Jeremy corbyn yanis varoufakis edinburgh

Mr Gove, whom supporters who publicly announced his candidacy this morning, told a private dinner of MPs last week that while Boris Johnson was the main face of the Vote Leave campaign, he was entrusted with some of the highest pressure television debates which would also feature in a general election. … [Read more...] about Michael Gove: Back me for Tory leader to beat Jeremy Corbyn and deliver Brexit

Now, you may disagree: apparently 70% of the UK thinks that the monarchy is a good thing. But you’d think comedians, and lovers of comedy, would be disproportionately represented in the remaining 30%, wouldn’t you? Isn’t it (at least in theory) a dissenting art form, on the side of the little people, against unthinking privilege and unaccountable power? Isn’t it – as the rightwing press, and Andrew Lawrence, are forever telling us – entirely dominated by strident leftwing voices? If so, where is the counterpoint to the orgy of royalism now unfolding? Yes, there are Corbynista standups, and the “celebrate your grovelling servitude to the Queen” sketch on The Revolution Will Be Televised (four years ago now) leaps to mind. But there’s been nothing concentrated on the republican cause. … [Read more...] about Not heard the one about the Queen: why don’t comedians criticise the monarchy?

Aisling Bea won last year's So You Think You're Funny?, a prize for new comedians that boasts a list of past winners including Peter Kay and Lee Mack. On the strength of her debut Edinburgh hour, Bea is at home in that company. You won't see many more assured newcomer sets than this hugely endearing and accomplished introduction to the 29-year-old Irishwoman abroad. Bea hurls herself at the opportunity, overstuffing the show with autobiography, audience participation, a babble of competing voices and not-so-virtuoso displays of her "talents". She's working hard for our entertainment, and the effort isn't in vain. … [Read more...] about Aisling Bea – Edinburgh festival 2013 review

Pierre Nouvellie Is Mighty Peter Here are a couple of peculiar rules about the Edinburgh fringe show. There will be a show by the Cambridge Footlights, and it won’t be very good. But as soon as those guys graduate, things get much more interesting. Two promising ex-Footlighters make their solo bows this year, aiming to emulate the success of Fry and Laurie, Mitchell and Webb, and Inbetweeners Simon Bird and Joe Thomas. Jonny Lennard’s Tale Blazer sees him taking on the guise of a children’s author, writing disturbing bedtime stories for six year-olds, while Pierre Novellie offers an hour of observational stand-up, hinting at the dawn of a major talent. A curious mixture, born in South Africa and living on the Isle of Man, he draws on the oddities of both as a source for gags. … [Read more...] about Edinburgh comedy special

And there are countless killer one-liners. When Caroline visits a spiritualist, "the first thing I noticed is, she's not a medium, she's fucking huge." Invective is a speciality: "They say you are what you eat, in which case Wendy, at some point, ate a speccy Welsh Nazi." It may feel more like a showcase than a show, but when you have talents this prodigious, why not flaunt them? … [Read more...] about Kopfrapers Syndrome