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.
Wed 10 July 2013
Tue 09 July 2013
Did Brass Eye go after the wrong targets?
Alan Varley re-views the paedophile special
09/07/2013 … This month marks the anniversary of what may be one of the most significant events in the history of British comedy – although the number of years that has passed…
Fri 05 July 2013
Do comedians have any alternative to selling out?
05/07/2013 … ‘Yeah, I used to love the Stones!’ opined a face-painted festival-goer with her hoarse, partied-out sigh.
Wed 03 July 2013
Why I won't be making money at Edinburgh
03/07/2013 … I have done Edinburgh properly.
Tue 02 July 2013
Wasn't comedy better when it said something?
Alex Blower thinks stand-up's gone backwards
02/07/2013 … Airing on Channel 4 in the Eighties, Friday Night Live brought groundbreaking alternative comedy performance to living rooms across the nation.
Mon 01 July 2013
Why we used Kickstarter
Bob Slayer explains why he crowdfunded Phil Kay's book
01/07/2013 … ‘You love Phil Kay, you do.
Success or failure? It's all hot air
Forget fame, a comedian's life is for living, says Max Dickins
01/07/2013 … At last year’s Chortle Conference, Free Fringe founder Peter Buckley-Hill told the audience of wannabes: ‘Some of you are probably sat there thinking you’ll…
Tue 25 June 2013
Not so much comedy, as time travel
Stephen Rhys Gage on the delights of the Seventies sitcom movie
25/06/2013 … Britain in the seventies was a gruesome looking place.