The 2026 winners are:

• The Audible Best Comedy Show:

  • Chris Cantrill: Rewilding (pictured above)

• The Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award:

  • Marty Gleeson: Dog Ear (pictured below)

• The Audible Panel Prize:

  • One Joke, Liebenspiel (Benjamin Alborough and Ellie BW) and Jonathan Oldfield and Lorna Rose Treen

The judging panel, chaired by Liz Lewin, Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK, whittled down over 550 eligible comedy shows at this year’s Fringe to Wednesday’s shortlist of nominations, identifying six nominees for The Audible Best Comedy Show and seven nominees for The Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award.

The Audible Best Comedy Show went to Chris Cantrill for Rewilding, a ‘twisted tale’ about how life in Cantrill’s peaceful countryside community was disrupted by a heinous act of vandalism. This win is on Cantrill’s fourth nomination for Best Comedy Show, with two previous nominations as half of The Delightful Sausage in 2019 and 2022 and one for his previous solo show at the Fringe in 2024. His comedy partner in The Delightful Sausage, Amy Gledhill, won Best Comedy Show in 2024, meaning both of the duo have now taken home comedy’s most prestigious accolade in the space of three years. Gledhill has since gone on to appear in Last One Laughing S2 and had a new comedy, Opening Up, commissioned by the BBC earlier this year.

The Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award went to Irish comedian Marty Gleeson for Dog Ear, which is inspired by her time at art school in Limerick. Gleeson is a BBC New Comedy Award and Channel 4’s Sean Lock Awards finalist and was crowned LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2024.

The judges also announced The Audible Panel Prize, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year having been first awarded in 2026 and is given to an act or organisation that best represents the ‘spirit of the Fringe’. The Audible Panel Prize was awarded to One Joke, an entirely unique experience as 60 comedians tell just one single perfect joke before leaving the stage. Produced by Benjamin Alborough and Ellie BW of Liebenspiel, One Joke is compared by Jonathan Oldfield, headlined by Lorna Rose Treen and featuring 60 comedians, all in the name of charity.

Nica Burns CBE, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, and Emma Brünjes, Executive Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said:

“In Chris and Marty we have two outstanding winners: both are exceptional comedians, writers and performers who have crafted wonderful shows to win the accolades of Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer. There is so much talent at the Edinburgh Fringe and comedy is again the largest category this year. With so much talent to choose from, the judges’ debate was knowledgeable, exciting and passionate. Congratulations to Chris and Marty and all the comedians shortlisted – you are all terrific.”

Liz Lewin, Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK and Chair of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2026 panel, said:

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“It was wonderful to be part of a judging panel and process that gave such careful, thorough and enjoyable consideration to such a range of outstanding comedians, any one of whom would have been a winner to be proud of. In Chris and Marty we see two very different but equally brilliant writers and performers who have both conjured something that only they could have.”

The judges for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2026 are:

• Liz Lewin (Panel Chair): Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK

• Sasha Bobak: Comedy and Entertainment Producer, BBC Studios

• Sam Bryant: Director of Original Content / Head of Comedy, Audible

• Amar Chauhan: Public Panellist

• Tristram Fane Saunders: Freelance Arts Journalist and Comedy Critic, The Telegraph

• Isabelle Jackson: Public Panellist

• Dominic Maxwell: Comedy and Theatre Critic for The Times and The Sunday Times

• Louise Robb: Public Panellist

• Anya Ryan: Comedy and Theatre Critic at The Guardian, The Times, TimeOut, The Stage

• Darren Smith: Creative Director, DLT Entertainment

The Fringe remains the key launchpad for comedians and the Edinburgh Comedy Awards play a vital role in spotlighting emerging talent. Recently, winners have gone on to appear in high-profile projects including Last One Laughing S2, which starred Best Comedy Show winners Amy Gledhill (2024) and Sam Campbell (2022), and SNL UK, which features 2025 Best Newcomer winner Ayoade Bamgboye plus four other nominees: Larry Dean, George Fouracres (as part of sketch trio Daphne), Ania Magliano, and Paddy Young. In April of this year, 2016 winner Richard Gadd’s Half Man, a six-part TV drama, premiered on the BBC and HBO, and in May the BBC announced it has commissioned a new comedy Opening Up from 2024 winner Amy Gledhill.

Jimmy Carr challenges 10 of Britain’s funniest comics to spend the day together without so much as a titter. The rules are simple; laugh and you’re out. Over the course of the series, they will use every ounce of their comedic talents to try and break their opponents without cracking up themselves. And it’s not just their rivals they need to watch out for - the series is packed with comedy cameos, format twists and surprises designed to lure laughs from both the players and the viewers. It’s a stellar line up of British comedy talent, but who will be crowned the winner of Last One Laughing Series 3?

The first series of Last One Laughing won Best Entertainment Programme at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, with Bob Mortimer winning Best Entertainment Performance. The series also won the Comedy Entertainment award at the 2026 RTS Programme Awards. In addition to this, the first series won Best Entertainment Programme at the 2026 Broadcast Awards and was awarded Best Entertainment Series at the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2025.

Last One Laughing is an adaptation of the successful Prime Original series from Japan entitled Documental, created by and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto and owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo, where Matsumoto leads 10 comedians betting their own money in an anything goes “battle of laughter behind closed doors.”

The fan-favourite Last One Laughing format is one of the most watched Prime Originals internationally and has had successful local versions in over 25 territories, with a recently announced series order for a US edition. Local celebrity hosts have included Jimmy Carr (UK), Graham Norton (Ireland), Jay Baruchel (Canada), Eugenio Derbez (Mexico), Michael Bully Herbig (Germany), Philippe Lacheau (France), Matsumoto (Japan), Rebel Wilson (Australia) and Trevor Noah (South Africa).

Series one and two of Last One Laughing are available now on Prime Video. Last One Laughing Halloween will premiere with three episodes on 23rd October, with the last episode launching on 30th October.

• Chris Cantrill: Rewilding

• Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All

• Harriet Dyer: Easily Distra...

• Lara Ricote: INKLING

• Li Jin Hao: Falling From a Moon

• Spencer Jones: Dogs

Over the last two weeks I’ve seen and reviewed all the nominees. Here are some excerpts from my reviews with links to the full reviews:

Chris Cantrill has been doing Edinburgh for over ten years, sometimes with his comedy partner Amy Gledhill, more recently on his own. He is also a writer on SNL UK and in Rewilding (Monkey Barrel at Tron, four stars) he has lots of fun with sly digs about working there, how it’s like a prison with little cliques and how he has been taken under the wing of the Gen Z and gay writers on the team. More here.

