To search for contemporary queens of comedy you need look no further than performers like Victoria Wood, French and Saunders and, of course, the ‘slimline’ Jo Brand. But they follow in the footsteps of some quite special comic ladies, a number of them still raising a laugh today.
The Comediennes (R2, from Thursday, January 19) is a series celebrating the lives of such performers, with archive material which includes interviews and memories of classic sketches.
The first programme focused on Irene Handl, and dealt with her memorable portrayals of cockney characters, as well her work with artists like Peter Sellers.
It was an interesting half hour, though I felt the formula was a little haphazard and unsatisfying. However, there was a vast improvement in the second instalment when the spotlight was turned on Hattie Jacques.
Male, funny and considerably more modern, Lee and Herring are currently causing hilarious havoc on Radio 1 (from Monday, January 9).
This is no ordinary hour of music and chat – in fact Stewart and Richard appear to select records either for their bizarre content or so that they can deliberately label them worthless.
My favourite bits were the outrageous tribute band competition, hapless Peter Baynham’s lifestyle tips and the alternative parable.
It had me laughing out loud.
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Hiewy, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk