Press clippings

Tommy Cooper's fez fetches £7k

The hat is believed to be the last one owned by the comedian and was sold by Cooper impersonator Clive Greenaway.

• Tommy Cooper

Stewart Lee: If you're reading this column, Elon Musk has messed up

Social media is lurching to the right like a tapeworm scenting offal - and X's algorithms make it hard to find opposing opinion.

• Stewart Lee

Paul Sinha has best response to Donald Trump's booze tariff

"To be fair, that is technically a sparkling whine."

• Paul Sinha
• Donald Trump

Jimmy Carr on his love of cosmetic surgery: "I'm like the Forth Bridge. The work never stops"

The controversial stand-up got rich making provocative jokes (and powerful enemies). But what's the secret of his straight face?

• Jimmy Carr

Jasper Carrott at 80 - still loving comedy

As Jasper Carrott celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday, the Birmingham comedian admits comedy is hard work but he still enjoys entertaining crowds.

• Jasper Carrott

Russell Brand sued for £220,000 for failing to write two books

Russell Brand is being sued for £220,000 for failing to write two self-help books in a deal that was scrapped after the sex-abuse allegations that ended his Hollywood career.

• Russell Brand

Daisy May Cooper on weight loss, hapiness and her sex life

"I've cut my dress size from 24 to 10 WITHOUT Ozempic by going on a radical diet and changing one medication. My sex life is now great - and I'm happier than ever."

• Daisy May Cooper

The BBC is going country crazy this year as Rob Brydon embarks on an epic road trip

The BBC is shining a light on country music this year across radio, TV and digital with a feast of programmes and specials. Highlights for 2025 include BBC Two series Rob Brydon's Honky Tonk Road Trip (W/T) (3 x 60m), which will see Rob journey around America's southern states to discover country music's origins and what led to its recent global explosion.

• Rob Brydon

Kevin Bishop reveals he's split from 'drinking buddy' wife of 22 years after beating alcoholism

Kevin Bishop has bravely revealed he's an alcoholic. The funnyman has been off the booze for six years after his drinking got out of control. The actor split from his wife Casta, the mother of his two children, shortly after he got sober. And he admits his ex-partner hindered his first bid to kick the booze, telling We're Not Getting Any Younger podcast: "I managed to do five years of complete sobriety, and I loved my life, and then my wife missed her drinking buddy and encouraged me to drink again, she said I wasn't an alcoholic. Then within 21 months everything fell apart."

• Kevin Bishop (I)

My Perfect Podcast: John Robins

In this column, we ask a pod person about the 'casts that mean a lot to them. This month, it's John Robins, the Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning stand-up who co-hosts How Do You Cope? alongside Elis James, a podcast where they chat to guests about the major challenges they've faced in life.

• John Robins (I)

Goodnight Sweetheart 'could become a play'

Goodnight Sweetheart co-creator Maurice Gran says he is working on a stage play based on the hit 1990s time-travel comedy.

• Goodnight Sweetheart
• Maurice Gran

Am I Being Unreasonable? Episode 6 review

In all my many years of TV reviewing I'm not sure if something so eagerly anticipated has ever turned out to be so disappointing. After the sheer brilliance of the first series which had me on the edge of my seat alternately laughing and watching through my fingers, this second series has simply confused me.

• Am I Being Unreasonable?

Amandaland Episode 6 review

For those that thought Lucy Punch's character was too thinly drawn or too unsympathetic I hope you've eaten your words.

• Amandaland

Bill Bailey on life with his two dogs and four cockatoos

The comedian has shared his home with a whole menagerie, from mischievous chickens to a ninja-kicking rabbit.

• Bill Bailey (I)

'I was lucky to be Sir Terry Pratchett's agent'

Ten years ago, Sir Terry Pratchett died aged 66, eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His friend and lifelong agent Colin Smythe recalls his memories of the renowned fantasy author.

• Terry Pratchett

British comedy is one of our best exports - so why are we letting it die?

We should be ploughing public money into comedy in the same way we do dance, or art, or theatre.

Paddy McGuinness on holidays with Peter Kay

"I stole everything!" Paddy McGuinness has spoken about holidays with Peter Kay and a crippling travel fear that sent him to The Priory.

• Peter Kay
• Paddy McGuinness

Stephen Fry says his great intelligence is down to one surprising thing

Stephen Fry says his intelligence is not down to any great skill but just having a "sticky memory".

• Stephen Fry

Jessie Cave reveals she's launching an OnlyFans account

Harry Potter star Jessie Cave has announced she is launching her own OnlyFans - complete with its own unique selling point.

The actress and comedian, 37, shot to fame in the Harry Potter film series as Lavender Brown, the eccentric love interest of Ron Weasley.

• Jessie Cave

I talk to Ola Labib

"It's really refreshing to finally have not just my work as a comedian, but 13 years of my working life, turned into a workplace sitcom."

• The Pharmacy
• Ola Labib

Channel 4 ditches Generation Z

Generation Z will NOT return for a second series. An insider told me: "Channel 4 decided to put this one on the shelf, and there are no plans to bring it back."

• Generation Z

Marching Powder review

Coke-fuelled comedy doesn't pull its punches.

• Marching Powder

Stewart Lee: Trump has microwaved my Cornetto of hope

The gadfly-minded abuser has openly threatened Greenland, Ukraine and Europe. He, and America, are the enemy now.

• Stewart Lee

Sara Pascoe: The moment I knew

"He did silly struts around the dancefloor. I'd never felt so at ease." Sara Pascoe was so comfortable in Steen Raskopoulos' presence, she almost didn't notice she was falling in love.

• Sara Pascoe
• Steen Raskopoulos

Marching Powder review

Writer-director Nick Love's film Marching Powder, about a very different brand of working-class Londoner, is no kind of treat. That is, unless you savour multiple use of the C-word, in which dubious accomplishment it surely sets some kind of record.

• Marching Powder

University acquires Eric Morecambe's joke books

The books, featuring jokes, one-liners and ideas for sketches for the hit Morecambe and Wise TV show, have now been archived by the University of York.

• Eric Morecambe

Katherine Ryan: 'It's always disarming for people that I just say what I think'

The Irish-Canadian comedian on openness and emigration, expanding her family and why being the only one with a microphone is 'a very alpha role'.

• At Home With Katherine Ryan
• Katherine Ryan

Can Elis James find a link to any Welsh person in 60 seconds?

It is the most natural thing in the world to look for common ground with someone you have just met. But every week, BBC presenter and comedian Elis James goes one step further by testing the stereotype that people from Wales, a country of more than three million people, somehow all know each other.

• Elis James

Bill Dare obituary

Comedy producer behind many popular satire shows, notably Spitting Image, The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Dead Ringers.

• Bill Dare

Bob Mortimer trends on Twitter/X before WILTY appearance even airs

Bob Mortimer has been trending on social media following the reminder by David Mitchell that he is making an eagerly anticipated appearance on this week's edition of Would I Lie To You?.

• Would I Lie To You?
• Bob Mortimer