British comedians return to Melbourne International Comedy Festival

British comedians are to return to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time in three years after Australia relaxed its Covid rules.

Jeff Green's life saved by his mum

Comedian Jeff Green has spoken about how his mother saved his life when she became concened about a mole on his back.

Review: Valentine's comedy at the Ent Shed

Reviews of Luisa Omielan, Jeff Green, Paul Reville and Harry Stachini.

Why do some comics make it big and not others?

There are all sorts of comedians I thought would make it but for some reason or other didn't. I tipped Marc Wootton for stardom in the Evening Standard so often it started to become embarrassing. People probably thought we must be related. I also think Boothby Graffoe could have been a mainstream star. Even Addy Van Der Borgh could have been a Saturday night shiny-floored clown. But for some reason none of these people made it as big as I expected. There is still time I guess. Maybe not enough time to get to the O2 this Friday, but there is always next year.

Michael McIntyre is uproariously funny. He is also very nice. That he manages to be both simultaneously is testament to his talent. Tonight, his touring stand-up show is recorded in Belfast. Patrick Kielty, a local, is the "headline act". Fellow comedians Neil Delamere, Jeff Green and Kerry Godliman also take turns.

Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow arrives in Belfast, where he introduces the comedians Jeff Green, Neil Delamere and Kerry Godliman. But the biggest welcome of all was saved for local boy Patrick Kielty, who begins his act by talking about the return of sectarian killing. "It's nice to be back in Northern Ireland," he says. "Now that you're up to your old tricks again. We were doing so well. We were like George Best with a new liver." He goes on to explain some of the finer points of Irish politics ("The Real IRA is not the real IRA. The real IRA is the government") before discussing the state of the economy. "The world is skint," he says. "Britain and Ireland - we're the worst. Britain is the tramp at the Link machine with the cup. Ireland, we're the dog on the string." It's the way he tells 'em.

Michael McIntyre bounds around the stage like an overexcited circus ringmaster when his roadshow reaches Belfast. He's remorselessly cheerful (a good thing in a comedian) and relentlessly good-natured as he has gentle fun with audience member Christine Bleakley about the incongruities of The One Show ("I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber talking about knife crime"). And redoubtable Olympic gold-medallist Dame Mary Peters gamely plays along when McIntyre does far from dextrous impressions of her winning sports. But really he's little more than master of ceremonies, this week introducing Jeff Green, who gets some mileage out of being newly married and his wife's love of cushions, a chipper Kerry Godliman, who wonders why baby clothes have pockets, and headliner Patrick Kielty, whose best bit is a funny Facebook version of the Middle East conflict.