What's funnier? Improv or a written joke
03/08/2025 … I do not like to think of myself as someone who holds grudges, so whenever I have a disagreement with someone I go down into the great vaults beneath my house and…
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.
Sun 03 August 2025
Sat 02 August 2025
Donald Trump must be great for comedy!
02/08/2025 … ‘Now that Trump is back in office, do you feel like you have more material? The jokes must write themselves.
Fri 01 August 2025
Can comedy reach its highest form without full freedom of speech?
Saaniya Abbas on the stand-up scene being built in Dubai
01/08/2025 … They say: ‘Build it, and they will come.
Wed 30 July 2025
Why I gave up working on a cure for cancer to get into comedy
Alex Berr on bringing her trauma to the Fringe
30/07/2025 … I entered university bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Stuff your rules!
Forget etiquette and make comedy that's messy, inexplicable and human, says Parker Callahan
30/07/2025 … There’s this idea, perhaps you’ve heard of it, that in order to break the rules, you first have to learn them.
Tue 29 July 2025
The myth of making it
Success doesn't always look like you think it will, says Joe Sib
29/07/2025 … Let me start with this: I’ve performed in front of 20,000 people opening for Metallica, and I’ve performed in front of six people at a wine bar next…
Mon 28 July 2025
Why do we have to draw a line between comedy and theatre?
Edinburgh Fringe performer Derek Mitchell wants a genre-agnostic world
28/07/2025 … All live comedy is theatre.
Sun 27 July 2025
What does a successful Edinburgh Fringe even mean any more?
Mary O'Connell reappraises what she wants out of the festival
27/07/2025 … ‘Oh my god, you’re performing at the Fringe this year? Are you excited?’ ‘No.