Steve Bennett (I)

Lembit Opik's first stand-up gig

This was simply a non-event. All the hoopla may have ensured a weird atmosphere of anticipation, but in the event, Lembit Opik delivered a nondescript speech - for that's what it really felt like - culminating in a strange moment of self-conscious weirdness.

The Infidel review

This witty-but-flawed movie is pulled off with a lightness of touch that only the most narrow-minded could possibly object to. But there are missteps along the way.

Review: Mark Thomas Presents The People's Manifesto

In this election year, here's the one manifesto that's sure to be popular with the people... because it was written by the people.

Campaigning comic Mark Thomas struck on the inspired idea of asking audiences on his last tour for suggestions for new laws; then voting on the best of that gig. This pocket-sized book details 40 of Thomas's - and the audience's - favourites, and provides a more fascinating snapshot of what's on the nation's mind than any YouGov poll.

Chortle Review of 2009 Final

For the final of one of the most valuable competitions in comedy - its £5,000 top prize topped only by the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - the audience for FHM's Search For A Stand-Up Hero contest seemed sluggish and hard to impress.

'Comedy feels serious now'

Vic and Bob on the return of Shooting Stars.

Chortle's We Are Klang Review

What TV always struggles to do is to capture the true anarchy of a live performance, and that's what hits them here. The screen can't convey the joyously unpredictable feeling of being trapped in the same room as three loveable, but slightly scary, comics who are quite happy to go off script.

Steve Pemberton Interview

Steve Pemberton talks about Psychoville. "What we've done is something for like-minded people. Hopefully there's enough of them out of there. The viewer has to put a bit of work in, I'm afraid."

Chortle Review

Lee destroys his topics with the precision, relentlessness and brutality of a medieval torturer; repeatedly and meticulously attacking the same small point until it becomes weakened to the point of collapse.

Lee Mack Interview

A brief interview with Lee Mack. See our own interview for a more in-depth discussion with the star.