Dust off those earplugs, Dan Tiernan (Monkey Barrel, four stars, pictured above) is back in town. The comedian with the most ear-piercing scream in the business returns with his latest life update. He thinks he may have found the secret of contentment. The answer is crystals, which he now avidly collects. Not that this new hobby stops him from shouting at the audience like a banshee when the mood takes him. More here.

Harriet Dyer (pictured above) is one of the rising stars at this year’s Fringe. Later this year she will be appearing on Last One Laughing and I can’t wait to see what viewers make of her. In the wild onstage she is a total one-off. Her show, Easily Distra... (CabVol 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, four stars) is about how she gets easily distracted. Or at least it would be if only she could stick to a single subject. More here.

Lara Ricote’s show is the perfect mix of highbrow and lowbrow. Don’t be put off by the fact that she starts out with a story from Greek mythology. Delving into the past for ideas hasn’t done Christopher Nolan any harm and it doesn’t do Ricote any harm either in Inkling (Monkey Barrel, four stars) in which she explores her own past with references to maxims from history. It’s a stylish, deftly constructed set, using physicality, blackouts, various mics and some surprises dotted around the room. More here.

Li Jin Hao might just be the slowest talker on the Fringe. But every word is chosen with care. Dressed in floaty black he has the air of a buddhist monk and there is something philosophical about his comedy, which comes with a big moon hanging above the stage which changes colour to represent different types of anecdote. More here.

And finally…Every great artist needs a muse. For Spencer Jones (pictured above) his muse is a Chihuahua Jack Russell cross which he acquired four years ago. Just as the kids are more independent a whole new world of responsibility opened up. But also a whole new world of creative possibility. The result is the brilliant show Dogs. So good I barely have a bone to pick with it. More here.

Joseph Morpurgo’s solo shows are some of the most innovative, inventive comedy events you will see. His interactive 2015 set picked up an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination. In 2017’s Hammerhead he played a pretentious actor taking part in a post-show Q&A. But the more he takes himself seriously – and we all know actors that do that – the more things start to fall apart. It’s an inspired piece, which uses state-of-the-art technology really well, but at its heart there is also an utterly committed, great comic performance. Probably because Morpurgo is a genuinely good actor in real-life - he is also part of the Austentatious ensemble. More about their work here.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

Mainline Coca Cola, then water to balance that out, then Coca Cola for compensatory energy, then water to…(repeat until last possible moment)

2. What irritates you?

Snark. Meanies.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I went skiing for the first time this year. I’m quite scared of heights, so was nervous about the ski-lift. As it happened, I had to take my first one on my own, and, as expected, found it completely nerve-wracking - four minutes of vice-like clinging and mindful breathing as I scrolled over chasms and rock clumps. Everyone thought this was amusingly wimpy when I told them at lunch.

Later that day, reunited with my group, we all took the same lift. When one of our group pulled down the barrier, I said “That’s weird - the one I was on earlier didn’t have a barrier”. I’d not realised you pull the barrier down - I’d been hanging onto it like a monkey bar, without anything to stop me slipping off the seat and falling to certain death. A rogue gust or sudden jolt and I’d have been pulped ice mash.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Cf (3)

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

The myriad ways in which projectors can malfunction.

6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

My parents (and Granny) spent weeks making me a 60 foot sheet square bedsheet for my last show. So: supportive.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

Finding an answer to the question “…and what do you do?” that doesn’t make you sound like a prat/dong/wally.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

So-so.

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

Highly variable (on both counts).

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Massive. Cf (6) [long-term] or (3) [short-term].

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

Probably some mixture of both. Self-flagellating with the golf club most likely.

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

Coffee Dad. https://twitter.com/coffee_dad?lang=en

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

My drawers are quite effectively partitioned - there’s not much cross-contamination between, say, Pant and Sock - but things are more unruly within the individual drawers. At the time of writing, my sock drawer has 23 socks in, in which there are currently only three true pairs, and maybe two more approximate pairs (though this doesn’t include what’s out on the drying rack, where most of my true pairs currently are). There used to be a lot of T-Shirt and jumper miscegenation but I’ve now got all of the former (bed/running T-Shirts aside) on hangers so that situation has definitely improved. And on the plus-side, the miscellany drawer (passport, coins, buttons, iPhone buds) is quite well tempered at the moment too. So the picture is rosy.

First up, let’s hear it for returning champions. Comedians can’t resist the lure of the Edinburgh Fringe. Just as they are out they get pulled back in. Whether it’s for the money, the acclaim or just getting a warm hand on their entrance a number of previous Edinburgh Comedy Award winners are back this year. Over the last couple of days, almost by accident, I realised I’d seen four previous award winners. And judging by the quality of their shows it’s a shame you can’t win the award twice. Read about them here

Ania Magliano (Monkey Barrel, five stars) has the full set. She has been on Taskmaster, she is one of the breakout stars of SNL UK and now she has a superb stand-up show under her belt (although, I should add, her previous shows have all been pretty good). In Peach Fuzz she explores body image, in particular her own body image. And in very particular, her genitalia. Reviews of Magliano and more here.

A few months ago a friend wanted to take his brother for a night out and asked me to recommend a comedy show. I recommended Pierre Novellie. My friend didn’t like it, although he acknowledged that everybody else in the room did. I’m going to have to seriously rethink my friendships as Novellie is one of the top stand-ups plying their trade at the moment. And he’s prolific too. He’s already back with a brand new show, Okay, One More Then Bedtime (Monkey Barrel, four stars). I think he’s aced it again. My friend is going to have another hit to avoid. Novellie review and more here.

It says something about the truly dark state of the planet that even Paul Foot, not previously known for his forthright political pronouncements, has decided to do a show this year about world events. It’s a brilliant show that will make you laugh like a drain (whatever that means) and also stun you into silence during one haunting story. Review.

In 2016 Richard Gadd won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show for a performance which featured him pounding a treadmill throughout the gig. In Elf Lyons is The Woman on the Edge performer Lyons spends the entire hour on barefoot tip toes. It’s an understated highlight of a distinctive, outstanding show that must surely be a strong contender for this year’s award. Review.

Every great artist needs a muse. For Spencer Jones his muse is a Chihuahua Jack Russell cross which he acquired four years ago. Just as the kids are more independent a whole new world of responsibility opened up. But also a whole new world of creative possibility. The result is the brilliant show Dogs. So good I barely have a bone to pick with it. Review.

And finally some jokes. Comedian Olaf Falafel, from Luton, has been crowned winner of the (some guy called) Dave Joke of the Fringe 2026. Read his winning gag and lots more zingers here.

