NewsRevue, the satirical sketch show, is back for its 35th year to poke fun at all things topical. The show has won multiple awards over the years, including the Guinness World Record for Longest Running Live Comedy Show.

Emma Taylor (centre of the picture) has been the producer on the show for over a decade now. We thought we'd ask her a few questions about the show's heritage...

Hi Emma. Could we start off by asking you to explain what NewsRevue is, and how you fit into the production.

NewsRevue is a satirical, topical song and sketch show, comprising around 40 items per show in a turbo-charged hour of non-stop comedy.

I have been producing the show in London and Edinburgh since 2001. I fell in love with NewsRevue 14 years ago and now it's just part of my life. I love the whole process from re-casting every 6 weeks and working on getting the right running order with new directors to seeing how each company develops from their first to their last night.

Throughout the year I keep a close eye on who has the potential to be shortlisted to audition for the Edinburgh show which is a highlight for many aspiring comedy performers. I also monitor our stand-out material keeping note of what will hopefully stand the test of time in preparation for the Edinburgh show.

The show has been going for 35 years now. What is the secret to its longevity?

Professor Michael Hodd came up with the brilliant concept of doing a news-based comedy show 35 years ago - its world premiere being the 18th August 1979, actually in Edinburgh.

Since then thousands of performers, writers and creatives have combined to make it what it is today. I think the real secret to its longevity is that it is constantly being re-invented with new teams who are all urged to make each and every show the best it can be. We never rest on our laurels.

In preparation for this year's Edinburgh season not one single preview in London or Edinburgh was the same. We are all constantly working to make sure each and every piece of material earns its place in the show and that every gag lands. A longer pause here or a snap to a black out there instead of a fade can make all the difference - it's by looking at the minutiae as well as the bigger picture that we perfect the show.

Also everyone is made to feel part of a reasonably well functioning family under the NewsRevue and the Canal Cafe Theatre umbrella. Furthermore, they are encouraged to form new comedy partnerships and sketch groups with each other if they want to pursue a career in comedy.

A very small sample of sketch groups where some or all of whom have a NewsRevue background and/or met on the show include: The League of Gentlemen, Idiots of Ants, Four Screws Loose and more recently Zazu, here at this year's festival. I have lost track of the amount of times I've heard company members say it's the best job they've ever had. As a producer, that's very heartening and no doubt also adds to the show's overall longevity.

So how is the show cast?

Potential cast members apply via Spotlight, Casting Call Pro, agents or by actors who have been in the show contacting me directly with recommendations. Just yesterday Gemma Whelan (NewsRevue Edinburgh 2005, Game of Thrones) recommended a very promising actress.

People who have been in the show know exactly what is required and I'm always very grateful for personal recommendations. It doesn't always mean they'll get the job but if their CV/showreel look promising it should earn them an audition. We get as many as 300 applicants every time we re-cast but only shortlist around 20 to audition.

The NewsRevue audition has become legendary - would be NewsRevuers are put through their paces and by no means do even some of our best ever cast members get through on their first casting. They are asked to sing an entertaining song acapella, they are given a piece of text and asked to read it whilst we go through all the accents on their CV (so it's really not a good idea to lie about what accents you can really deliver), then we'll ask them to impersonate people in the public eye, e.g David Cameron - when an actor asks: "who's that?" you know they're not right for the job. You'd be surprised how often some actors don't know who their PM is.

We then go onto to do some improvisation and finally have a chat with them to find out their comedy influences and how good they are at learning lines in a very short space of time.

Will Mulvey in the current Edinburgh show did a phenomenal audition. His song was simply stunning - it helps that he has a rare and incredible falsetto and impeccable comic timing.

When we ask for people to impersonate politicians and celebs we don't necessarily expect dead-ringers, rather a convincing ability to convey the essence of the character, but from time to time we get actors who are, in addition to possessing a host of other skills, are also great impressionists. This is the case with Matt Lee-Steer whose Michael McIntyre impression is the worth the ticket price alone.

