Holt has written a new play about Rachel Reeves's real-life fight to get rid of the urinal in her private bathroom at No11 Downing Street.