People keep giving me pity eyes. "You're very brave," they say, rubbing my shoulder, as if I'm ill. But I'm not ill. What I am, though, is terrified. Because this week I'll be making my stand-up comedy debut in front of about 300 people. Am a comedian? No. I'm a sub editor

When you think life can't get any worse try cutting your own fringe, you will soon realise it can.

Stand up is my catharsis, a way to express my view of the world, and remind myself that nothing is what it seems. Even that statement. A lofty idea, but that's what happens when you spend a lot of time in small pubs steeped in the rich musk of wood polish. Sweet mind bending wood polish.

The whole show lives in the implied context that we give to his actions which he exploits to add an air of sexual menace to proceedings. The mimes become graphic, violent, sexual, etc because of the meaning we apply which makes every action as uncomfortable as they are hilarious.

If you're starting out in comedy as a writer or performer, and you've never been to the Edinburgh Fringe, I have one piece of advice. It's the only piece of advice I can guarantee is absolutely correct, and it's the one piece you'll ignore, which is this: Forget Edinburgh.

A Labour Party gig is unlike any other. There is respect for the comic and little interest in racist or misogynist jokes, nor 'gags' about disability or 'chavs', which have become sadly common material in many comedy clubs. And when a performer is not getting great laughs, there is compassion.

He's a strange brew, at once funny, then turning on a dime, as serious as a prophet. Born in Belfast in 1963, Michael Smiley grew up in a cultural atmosphere which fed his ire, and ultimately, his humour.

After you do something like writing and directing a sketch, you feel compelled to help others who might want to achieve their own dream of writing and directing a sketch. So you do what comes naturally: explain How You Did It, in 17 easy steps.

From Eddie Izzard to Mike Myers, some of the world's most famous comedians have performed at the birthplace of alternative comedy, The Comedy Store in...

Surreal comedy treads a fine line; it either seems to work emphatically or leave the audience bemused and alienated.

Thinking inside the box with the maverick comedian Iconoclast comedian Stewart Lee knows TV's delicate relationship with live comedy better than a...

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival - and, to celebrate, it's hosting an exclusive exhibition from top comedy pho...

The joie de vivre you're left with after Feeling Lucky makes you thankful that Ramsey decides to eschew the darker elements of comedy to produce an often hilarious and entertaining evening of comedy.

What's happening, white people? Apart from Christmas, that is? Yes, comedian Paul Chowdhry - star of 'Stand Up For The Week' and more - has exclusi...

Watching a man shake sandwich ham from his head without the aid of his hands is an experience that I won't forget in a hurry. Indeed going to see Sam...

Fans of Greg Davies will not have been disappointed with what should surely be regarded as a highlight of his career to date in a sold out gig at the Hammersmith Apollo.

The Glaswegian lawyer turned Radio 4 favourite is a deeply intelligent and considered comedienne who veers wildly from witty observational comedy to crass confessions of which she's ashamed of yet also vehemently defends.

A lot of comedy is about confronting taboos, death, sex, religion, etc, etc, Monty Python wrote a song and a sketch based on a crucifixion, not generally a subject seen as ripe for comedy but now considered a comedy classic.

So I've lost so much money at the past few festivals where I've performed that I've had to get a real job. Not that comedy isn't a real job, it's actually four real jobs. All of them part time and no wages, but as a comedian who produces my own shows I'm a publicist, producer, flyerer and writer

As she bounds onto the stage, Shappi Khorsandi immediately exudes a warmth and charisma that's forever present during her show.

Most will be aware of Rob Delaney through his Twitter exploits; a prolific tweeter who has amassed over 600,000 followers, Delaney has risen from relative obscurity to be crowned as Comedy Central's 'funniest man' on the social networking site.

Many years ago, in a past life, long before I was a stand up comedian and a writer, I was a Policeman. Don't ask me how it happened (the police thing, not the stand up and writing thing (although come to think of it, I don't know how that happened either)), it just did.

When I started as a 28 year old freshman, I knew that I wasn't going to be living the life of a stereotypical student. I also knew that despite a ten years' experience of living in the 'real world', I was still terrified of public speaking.

I recently decided to take a comedy holiday. I just wanted to have a few weeks in my life where I wasn't trying to find the funny in everything. Where I could read some books, listen to music and just relax.