Alice Marshall has an absolute gift for comedy and is also a superb impersonator - her Cheryl Cole impression is uncanny, it's so much more than simply doing a good Geordie accent.

Mimi Edwards has an exquisite singing voice and the bravery to make some very subtle choices in her comedic style, knowing that she can bring the house down simply with a perfectly timed raise of the eyebrows.

In addition to their individual strengths they work incredibly as well as a team. Having such an abundance of on-stage talent is pointless unless you have an equally gifted and talented director to assemble all the parts and who knows how to make sure everyone plays to their strengths. This year we have been extremely fortunate in securing Chris Jefferies as director. The same needs to be said for our maestro on-stage musical director Michael Riley and the wonderful Pete Smith of the Royal Academy of Music, who has been our musical supervisor for the last 13 years.

A number of the past performers have gone on to be big stars - Rory Bremner, Reece Shearsmith, Alistair McGowan and Bill Bailey to name just four. Can you spot when someone is likely to go on to become a huge star?

Absolutely! They are the ones who have equal parts talent, dedication, drive, good manners and are far more focussed on doing a great job than winning awards or 'making it' but those things naturally follow sooner or later. I know lots of people who 'took 10 years to become an overnight success.' A lot of people I first cast when they were just starting out had another quality in common - they often had no idea just how funny they were. Back in 2001 Bridget Christie was one of the first people I ever cast. Her audition was so funny and entertaining I can still remember what she was wearing.

The show is written by a team. Quite a few people would like to start writing comedy... can you give them any tips?

Our writers are our backbone and we are always looking for new people to write for us. If you want to write for NewsRevue it's always best to come and see the show to see how it works and whether you have a particular talent for writing song parodies or sketches or gags and witty voice-overs, or all three.

At any stage in your writing career it's never a good idea to be too precious about your material and to be prepared to re-write and refine, sometimes seemingly ad infinitum. If you are a writer/performer you just have to get out on the circuit and do it and keep doing it, you'll soon see what works and what doesn't and ultimately if that's the sort of life style you want to lead.

When you're starting out it can be advisable to work with a writing partner or team. I often see sketches that have a really good idea and are funny throughout but then have no end gag. Writing with other people means you can pool together your ideas. Some of our best ever writers work in pairs - James Harris and Marc Blakewill being a prime example.

What are the main themes of this year's show?

Putin, Pistorious, Rolf Harris and Farage have given us plenty of ammunition to name but four. Will Mulvey's version of Nick Clegg this year is a particular winner and somehow Margaret Thatcher always makes it into the show. We like to close on one of the biggest stories of the year, last year it was Thatcher's death, the year before it was the Olympics and this year it just had to be Scottish Independence.

Is there anything you've tried to satirise but couldn't, either on taste, humour or practicality reasons?

In theory there is no story we would shy away from as long as we can find the right angle to make sure the target is right. Sometimes that's not always possible. In this year's show, for example, we are not covering the Gaza/Israel situation other than a short voice over at the top of the show.

In 2010 we had a song called Israeli Men to the tune of It's Raining Men written by one of my favourite stand-ups Andrew Doyle. This was considered highly controversial, and at the same time a real crowd-pleaser. We did consider putting it back in the show this year, but although the lyrics are still sadly relevant, the timing didn't feel right and from a practical point of view I don't like us to repeat material that's been used before in Edinburgh.

If you had to guess what would be in next year's show, what do you think the main topics might be? Same stuff, or maybe an alien invasion?

The General Elections in May 2015 will no doubt give us plenty of material and there will inevitably be a host of celebrities or politicians fucking up, or who get exposed, which means we will always stay in business. Personally, I'd relish an alien invasion.

NewsRevue is at the Pleasance Courtyard at 6:30pm until the 25th. Listing

After the festival it returns to The Canal Café Theatre in London. For details see www.newsrevue.com