Am I wasting my time?
Ashley Frieze on how much to invest in making comedy content perfect
13/04/2026 … As a comedian, one of the greatest pleasures is to get a laugh very soon after having an idea.
Latest Opinions
Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Mon 13 April 2026
Tue 31 March 2026
Our worldbeating comedy circuit is worth celebrating
Chortle editor Steve Bennett on Live Comedy Day
31/03/2026 … I’ve been reviewing live comedy for more than 25 years, which inevitably prompts two questions: ‘who’s your favourite comedian?’ – which…
Fri 27 March 2026
How The Harry Hill Show could be the future of podcasts
James McLean on the trend towards video
27/03/2026 … Television has become a very difficult concept to pin down.
Thu 26 March 2026
Can AI have a role in writing comedy?
By comedian and lecturer Tom Short
26/03/2026 … There’s a strange new presence in the comedy writing process.
Mon 23 March 2026
© Flickr/Pexels What makes older people laugh?
Psychologist Heather Heap on the importance of humour, but why some find it difficult
23/03/2026 … For many older people, humour can be a lifeline.
Thu 19 March 2026
Saturday Night Live UK faces an uphill battle
William Garbett on how cultural differences could be an issue
19/03/2026 … A tall, well-built man saunters past a band and onto the stage.
© Sipa US/Alamy How to fix the Oscars monologue
Ray Nielsen on Conan O'Brien and the myth of the finished joke
19/03/2026 … There’s a peculiar kind of sympathy that only exists among comedians, and it tends to surface at the strangest moments.
Tue 17 March 2026
'This was a significant moment for comedy'
Geoff Rowe on an industry roundtable with the creative industries Minister
17/03/2026 … This time last week, a bunch of people who work in comedy gathered at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in Westminster to meet with the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts,…