'Real' Common As Muck binman dies

Writer William 'Billy' Ivory has paid tribute to a binman who inspired his breakthrough TV comedy drama Common As Muck.
Malcolm Greaves, who has died aged 75, worked with Ivory when they were both binmen in Nottinghamshire.
Mr Greaves inspired two characters in the programme, who were played by actors Edward Woodward and Tim Healy.

Leytonstone comedian Nigel Lovell has the worst show

Leytonstone comedian Nigel Lovell only started on the comedy scene six years ago but has spent the past four years hosting his own shows, one of which is Worst Show On The Fringe, which has featured various comedians who all have had one-star reviews to their names.

Gervais: Why David Brent uses the 'N word' in new film

Ricky Gervais has explained this reason for his character David Brent's use of the 'N word' in new film David Brent: Life on the Road. The actor and comedian said Brent was not racist, but was "accidently offensive because he wants to please everyone". Gervais spoke to 5 live's Sam Walker along with his co-star Doc Brown who said he "didn't feel uncomfortable" but understood use of the word was "always going to rub someone up the wrong way".

Interview: Phil Dunning - The People's Prince

Phil Dunning interview.

Interview: Rory O'Hanlon - You Are Where You Need To Be

Rory O'Hanlon interview.

Interview: Gideon Irvine

Gideon Irvine interview.

Interview: Steen Raskopoulos - You Know The Drill

Steen Raskopoulos interview.

Interview: Beach Comet

Beach Comet interview.

Interview: Jinx Yeo - A+ Underachiever

Jinx Yeo interview.

Nick Cody picks his perfect playlist

I flew from Australia to New York just to watch Patrice O'Neal.

City of Dreams (possibly Kafka's)

I live in the greatest place on earth, says Derwent Cyzinski. But the way it's run is often like an absurd black comedy.

"Don't Hang Around With Twats. Or Friends."

Festi-flacid? Fringe-frazzled? We talk to Isy Suttie - comedian, singer, actress, author and Dobby from Peep Show - about her lowest (and funniest) Fringe moments.

Me and my flying toilet

You might think it's a difficult life being a press critic. You have to wear a lanyard. You have to spend literally minutes typing up your reports every evening. You have to look at yourself in the mirror. But you may not know that the job also involves flying over Edinburgh on a magical toilet, happily crapping on people's dreams! Fringepig has spoken to three top critics about the state-of-the-art critical conveniences that help them deliver lofty, messy judgment on the Fringe.

Circuit Bunny: success is relative

Everyone's favourite stuffed open spot takes a friend to the Fringe...

The Comedians, 2

Cartoon by Christian Talbot and Robbie Bonham.

Des Bishop interview (Link expired)

Irish-American comedian Des Bishop visited us in our wonderful WOW Wagon.

Randy Feltface visits his favourite Edinburgh book shop (Link expired)

Randy Feltface isn't just any ordinary puppet - he's writing a novel.

+3 interview: Barbarians

"I'm a battle-scarred veteran."

Mark Thomas wins his third Fringe First

Mark Thomas has won a coveted Fringe First award for his Edinburgh show about his early stand-up career and political awakening.

5 things I've learnt from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The brilliantly witty Viv Groskop on her top tips for surviving Edinburgh Fringe Festival...

Why the riskiest TV comes straight from the stage

Screenwriters often find themselves in a straitjacket - but comedy shows written for the theatre have free rein to be as foul-mouthed and foul-minded as they like. The world needs more of it.

Chris Ramsey interview

From Billy Connolly to Shaun Of The Dead, the comedian reveals the things that make him laugh the most.

Why whiteness is stand-up comedy's new racial frontier

Where comedians once made the most of minority experiences, Fin Taylor, Brendon Burns and Peter White are three performers on this year's fringe digging into white privilege.

Sofie Hagan answers Punchline's burning questions

Sofie Hagan interview.

Felicity Ward answers Punchline's burning questions

Felicity Ward interview.

Interview: Yeti's Demon Dive Bar

Yeti's interview.

Interview: Doug Segal - I Can Make You Feel Good

Doug Segal interview.

Interview: The Improvised Musical

The Improvised Musical interview.

Interview: Paper Hearts

Paper Hearts interview.

Interview: JoJo Bellini - Kitchen Cabaret

JoJo Bellini interview.

Rory O'Keeffe: the post-Brexit grief of a monoglot

Rory O'Keeffe may be a monoglot, but he's also a proud European, not to mention a resident of cosmopolitan Islington North, local MP one Jeremy Corbyn. As he arrived in Edinburgh, we provided Rory with a pen and notepad so he could pour out his post-Brexit grief.

Three to see on 20 Aug

Three to see at the Edinburgh Festival tomorrow...

zazU: Punning in a parallel universe

We first heard about the comedy theatre troupe that go by the name of zazU back in 2014, when they delighted our reviewer with their "parallel universe sketch show". They've gone from strength to strength since then, honing their style, and returning with two puntastically titled shows: A Fête Worse Than Death last year, and Raisins To Stay Alive this time round, both set in their self created land of zazU.

Fringe Q&As: Sirqus Alfon

Sirqus Alfon talks about his new show I Am Somebody.

Fringe Q&As: Doug Segal

Doug Segal talks about his new show I Can Make You Feel Good.

Fringe Q&As: The Blind Date Project

Bojana Novakovic talks about The Blind Date Project.

Fringe Q&As: Daphne

Daphne talks about their Second Show.

Fringe Q&As: Ali Roberts

Ali Roberts talks about her new show, ANGLICHANKA.

Reviewer review: Will Young (Fest)

The problem with Will Young - and it's not a terminal problem - is his apparent need to assault everything he looks at.

BBC3 comedy Fleabag is delightfully daring

If you find jokes about anal sex and wanking to Barack Obama funny, BBC comedy Fleabag is for you. Based on actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge's solo Edinburgh fringe show about a sex-obsessed young woman whose life is going nowhere, the BBC Three series has been rising the ranks on iPlayer since June.

How London's sex comedies saved British cinema

The saucy Carry On films, popular since the late 1950s, must have also given filmmakers ideas. But these films only took it so far, with nakedness more implied than seen -- even in the famous scene where Barbara Windsor's bikini top catapults away from her breasts. And so came the low-budget, bizarrely plotted, early 1970s sex comedy.

Fringe: Five new acts to see this weekend