UK COMEDY
Recently we touched on the whole new feel of ‘woke’ comedy and its effect on what has become a culture war in the field of being funny. Comedy genius Ken Dodd was perhaps the last of the true variety comedians, but Doddy has gone now and many comedy fans would agree that the king of Knotty Ash was scandalously ignored by the mainstream media towards the end of his career. Would Sir Ken have been influential to the comics of 2024? Mark Ritchie reckons not. In fact, many people within the industry have opined that stand-up comedy involving comedians who stand up there simply telling jokes has all but disappeared. The result being often stilted performances more reminiscent of a university lecturer addressing his students.

We still have a few traditional comedy survivors out there plying their trade Billy Pearce, Jimmy Cricket and Mick Miller to name but a few. Bravely Bobby Davro has been socking it to them recently at The Edinburgh Fringe, where perhaps the bright young things in and around the Royal Mile may just recognise Davro from his work as an Eastenders soap actor.
Lee Mack is, in my view, a quite brilliant stand-up comedian, but such is his appeal on comedy panel shows in sit-com’s and even as a game show host, his busy schedule must surely preclude him from going on the road much.
Jimmy Carr can be relied upon to follow the daytime or mainstream telly rules to the letter, but while out on the road a comedy shock-fest of taboo material is usually unleashed. Frank Skinner has toured recently and even this master of the mucky tag-line is widely regarded as an elder statesman.
The question is who is left, performing jokes and stage gags? It seems to us mere onlookers there are opportunities for absolutely anyone and everyone to have a go at stand-up comedy. Rosie Jones has taken the bull by the horns and delivers her act, despite severe speech problems caused by her disability. Aside from the real funny people such as the folks already mentioned here, we should add the likes of Micky Flanagan Kevin Bridges and one or two others. Instead, the most ‘woke’ comedians who are selling tickets on the touring scene, mainly in the university towns and cities, are listed below.
1 STEWART LEE- Almost a cult in his own right, but I personally do not understand much of his act or his motivation.
2 SARAH MILLICAN- Women love her stand-up, but some of the material grates with those of us who do not buy into jokes about intimate bodily functions.
3 KATHERINE RYAN- The ultra-glamorous Canadian is astutely combining her career between stand-up and reality TV. She has clearly done her homework!
4 JON RICHARDSON-‘Mr OCD’ himself. His thought processes sound like brain farts and most people find him endearingly funny.
5 BILL BAILEY- Perhaps the greatest of all-round entertainers, Mr Bailey would be a star in any comedy generation. As for his comedy material, people simply describe Bill as ‘Out There’.
6 JAMES ACASTER- Being geeky and nerdy is turned into a fine art by James, who is a keen fan of the whole principal of wokeness apparently.
7 GREG DAVIES- Giving us a glimpse of his mainstream potential at a recent Royal Variety appearance, the very tall Greg is a former school-teacher turned funnyman.
8 HENNING WEIN- Being German and a Comedian would once have been thought of as a contradiction in terms. Whether winning or losing with an audience, Henning could always challenge an English audience to a penalty shoot-out. The Germans usually win at those!
9 ROMESH RANGANATHAN- Our own UK Cabaret comedy guru Austin Knight recently observed that there is no escaping Romesh when watching telly or listening to radio. Romesh is currently hot-hot-hot!
10 JOE LYCETT- King of trolling, with modern on-stage visuals and a slightly camp persona, Brummie Joe seems to occupy the territory that the great Julian Clary set up his comedy camp campness camp up in not so long ago.

Do you have any views on this month’s comedy content? Please e-mail the editor at mark.ritchie@ukcabaret.com