British Comedy Guide
Love British Comedy Guide? Support our work by making a donation. Find out more
Alexei Sayle
Alexei Sayle

Alexei Sayle

  • 72 years old
  • English
  • Actor, writer, stand-up comedian and producer

Press clippings Page 3

Alexei Sayle on trying to break America

They have the image of sweet old ladies, but The Golden Girls were thoroughly 'unpleasant' to Alexei Sayle when he tried to break America, so he says on his appearance on Desert Island Discs this morning.

Chortle, 23rd May 2021

MP urges BBC to pull Alexei Sayle's Desert Island Discs

Matthew Offord, the Conservative MP for Hendon, wrote to the broadcaster's director general, saying he should 'be wary of giving a platform to anyone who is seen to be excusing antisemitism'

Lee Harpin, Jewish News Online, 19th May 2021

Comedians are turning to podcasts to show off

Comics have been left without an audience for their witty anecdotes writes Robin Ince. Won't someone please think of the show-offs.

Robin Ince, The Big Issue, 13th March 2021

Alexei Sayle to record two more Radio 4 series

Alexei Sayle is returning to Radio 4, with his Imaginary Sandwich Bar stand-up-sketch show and the adaptation of his comic stories, The Absence Of Normal.

British Comedy Guide, 6th January 2021

The 10 funniest comedy shows of 2020

There wasn't a lot to laugh about as venues closed and gigs were cancelled. But stand-ups still delivered silly, edgy and heartfelt gags. Our critic picks his favourite new material.

Brian Logan, The Guardian, 21st December 2020

UK Pun Championship 2021 line-up announced

The contestants have been revealed for the 2021 UK Pun Championship. Also, the finalists for Silver Stand Up Competition have been announced.

British Comedy Guide, 18th December 2020

Alexei Sayle to narrate upcoming book from James Felton

Alexei Sayle has been chosen to narrate political commentator James Felton's new book, Sunburn, with Little, Brown. The book, out 8th October, tracks the Sun newspaper's evolution since it became a tabloid in 1969 in a bid to answer the question: "Does media reflect-or manipulate-who we are?"

Katherine Cowdrey, The Bookseller, 22nd September 2020

Stunning portraits of stellar stand-ups

From Ken Dodd and his tickling stick to Nina Conti and her monkey, Guardian photographer Tristram Kenton has snapped a host of superb comedians on stage.

Tristram Kenton, The Guardian, 9th September 2020

Modern comedy might not appeal, but joke's not over yet

Glumness settles on a large part of the nation whenever the subject of comedy comes up now. The lockdown has led to a more frenetic search for entertainment, and the current state of humour hasn't wanted for critics. This week, Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, 80, said it was dire, and listed several comedians, adding: "They should be done under the Trade Description Act." I sympathised with his assessment, while also feeling there were a few comedians today who are as fine as any of previous generations.

Robert McNeil, The Herald, 9th May 2020

Alexei Sayle review - serrated yet genial comeback

Who is this old Liverpudlian gent with the white goatee, one moment raging with four-letter finesse against Tories and the mainstream media, the next doing milder material about cruise holidays and daytime television?

Dominic Maxwell, The Times, 11th March 2020

Share this page