What happens to comedy when British politics becomes a joke?

When audiences do want something sharp, they want it to confirm prejudices.

Clive Myrie pulled from BBC News At Ten over Boris Johnson jokes

Clive Myrie was pulled from the BBC's News At Ten last Friday over fears of an anti-Tory bias because an episode of Have I Got News For You featuring him as the host was being shown that evening.

It's not offensive to call Boris Johnson a c***, BBC watchdog rules

The BBC watchdog has rejected complaints that the Have I Got News For You special bidding farewell to Boris Johnson was biased against him.

New claims of BBC anti-Tory bias as Jack Dee makes c-word jibe against Boris Johnson

Have I Got News For You was accused of broadcasting a torrent of 'spiteful and crass insults' as it dedicated Friday night's episode to Mr Johnson. In one shocking moment, host Jack Dee quoted a newspaper article that referred to the departing Prime Minister as a 'cosmic ****' - a moment greeted by gales of laughter in the studio. Panellists also suggested that Mr Johnson had taken cocaine.

Fringe: Satirists bid farewell to Boris Johnson

In 2019, Boris Johnson had just become prime minister and didn't feature much in comedy routines at the Edinburgh Fringe. The 2022 festival is coming to a close in the week when Mr Johnson's turbulent time in office is also ending. So what do the satirists have to say about him? And will they miss him?

After scabrous comedian Jerry Sadowitz has had his Edinburgh Fringe shows cancelled by the Pleasance venue for featuring precisely the sort of content he has been performing for at least four decades, the Times wheeled out several big guns to defend the right to offend.

"The fear of upsetting people is the road to self-censorship, not self-improvement; the erection of new taboos a fresh means of hiding the truth," agonised Alex Massie. "It is depressing to appreciate that so many people are incapable of distinguishing between speech they do not like themselves and speech so dangerous it must be suppressed."

James Marriott pointed out: "An honest defence of free speech acknowledges that it inflicts pain on vulnerable people, disperses power unequally and has no scientifically identifiable principles - but that it is precious nonetheless."

And Sarah Ditum got straight to the point: "The galliest thing of all, the gall mother lode, is the Pleasance's claim to 'champion freedom of speech'. Now there's some faux liberal pish for you."

Fine words all - but somewhat pishy coming from a newspaper which, only two months earlier, deleted a news article about Boris Johnson pushing for his then mistress Carrie Symonds to be given a job at the Foreign Office because it offended not the general public or even its readers' sensibilities but those of Carrie herself, whose "people" intervened with representatives of News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks to complain about its appearance in the first edition of 18 June.

Despite a deluge of correspondence, complaints and even subscription cancellations from readers about the truth-hiding and self-censorship, the Times has declined to explain its actions, or to print a single further word about the matter. And unlike Sadowitz's act, the Times story didn't include the filthy bits (but we did - see Eye 1576).

Watchdog clears Channel 4 over Frankie Boyle's Last Leg gag about Boris Johnson

Boyle's comments lead to 11 complaints.

Edinburgh fringe split on politics in satire

As this year's festival opens, Boris Johnson is a popular target of comedians while others prefer a lighter touch in these turbulent times.

Boris Johnson's downfall proves fruitful for Edinburgh Fringes comedians

Comedians performing at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival draw inspiration from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's downfall, and the ensuing turmoil in the Conservative Party.