In the book Monty Python co-founder Idle, who was also behind the award-winning musical Spamalot, tells the story of how he bought a ramshackle house in France in 1971 and spent over fifty years doing it up and unwinding there, making friends and trying to learn a new language. It is described at the holy grail of vacation memoirs.

Read more

Ivo Graham might as well have “future star” written through him like “Blackpool” through a stick of rock purchased in a famous seaside resort in the north-west. He won the Gilded Balloon’s So You Think You’re Funny? competition in 2009 at a horrendously early age and then went off to get a proper education and a degree. The young old Etonian is now back and funnier than ever. His gig diary is here although he is getting so busy he is a bit rubbish at keeping it up to date. But if you do hear that he is playing a club near you buy tickets so that you can boast to your friends that you saw Graham before mega-success went to his head.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage?

Big slug of water. Couple of semi-ironic stretches. Attempt to appear either improbably relaxed or comically panicked, depending on who else is backstage. Quick flick through Wikipedia page of town/city the gig is in for fun facts. Discover something vaguely amusing and wish I’d checked early enough to actually work out how to use it in the set. Resolve to do so next time. But never do.

2. What irritates you?

People videoing concerts. People with that whistle alert on their phone when they get a text message. People saying “you and I” when they mean “you and me” (the other way round is an innocent mistake: this way round - e.g. “between you and I” - a failed attempt to be superior). You can tell I’m a super fun guy, can’t you?

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

This question makes me feel very embarrassed about what a tedious danger-free life I’ve lived. I really do tend to shy away from anything that puts my fragile body in even minor peril. I once jumped into a river off a very high bridge while on a family holiday in France, which might have looked pretty gung-ho to any casual onlookers, but which was actually only green-lit after I’d conducted a rigorous risk assessment on the depth of the water beforehand.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Told my mother about the jump, and then did it again in front of her despite her explicit instructions for me not to.

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

The very obvious differences between the National Express and Megabus clientele.

6. What do your parents think of your job?

My mum is delighted to see her son doing something with his life that he loves. My father is looking forward to my third show next year because “the current schtick’s wearing a bit thin”.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

The nagging fear that my total dependence on autobiographical material has left me plundering my personal life for cheap laughs in a way that is both desperate and massively unsustainable, a short-term trade-off of dignity for minor career progression that is going to leave me washed up and alone in my late twenties, unable to enjoy any experience on a primary level or claw back the respect of even my closest friends. That or the bloody invoices!

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Cheers, Bruce. I think the stories I bash out onstage are interesting enough and sufficiently well told that I provide a comedy audience with a definitively above-average listening experience. I also think I use this excuse far too often to justify the set not having been funny enough.

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I currently earn enough to shampoo and condition my hair with Alberto Balsam, and I’d like to earn enough for Aussie Colour Mate. There’s better ways to measure your financial situation than hair products, but it’s a great place to start.

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

I feel like I have been incredibly lucky in my career so far and that various generous people within the industry have taken chances on me that I have not necessarily always been fully deserving of. That said, I also wrote an essay on military strategy for my A Level History coursework entitled “Great Men Make Their Own Luck”, and having ploughed such a tragic amount of my 2008 Easter holiday into researching it, I’m not too inclined to start disputing its logic here.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

It’d be so much cooler to pretend I’m the second, but as a privately educated, mentally stable man from a happy and unbroken home, it would be ludicrously disingenuous to do so. See you on the green.

Oh, and it’s competition time. Would you like to win a signed copy of Eric Idle’s new book? Would you like to see Eric Idle live onstage? Would you like both? Details here.

Meanwhile back at the Edinburgh Fringe the festival has got off to a storming start. I’m usually a bit tight about giving out five star reviews but I’ve already been blown away by plenty of shows. I’m not a judge of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards this year but if I was I could already draw up a pretty persuasive shortlist. Here are my favourites so far. In no particular order. OK, the first one is my favourite, but probably won’t be eligible for an award as they’ve already fronted a TV show.

Every great artist needs a muse. For Spencer Jones his muse is a Chihuahua Jack Russell cross which he acquired four years ago. Just as the kids are more independent a whole new world of responsibility opened up. But also a whole new world of creative possibility. The result is the brilliant show Dogs. So good I barely have a bone to pick with it. Read a review here.

In 2016 Richard Gadd won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show for a performance which featured him pounding a treadmill throughout the gig. In Elf Lyons is The Woman on the Edge performer Lyons spends the entire hour on barefoot tip toes. It's an understated highlight of a distinctive, outstanding show that must surely be a strong contender for this year's award. Review here.

I don't know what Rob Auton has ever done to upset the Edinburgh Comedy Award judges but I've always found his Fringe shows to be some of the shows that have stayed longest in the memory. Sadly I've not been on the panel in the last few years so have had little influence in getting him shortlisted. Could this be his year? More here.

There are plenty of Taskmaster alumni at this year's Edinburgh Fringe – Rosie Jones, Ivo Graham, Mike Wozniak, Ed Gamble, Nish Kumar spring to mind – but only one show is about a former Taskmaster contestant. One who remains nameless on legal advice. Find out why here. \

So those are my favourites so far. I could also mention Jamie Wolf (Best Newcomer contender?), Susie McCabe (let’s hear it for the Scots) and Lil Wenker (totally bonkers – pictured below). So many comedians so little time. Plus Amanda Knox - who we reviewed here even though she isn’t really a comedy. And if you want to read some great interviews with Edinburgh performers check out our Rarely Asked Questions here.

Picture by Matt Crockett

The funny, talented Pippa Evans certainly keeps busy. She is a lynchpin of the Showstoppers team, she co-founded Sunday Assembly and she is the creator of booze-sodden singer Loretta Maine. She also works with improv legend Josie Lawrence in the Glenda J Collective. I ought to declare an interest here. I once gave Evans a broken iron to use as a prop in a show. At least that is what she told me she wanted it for. I have no idea what she did with it but I’m sure it was awesome.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth )?

Try and say my entire set at lightning speed in my head.

2. What irritates you?

In life? People leaving rubbish on the Tube. It’s not a fucking bin.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

The Showstoppers got stuck in Hong Kong in 2010, when that volcano erupted and the massive ash cloud meant no one could fly anywhere. We were told we wouldn’t be going home for a month, so we did what any sane theatre folk would do and took advantage of the $19-all-you-can-drink wine offer being promoted at the hotel. The swimming pool was closed, but as a result of alcohol-induced courage, I scaled a massive wall and jumped from a great height into said pool. I woke up covered in scratches and bruises. If I’d fallen, I would have broken my back. But I didn’t, so what does that tell you about danger? It’s fun!

