Kate Smurthwaite. Copyright: Jon Cartwright
Kate Smurthwaite

Kate Smurthwaite

  • 48 years old
  • English
  • Writer, comedian, stand-up comedian, satirist, tutor, teacher and drag artist

Press clippings

'There are dozens of Russell Brands': female comedians say abuse is rife

Many women working in industry say allegations only scratch the surface of its culture of misogyny.

Nadia Khomami, The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Fringe Society comes under fire from former board member Kate Smurthwaite

Kate Smurthwaite, a stand-up comic, political commentator and activist, said the distribution of more than £1.2 million had done nothing to help performers who have faced higher than ever costs to take part in the event this month.

Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman, 12th August 2022

Ten political shows at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe

Boris still looms large at the festival.

Chortle, 20th July 2022

Piers Morgan responds to claims that Kate Smurthwaite was censored on 'Uncensored'

Morgan responded promptly: "I just checked and nobody tried to censor you - we don't censor guests, that's the point of the show." "Yes I was," Smurthwaite replied. "Great, have me on again and I'll say all the things I was told not to say."

Annabel Nugent, The Independent, 28th May 2022

Kate Smurthwaite: Piers Morgan's show Uncensored tried to censor me

Kate Smurthwaite, a left-wing political comedian, was a guest on Piers Morgan's Talk TV show Uncensored this week where she alleged she was 'censored', however the host has denied her claims.

Kate Smurthwaite, The Mirror, 27th May 2022

Maureen Lipman thinks cancel culture is killing comedy. Don't make me laugh.

The veteran performer's concerns aren't shared by everyone in the comedy world, writes Bruce Dessau.

Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 22nd December 2021

This year's Fringe in the opinion of Sir Gideon Vein

The Edinburgh Fringe - or what passes for the Fringe in this let's-hope-it's-almost-over-Covid-pandemic netherworld - finishes this coming weekend. It started on 6th August. I have not been up there but, when I chatted to performer Tony Green aka Sir Gideon Vein for a blog posted a fortnight ago, I mentioned that he might like to give his view of what it is like this year. He lives in Edinburgh for a lot of the year. I have just received his highly-personal account... I say 'highly-personal'... That is exactly what I asked him for but, in other words, if you are an act who is mentioned, don't send the hit-men to shoot ME...

Tony Green, John Fleming's Blog, 24th August 2021

Fringe comedy: Use it or lose it

Fringe comedy has been Disneyfied this year, but its spirit is still there if you know where to look.

Kate Copstick, The Scotsman, 3rd August 2021

Copstick: Comedy's doomed because we have to be woke

"I fear a deepening quicksand of prescription in which the art and craft of comedy is arguably sinking."

Chortle, 11th July 2021

Edinburgh TV Festival nods for Gleadow and Smurthwaite

Jack Gleadow is one of the names picked out in the shortlist for Future TV Presenter in the Edinburgh TV Festival's New Voice Awards, while Kate Smurthwaite is nominated for the Test Card Award.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th February 2021

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