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Well, it’s probably the same as above, isn’t it. But if this was a self-help book, we’d use the wall scaling to illustrate that fear holds us back and what seems stupid is, in fact, the wisest thing you could have done. #BeMoreStupid

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

How much it’s just about keeping going. When I read that back, it sounds defeatist or something, but you just keep plodding along, doing your thing and it makes for a much less stressful time than when you first start and are trying to ACHIEVE THINGS and GET NOTICED. That doesn’t mean you stop trying, but you stop worrying about it. Does that make any sense? Is anyone still reading this?

6. What do your parents think of your job?

My parents think it’s brilliant. But mainly cos I am on Radio 4 a lot so they can say “She was on Radio 4!” and send a link which has the words BBC and Pippa Evans on the same webpage to friends who have asked if I have had children. “No - but she is on radio 4!”

If I was simply, solidly gigging, I know they’d find it hard to think that is also a mark of success in our world. SNOBS! Don’t worry, they won’t read this. BECAUSE IT’S NOT A BROADSHEET.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

Hmmmm, the neediness? The fact you can swing from top of the world to shit on someone’s shoe in one gig. My dependency on clapping is very high. After Edinburgh, 3 rounds of applause at least a day, I actually have applause withdrawal. My husband claps at me in the kitchen throughout September to perk me up.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

I think I am very good at what I do too. And sometimes I get frustrated because what I do doesn’t necessarily translate into mediums that make the money or get your face on telly so you can do good touring and that. Funny songs don’t make for good panel show answers.

Ian Hislop: Pippa, what do you think?
Pippa: Well... *band strikes up*

Satire! Satire! That’s what sets my heart on fire!
Trump or May will never tire
Of good old fashioned.... British...... Satire!

Paul Merton: Is the answer ‘cabbages’?

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I can pay the bills but I would like to earn enough to fly First Class everywhere. Or to at least choose not to fly First Class, rather than staring painfully at the ticket prices whilst clicking economy-economy.

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Hmmm - if I hadn’t done that Slapstick Festival gig with Jack Dee, I wouldn’t have got on I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue. Lucky! But if I’d been crap at that gig, Jack wouldn’t have asked me. Solid work!

So I reckon it’s do the work, keep going when you feel like it’s all a load of bollocks and be ready if and when the luck decides to strike.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

I am a golfer with a tendency to mope. But I never mope for long. We are told you have to have an alcohol problem or fuck anything that moves to be a true artist. So being in a stable relationship and having a family who I get along with sometimes feels WRONG. As a child I hated that my parents weren’t divorced because it was so dull having a happy family life. What a dick.

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

What people are there other than those 3 categories? Politicians? Can I have Oprah? or Meryl? I find Will Self kind of amusing in his bleakness. Also he lives near me and this might help me break the ice. OBAMA, obviously. Brian Conley is my go-to for this kind of question. OK, I’ll take Ringo. Delia? NO! The Dalai Lama. I once saw him get on a train at Manchester station. Surreal.

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

No. They are a right old mess. I know what is in them though. That’s all you need.

Nextup’s biggest trophy is returning to the Edinburgb Fringe, to help find the shows everyone should be talking about.

The streaming service’s oversized prize invites its members to nominate the Edinburgh Fringe shows they believe deserve to be celebrated. Those nominations are combined with recommendations from NextUp’s panel of comedy scouts to produce a longlist of the 20 most-nominated shows, before casting their final votes to decide the winner. More here.

And The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards have confirmed a record £16,000.01 prize fund for this year’s awards while launching #IBackISH, a new initiative inviting everyone involved in the creative industries to help shape a fairer future for the arts. Details here.

It would’t be a Fringe without at least one controversy. A petition has been set up protesting about Amanda Knox's forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show Cartwheel. Read about it here.

Meanwhile I think I’ve seen one of the stand-out Fringe shows before it even began, catching Frankie McNair’s preview at the Soho Theatre this week. Read our review of her Big Ass Mindset here and if you are at the Fringe catch the show.

Elsewhere there was bad news for performers owed money after appearing at the Leicester Comedy Festival, with the festival operator filing for insolvency. Read about the fallout here and here. A hardship fund has been set up by the Live Comedy Association, read about that and donate here.

In more upbeat news Ted Lasso has returned for a fourth season. It’s all change at Richmond AFC. Find out how in our review of the opening episode here. The picture below (credit: Apple TV) is a clue.

Finally sad news for the comedy world with the death of veteran comedian Jimmy Cricket. He was 80 years old and still gigging this year. I wonder how many Fringe performers will still be getting onstage at Jimmy’s age. Read more here.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

I have a thing about checking my nose. I have to have a good long look up the nostrils to make sure there’s nothing flapping around up there. I do that whenever I’m in a bathroom or public toilet too, which leads other toilet users to assume that I know where the drugs at (Not sure if that’s a saying). I also call all of my ex girlfriends on a withheld number and shout “You made me stronger!” before hanging up. Then and only then am I ready to create laughter.

2. What irritates you?

Poison Ivy. Hahaha but no, seriously? I get irritated quite often. As my career and personal life are well on track at the moment, I live in a house share with 6 other people and if I wasn’t so lethargical all the time from alcohol poisoning, I’d have probably killed them all by now. Don’t get me wrong, I love them all very much but I just don’t think I can live with others very well, which has never been a problem before as I’ve always been so hideously alone. I get irritated by all the usual things really, queueing, people who pay using their phone and when a fellow northerner says “Bokkle” instead of “bottle” (this happens more often than you’d imagine)

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Oh I do dangerous things all the time because I welcome death but probably the most dangerous thing I have ever done was fall in love.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

See above.

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

Mainly that I’ve got a career in comedy. I mean, I use the term “career” very loosely but I haven’t used a pump truck or worn a hi-vis jacket in over 8 years. I was surprised and quite taken aback at how you can sometimes just hit on an idea that really captures people’s imaginations and can push your career forward quite significantly. I was surprised when I got to work with heroes of mine who I’d admired for years and how welcoming they were. They made it seem quite natural to be chatting with them about everyday stuff like ironing or chap sticks.

6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

Ey it would be funny if I had to delete both parents and children wouldn’t it? Actually no, that would be harrowing. My parents are very proud as well as very critical of me. They come to a lot of my shows and come to Edinburgh at least twice each year to see the show. They do so much in helping me organise props and my mum makes all of the Funz and Gamez merchandise so if you’ve got a T-shirt with a couple of Z’s missing or a cup without a handle, you can blame her.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

Well the obvious one I suppose is the travel involved but I actually think it’s having to spend time with other comedians. I spend a lot of time alone and I hate my own company. Imagine having that hatred increased by “comedian’s drinks” or even worse, “an event”? We are genuinely the worst people in the entertainment business and when I say “we”, I mean “they”.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

I think I’m hilarious but don’t take my word for it, take the word of “Ed Fringe review” with their army of 18 year old simpletons. I do actually think it would be very sad if a comedian didn’t think they were funny. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of comedians should think that they are dog shit but strangely they don’t and they carry on doing middle spots at the “Giggle Funky Lolz Shack” in Bradford until the day they die…. Alone. Why would you continue to do something you’re crap at? It makes no sense. That’s the very reason I no longer play football or try to forge a lasting bond with another human being.

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I make a lot more doing comedy than I did working in an airbags factory but I’d like to earn a little more so I can throw that extra cash into the well of debt I’ve accumulated through poor lifestyle choices and once trusting a man who made me believe that he actually owned one of the lions in Trafalgar Square. The bastard!

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

I think luck is very important but that’s only a small part of becoming successful. You have to have talent (there are exceptions to this rule) but mostly I think hard work and having something to offer are vital to success (again there are bloody loads of exceptions to this rule). I had a lot of luck in 2014 with Funz and Gamez but essential[y its success was down to it being a bloody great idea with a great cast. Luckily my luck turned really quickly and within no time I was back at the “GiggleFunky Lolz shack” in Bradford where I belong.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

I’m just a sad man with a grudge.

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

Tom Cruise because he’s the best damn actor in the world and he’s rumoured to be a lovely man. Yes he’s made a few…. Questionable life choices but you name me a Tom Cruise film that’s unwatchable (pre-The Mummy. That film really fucked my argument recently). Tom Cruise makes every film at least 25% better. Imagine putting him in Minority Report…. Again! How good would that film be?

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

I am a very tidy person. Almost creepily tidy but thanks to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy I do occasionally leave a dirty mug in the sink. However, despite all of my cleanliness I do actually just throw all sorts of random crap in my drawers with no order or consistency to each drawers content.

In fact who knows. Without LATA bigging up stand-ups comedians might not have got on Celebrity MasterChef. Max Fosh (pictured left below) and Joe Pasquale have been named in the line up of the next series. Details here.

Or, for that matter, would Sara Pascoe and Chris Ramsey have been signed up for Celebrity Gladiators. Sara Pascoe says “Celebrity Gladiators is the ideal opportunity for me to live out my childhood dream of humiliating myself on national television.” Read more here.

On the live front Adam and Joe are reuniting for a massive 30th anniversary gig. Details here. And Peter Kay’s current tour hasn’t been going on for thirty years, it just feels that way. It comes to the end after four years with a series of charity gigs. Details here.

Beyond The Joke has continued its run of Rarely Asked Questions with Edinburgh Fringe-bound comedians. Read about pun champion Adele Cliff here. Read about the weird and wonderful Stephen Catling (pictured) here. And find out more about leading light of the Indian comedy scene Tarang Hardikar here. Lots more interviews here.

Look out next week for Joe and David’s Magical Sitcom Tour on U&Gold, in which Joe Wilkinson and David Earl take a deep dive into their favourite sitcoms. Beyond The Joke has seen the first episode and it is excellent. Here is a preview.

And finally it was announced today that legendary publicist Neil Reading has died aged 56. We are back where we began in this column, as Reading worked closely with a number of comedians who got breaks on Live at the Apollo, such as Jason Manford and John Bishop.

Manford was one of many stars who paid tribute to Reading: “I am heartbroken over the death of my dear friend & colleague Neil Reading. Describing him as my PR manager does not come close to describing what he meant to me and my family. He was a trusted friend of almost 20 years, a confidant and one of the most loyal, noble and brilliant men I have ever known.”

The new series of Ted Lasso comes to Apple TV from August 5.

Brett Goldstein hasn’t done a lot of stand-up lately, but then the sharp, funny comedian/writer/actor has an excuse. He has been busy appearing in lots and lots of TV and films on both sides of the Atlantic. In the last few years his devilishly handsome visage has popped up in shows including movies SuperBob and Adult Life Skills and on TV in Drifters, Uncle and Derek. He also played a character in an HBO pilot, A Lot, inspired by Maureen Dowd’s book Are Men Necessary?: When Sexes Collide.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

Pace up and down and remind myself that I am incredibly lucky to do this for a living and that I am living a dream and I should ignore the abject terror that is overtaking my body

2. What irritates you?

Trying to work and realising you have been sucked into a social media vortex for an hour and you hate yourself and say you should leave twitter and facebook and delete all your accounts and turn off the internet and then you never do because ultimately you’re weak and you’re an addict and you should be ashamed of yourself and no wonder everyone hates you.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Steal a kayak and take it out in a horrendous storm when a beach was closed in an attempt to surf a wave like at the end of Point Break.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Take a film studies course at university thinking I would get to make films and instead spent three years listening to absolute bollocks spouted about the critical nature of film by a load of people who have never made or enjoyed a film in their life. It was my own fault. I should have done a bit more research. To be fair, I should have done some research. Basically, I didn’t do any research. I just saw the word ‘film’ and thought, ‘That’s the one for me!’

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

I did expect comedians to be terrible people. And they are. But they’re my terrible people

But seriously. I think the best part of doing this is I get to hang out with the most interesting funny and brilliant people who all have this thing inside that needs to be expressed. I’ve never felt part of any group until I became a comedian. I was surprised how decent and supportive comedians are in the main. Except for xxxx xxxxx of course.

6. What do your parents think of your job?

I’ve never let my parents see me do stand up (because – well – see my shows), as much as they want to, so they think of it as a forbidden fruit that they wish they could be part of.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

The worst thing is telling people at parties you’re a comedian because 9 times out of 10 they will be a dickhead and say either: “You? Say something funny then?” or “Are you serious? But you haven’t been funny all night?” or “I’ll come to one of your gigs and heckle you!”

Now I just tell people I’m a plumber. I’ve noticed that people at parties are far less interested in following up the ‘what do you do’ conversation with plumbers. They rarely heckle them or question whether they can actually unclog a pipe. If I met a plumber at a party I would ask them loads of questions. Like ‘how do I stop my sink from overflowing?’ or ‘how do you know the host?’

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

I am not a fan. I know some comics who when they are having a bad gig get angry at an audience. I admire that. When I’m dying I tend to think, ‘yeah, your instincts were right.’

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

From stand up it depends week to week. Sometimes loads sometimes very little. But all in, I earn enough to pay my bills and see a film at the cinema. I’m quite happy with that and consider myself lucky, but I’d take a bit more money so that I could afford more Revels to go with the popcorn.

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Luck is very important I think. But you do have to have done all the work. I totally believe the ten thousand hours thing. You need to have done your job for ten thousand hours then when the ‘luck’ arrives, you are ready to make the most of it. I think the last pilot I did in the US was down to luck. I think I went into the audition at a certain point in the day when they were so bored of the same old thing that when I walked in and did it with an English accent and completely weirdly I think they were just glad for the change. If I’d walked in a week earlier I think they would have thought I was mad.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

I’m afraid I’m a self-harmer (emotionally, not with knives). Also, golf has always looked so boring to me. It’s basically a very long walk with some people and I’d worry I’d run out of conversation and we’d do seven holes in uncomfortable silence.

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

Jim Henson. He was a saint. I think what he did with his work is truly inspirational and magic and perfect and something to aspire to. I love everything he created and it works at whatever age you are at. The Muppet Christmas Carol remains one of the five greatest films ever made and contains the greatest performance of Michael Caine’s career. Jim Henson is also the only idol I have left who hasn’t been revealed to be a paedophile or a rapist. Fingers crossed that continues to be the case.

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

I’m afraid I don’t. I am so bad that once stuff has been in the tumble dryer, it just stays there and I get dressed from straight out the drum. I have very little interest in clothes and housekeeping to my shame. But I am very clean myself for the record. I shower at least twice a day. Or more. I have OCD. I’ve said too much.

This interview dates from early 2018, the year that she won the award with her effervescent autobiographical show Horndog, which featured brilliant jokes, a tribute to the band Franz Ferdinand and ping pong. She has gone on to do loads of great things, most notably the BBC comedy Starstruck. Now read on…

New Zealand’s Rose Matafeo isn’t really a stand-up comedian at all. She is simply a force of nature. A whirlwind in human form ready to whip up a comedy storm from the moment she walks on. Her performances can take in everything from physical clowning to off-the-wall mini-sketches. She can be both daft and deft as she moves through the gears building up to frequent big laughs. Her best routines involve music, as she reworks the lyrics to R Kelly’s Bump and Grind, or portrays a disillusioned violinist getting fed up with their minimal contribution to a Shaggy hit. Matafeo is currently making waves in the UK following the success of her latest solo show, Sassy Best Friend.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

I text my family and friends to let them know I’m safe.

2. What irritates you?

Polyester.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I nearly did a bungy jump once but then backed out at the last minute

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Leaving university to pursue a career in comedy yaaaay!!!!

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

How comedians are never the height I think they’ll be.

6. What do your parents (delete as applicable) think of your job?

They are incredibly supportive because they are very irresponsible parents.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

Not knowing when to eat dinner.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Disappoint my ancestors by humiliating myself onstage for other people’s entertainment. I also do lots of funny faces!

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I earn enough to live nicely, but I’d love to earn enough to buy a cinema ticket in London.

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Yes, I’ve been incredibly lucky but I’ll never admit it in public.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

Tortured artist because I really hate golf.

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

Sylvester Stallone because he works hard and is following his passion for abstract painting.

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

I do for the first week of January and then after that I let nature take its course.

The Stand Comedy Club in partnership with The List Magazine and The Comedy Unit is to launch a new Edinburgh Fringe award for 2026: The McTavish Award.

This award has been established in memory of Paul Sneddon, who died recently, aged 70. Paul was better known to audiences as Vladimir McTavish. Over a remarkable 40-year career, Paul built a reputation as one of Scotland’s most original and fearless comedians, constantly pushing the boundaries of comedy with intelligence, wit and creativity. He was an integral part of The Stand’s story and a much-loved figure within the Scottish comedy community. Details here.

Comedians Laura Smyth, Brian Conley And Jen Brister are in the line-up for the new series of C4’s Celebrity Hunted. Full line-up here.

Matt Lucas will star as Fagin in Lionel Bart’s iconic musical, Oliver!, for 6 weeks only at the Gielgud Theatre in London from Tuesday 22 September to Sunday 1 November 2026.

Lucas says: “I’ve always wanted to appear in Oliver! It was the first West End musical I ever saw, aged 6, and I adored it. Apparently, despite my considerable range, I am considered slightly too old now to play the title role, so instead I shall be appearing as Fagin.” Details here.

BBC comedy Daddy Issues will be back for a third and final series on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three. The series, starring Aimee Lou Wood and David Morrissey, was BBC Three’s biggest comedy launch since the start of 2022, and series two was the channel’s top scripted title for 2025. More here.

Taskmaster Champion, Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Nominee and Harper Collins debut of 2027 Sophie Duker announces a brand new tour with her new show, ‘Hot Beef Injection’. The tour announcement follows a run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and precedes her upcoming book release, DONG. Details here.

You might have caught him sitting in the middle of the road waxing cynical on Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe. At his best he is obscenely funny, pricking the pomposity of politics and modern life in general. He has been compared to Bill Hicks, but while Stanhope shares the anger he is very much a one-off who marches to the beat of his own drum, as you can see from some of his answers below. Or he would, but he would probably refuse to march.

No tour dates currently upcoming but here is his website.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies, check for spinach between teeth and check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt)?

It’s off-putting that this Rarely Asked Interview series is always the same questions. It feels like instead of an interview, they’ve just handed you a form to fill out. Like it might not even get read. You may as well just give me a page and say “write whatever you want here.” It feels very lonely.

2. What irritates you?

You could have made it even less personal by making it multiple choice. That would be more expedient. Or maybe I could just put 5 answers to arbitrary questions on my website and send you a link.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I live in the desert, and I have to walk my dogs.

I’ve been shitting a lot of sushi, too. I’m taking some chances.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Oftentimes on the road I will take very long walks when I wake up and don’t know where I am and need to get back to my hotel. Terror can at times be a great replacement for the sauna to help you sweat out toxins. Dry heaves help keep the abs tight.

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

I’m not sure. I have a series of tattoos, notes and Polaroids but I don’t exactly know.

6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

I got a book deal writing about my life with Mother. It’s a lot of fucking work. That’s my latest best excuse for not writing anything here.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

I haven’t had this much fun in years; just driving around in a van with comics, my girlfriend and my buddy tour managing. It’s old school stuff. Hung over and pile in a van in the morning. It’s like a dildo on a power-drill. It depends on how you use it.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

I haven’t learnt anything in the past 15 years that hasn’t just depressed me more. I’d rather be oblivious again. Oblivion was nice.

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

I have hooker money... and my life is still a shambles..

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

I’m a big gambling fan. I love the NFL. I’m a huge football fan, but I don’t know s--- about it. I’ve been watching it since I was a kid, and I still don’t know what a 3-4 defense means versus a West Coast offense.

I like to put money on every game, and put Red Zone on and let my head just go completely retarded just trying to keep up with my parlays, who’s ahead and who needs to score what to cover what to make what ticket win. And it’s a reason to have people over and barbecue.

It’s like if you had a painting, and you say ‘This is a really nice painting. I painted it. Here it is.’ And then every single person associated with the painting had to sign it—the person who made the canvas, the delivery service who shipped the canvas, everyone who was involved with making the paint. Get far enough along and you can’t even see the painting anymore. Everyone’s fucked with it

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

A guy’s driving down an old country road and he sees a farmer in his orchard feeding his pigs, but what he’s doing is he’s taking one pig at a time, holding him up, letting him eat an apple out of the tree, and then setting him down before picking up another pig and letting him eat an apple. So the guy pulls over and walks up to the farmer and he says, “Wouldn’t it save time to just knock all the apples on the ground and let the pigs eat them all at once?” And the farmer, confused, looks at him and says, “What’s time to a pig?”

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why - not including family or friends or other comedians?

When Mark Babbitt used to run the Laff Stop in Houston, that was an artists’ room. He was on your side. He knew what you were doing, and fuck the crowd if they don’t get it. He was willing to take a bad beat, which is probably why he’s not in comedy anymore on the business side.

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not?

If I could use an analogy: I can’t ski, and I’m sure it would be fun on some level to slide down a hill on skis, but take all the other parts of it, you have to learn how to ski when you’re already uncoordinated and naturally inept at anything athletic and be out in the cold and fall down a lot and look like an asshole and freeze your balls off and pay a lot of money and pay your dues just to be able to go down on skis. It would not be worth the trade. I ‘m sure there would be benefits to it, but I’m not sure they’re worth the effort.

Two shows this week paid tribute. Ricky Gervais fronted his own selection of classic clips on his YouTube channel, while Mackenzie Crook and Martin Freeman – Gareth and Tim – reunited on the BBC. Read a review of both here.

More TV news. Channel 4 is piloting a new play-at-home gameshow Your Time Starts Now is devised and developed by Alex Horne, creator and host of BAFTA and Rose D’Or winning Taskmaster and Andy Devonshire, founding Series Director on shows including The Apprentice, The Great British Bake Off and Taskmaster. Details here.

Dan Tiernan is a busy, busy man these days. He has just announced a big new tour after an Edinburgh run and has also joined the judging panel of the BBC New Comedy Awards alongside Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Details of the tour here and details of the awards here.

And talking of awards, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards judging panel has been announced, chaired by Liz Lewin (pictured), Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK.. Find out who will be breaking and making the next wave of comedians here.

A previous winner of the BBC New Comedy Award is Welshman Paul Hilleard. He is making his Edinburgh Fringe full-length debut this year and is most definitely a name to watch. Find out more about this distinctive performer in our latest Fringe Special Rarely Asked Questions series here.

Oh and the brilliant Diane Morgan is coming back to TV in a new series called Ann Droid, a sitcom about Sue, a grieving widow and Linda her outdated care robot who gets things very wrong and causes chaos while also teaching Sue how to love life again.

In a world where AI is looming larger, Ann Droid asks the question: what is replaceable and what is not? As funny, as it is poignant – Ann Droid tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Sue (Sue Johnston) and Linda (Morgan) a social humanoid robot, created to keep elderly people company and monitor their health. Read an illuminating interview with Morgan here.

Dogs picture credit: Debra Hurford Brown

He will also be in 11 ½ Angry Men at the Pleasance EICC Pentland Theatre from 5^th – 22^nd August at 2.30pm. For tickets go to www.edfringe.com. More details here.

Below is a brilliantly funny interview with Jones from 2024. He had moved out of London post-pandemic and was coming to terms with life in the country in his own typically idiosyncratic way. Now read on…

After lockdown, Spencer Jones moved with his young family from London to Devon - nearer to the beach, closer to his mum, and more chilled than the city. Was it an easy move? No. But was it the right choice? Also no.

Double Edinburgh Comedy Award and double BAFTA-nominated professional idiot, Spencer Jones, is back with a very silly story about the wrong kind of quiet, how to tell if you’ve become a lonely monster, and a vicious, vicious feud... with a chicken.

Making Friends delves into his move and its reverberations, and explores what happens when we lose our connection to our social supports. He takes us on a trip through the humour/agony of the neighbourly relationship, his worries about being a decent dad, and how not to scare off potential new Devon-based mates like an overeager teenager on a first date.

Spencer is the star of Mr Winner (BBC One) and The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk (BBC Two), the creator of Deep Fake Neighbours (ITV), and can been seen in Ted Lasso, Upstart Crow, and Live at the Apollo (BBC).

Read a review of the Making Friends here - contains small spoilers.

What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and check for spinach between your teeth)

I slap both cheeks, five times hard. (my face cheeks) and then realise I’ve done it too hard (again) and walk onstage feeling like Mum has just told me off in the year 1982.

What irritates you?

The amount of time it’s taking me to adjust to the slightly larger turning circle on my Honda Civic, compared to that of the VW Golf I owned for ten years. I used to be a legend in the car park. I drove like an otter in a river. Now I’m just another bloke clogging up the arteries of traffic flow. It’s just hideous.

What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Robbed a pub.

Set fire to a hornet’s nest.

Chucked bog roll water bombs at a gang of bikers.

Impregnated a human woman.

What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

1992-2008 is a decent wedge of time to choose from. So, I’ll go for putting a dress on and electrocuting myself whilst perched on a mantelpiece on purpose to freak out some heroin addict gatecrashers so they would leave a house party. It worked. I was such a legend that night. But all the lightbulbs and bog roll got stolen.

What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

How long I have been doing it. And getting away with it.

What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

I get the feeling they don’t give a fuck about it. If I start to tell them about what I have been up to, and how my days was, their little eyes glaze over and I know they really don’t care and just want to play Fortnite or Minecraft or whatever it is these days. But that’s parents! The kids like it. They’ve seen some decent stand up from a young age. It’s a good education.

What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

When people ask what you do for a living.

I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Crikey Bruce that’s a big one to address mate. Flawed, probably. Same as everyone else. Doing my best but could do better. MUST DO BETTER.

How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

Last year I earned 32.6 billion pounds from a monthly podcast. That’s too much money, next year hopefully the Patreon will start to drop off and I can get back to having a 13 grand overdraft and a lingering tax bill.

How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Loads of lucky breaks. Every great person I met early on has been a lucky break, or a lucky mini break. I like mini breaks. If you have enough of them it adds up to a holiday apparently. Did you know a sneeze is an eighth of an orgasm? I was told that in the 90’s and never checked it. And I’m two sneezes in a row max person.

Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?

I feel tortured so I am going for tortured.

Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

My sock and pant drawer is carnage. I’ve got other things to worry about. Don’t get me wrong it’s nice when it’s ordered and neat, but who cares. They are on your sweaty feet all day, and the other is next door neighbour to your arse. Good luck with the girlfriend.

Sad news for fans of quality comedy. Read tributes to Dame Penelope Keith here. And also sad news for Scottish comedy and stand-up comedy in general. Paul Sneddon, best known for his characters Vladimir McTavish and Bob Doolally has died. Read some of the many tributes here.

You know how you've played that party game-slash-thought experiment, would you rather? Comedian Richard Herring has even put a particular poser to interviewees on his podcast - would you rather have a hand made of ham or an armpit that dispenses sun cream? Prime has now made a TV show out of the idea. Sadly – for Richard – they've hired Romesh Ranganathan to host it and there are no ham hands or suncream armpits, but it's still pretty enjoyable. Read a review here.

Love the sitcom Ghosts and missing it? There’a film out soon but also the BBC has acquired Ghosts Australia, adapted from the critically acclaimed British series. Look out for it on your screens later this year. More here.

Beyond the Joke went to the theatre this week to catch absurdist satire Archduke at the Royal Court. Yes that’s Marc Wooton in the picture. Read our review here. Picture by Helen Murray.

Hands up who saw the great documentary about Rik Mayall on Sky? And if not why not? Here’s a review - hunt it down on catch-up.

And following the first leg of his King Of Crumbs tour earlier this year, Alasdair Beckett-King has added shows in Autumn 2026.

Alasdair is the crumbliest comedian in the game: he is a multi-award-winning stand-up comic, author, (occasionally) an internet sensation and has made viewers laugh on Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Dates here.

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You really should know Tim Key by now. He was in the very first, very excellent episode of Inside No 9 (update, and also the last), he plays Sidekick Simon in various Alan Partridge projects and has been known to appear onstage with Daniel Kitson. And that’s just for starters. He was also in Art at the Old Vic and Taskmaster to name two more of his various projects. His live shows are always special events. One involved a bath onstage.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

Final checks. Make sure I have what I need. 1. My poems, one in top blouse pocket, the rest in right trouser pocket. 2. Two cans of Kronenburg in tatty black carrier bag. 3. My tie, pink, stiff from beer; in with the Kroneys. All of these things are vital. They are my spear, my shield, my helmet.

2. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I did the play Art this year and that felt a bit spicy. I had to do a speech that was about twenty-five minutes long and that killed me. You don’t want to look like a plum and there were moments when I felt like I was running the risk. Other than that I climbed Snowdon a few years ago and accidentally chose the route where people sometimes have problems. I had some problems and didn’t like it.

3. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Got off a train to make a phone call, train pulled away. That sort of thing? Everything was on that train, wallet, tickets, laptop, huge case of clothes, costume, headband, the lot. Slowly chugging out of Edinburgh Waverly. Fortunately your friend and mine Nishant Kumar was on the train and took custody of my shit. He waited at Kings Cross patiently until I had put my life back together and ushered myself onto the next train (thanks to a stern but ultimately kind Scottish guard). I owe Nishant for the 45 minutes he spent with two comedians’ luggage.

4. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

How durable comedians are. It is tricky (I think) and yet we all keep plugging away.

5. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

My parents find it absolutely fine these days. My twenties were the tricky part for them, watching me sailing rudderlessly into oblivion. These days they can bring Bridget and Alan down to London and try and meet Rufus Sewell. I think my mum sometimes worries when I’m “writing” or not doing as well as “Mark Watson”. They have mixed feelings when I talk about them on stage I imagine. But mainly they get on with it. It must be weird.

6. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

Oh you know, when you feel it’s on the verge stopping working and deserting you and everything’s going to evaporate and you’re not a comedian any more. I always think when that happens I’m going to look back and wonder how any of it ever worked in the first place.

7. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Thank you Bruce. I think I’m good at some of the things I do. I think I’m lucky to have a turn of phrase, and lucky to have fallen into a lot of talented people’s arms and clung onto them for dear life. I’m lucky that any crippling lack of belief I might have is sometimes counteracted by some kind of self-confidence, and I can’t work out where it came from. I’m also lucky to have an audience and that helps you build up some reserves of faith in yourself, certainly on stage.

8. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

This is a very nice question. I asked my brother this on the train home on Saturday and he wouldn’t answer me and said it was none of my beeswax. I told him you’d asked me and he said that was weird, too. I don’t mind it though Bruce. I earn more than I should, given my skillset. I am a very talented voiceover artist, which subsidises financial shortcoming elsewhere. I’d hate to earn more than this, as it is I bought a belt-hole punch tool to make extra holes in belts last week. I guess that means I have too much money.

9. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

Very important, but also not at all important. I mean it’s nice to have a bit of luck, but you don’t want to be lucky at the wrong time. I could have got a lucky break in my twenties and been financially secure and working a lot, but that would have meant I wouldn’t have been broke and driving around in Alex Horne’s car for five years or tried doing poetry or made a short film in a maze. Nothing should come for free. I’d have dropped Horne like a stone if I’d got a lucky break at 27. Glad I didn’t.

10. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?

Probably a third category. I’m fortunate that I’ve got a big lump of “tortured artist” to fall back on. But amongst that there have definitely been chinks of light. For example recently I went to Wahacas with friends which I guess is “getting on with life”.

11. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

If it’s someone I don’t know then Daniil Kharms. He’s a Russian avant-garde hound from the 1930’s and other nearby decades. His stuff is bananas and very addictive. I was lucky enough to make a radio documentary about him last year, it was heart-breaking and very emotional, which sounds ridiculous but actually was true. His collected poetry, letters, notebooks and everything pretty much floored me. I also Love Julia Louis-Dreyfus, PG Wodehouse and David Shrigley.

12. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).

It’s drawer by drawer. I have one which has a play by Daniel Kitson and some pyjamas in it. That’s quite neat. Another one has wires, it’s not neat but it is just wires. There’s one with things like snow globes and highlighter pens and letters I haven’t sent in it. I think that’s a manifestation of a different part of my brain. My cleaner always puts the sieve in the draw with the baking stuff. I prefer to hang it with the pans. God knows how that’s going to end.