2+ hour, 41+ min ago (488+ words) It's about laughing at yourself and your own death and your inevitable end, which you can do nothing about,' Eric Idle muses Eric Idle, a founding member of the iconic comedy group Monty Python's Flying Circus, often contemplates whether extraterrestrial life possesses a sense of humour. "I think the answer must be yes, because it's about self-awareness," he muses. "It's about laughing at yourself and your own death and your inevitable end, which you can do nothing about." Until such an intergalactic encounter, Idle's earthly mission remains to elicit laughter, a crusade he continues with a national touring production of his acclaimed musical, Spamalot, which commences its run in Ohio this week. Idle firmly believes in the power of comedy, stating, "I think laughter is essential, and it's both a relief and a corrective on how to look at life....

7+ hour, 52+ min ago (642+ words) Eric Idle sometime gazes up into the heavens and wonders about something if we ever make contact with aliens: Will they have a sense of humor? "I think the answer must be yes, because it's about self-awareness," says the founding member of the comedy group Monty Python's Flying Circus. "It's about laughing at yourself and your own death and your inevitable end, which you can do nothing about." Until there's some intergalactic meeting, Idle's mission on Earth has been to make us laugh, and he continues that crusade with a national touring version of his hit musical "Spamalot," which begins in Ohio this week. "I think laughter is essential, and it's both a relief and a corrective on how to look at life," he says. The tour will travel to more than 30 cities in its first year including Los Angeles,…...

12+ hour, 10+ min ago (360+ words) An American comedy classic is officially the Christmas film most loved by British public The beloved 1990 American comedy Home Alone has officially been crowned the UK's favourite Christmas film,, according to a new poll conducted by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Macaulay Culkin's classic secured a significant 20 per cent of the vote, leading a festive lineup that saw the 2003 British romantic comedy Love Actually, starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant, take second place with nine per cent. James Stewart's 1946 classic It's A Wonderful Life followed in third, garnering eight per cent, while the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy Elf rounded out the top four, chosen by seven per cent of respondents. Beyond these traditional favourites, the enduring debate over whether Die Hard truly qualifies as a Christmas film continues to divide the nation. While nearly half (44 per cent) of those…...

13+ hour, 56+ min ago (521+ words) Beloved Scottish comedian was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013 Peter Kay has shared an update on the health of Billy Connolly, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013. Scottish comedian Connolly retired from stand-up five years after the diagnosis and, after stepping away from the spotlight, mocked "exaggerated" reports of his "demise" in his 2023 autobiography, But according to Kay, Connolly is not doing "so good now". "I still keep in touch with Billy Connolly and he's not so good now, but he would still message and that," he told Sara Cox during a BBC Sounds interview released on Monday (1 December). "I think a lot of comedians in this country would not be doing what they did if it weren't for him," Kay continued to applause from the audience. "I think so much of it is influenced by him, heavily. He's amazing....

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (365+ words) Love Actually" and It"s a Wonderful Life" also scored highly in the new poll conducted by BBFC The 1990 American comedy Home Alone has officially been crowned the UK"s favourite Christmas film, according to a new poll by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The beloved Macaulay Culkin classic secured 20 per cent of the vote, leading a festive lineup that saw the 2003 British romantic comedy Love Actually, starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant, take second place with nine per cent. James Stewart"s 1946 classic It"s A Wonderful Life followed in third, garnering eight per cent, while the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy Elf rounded out the top four with seven per cent of respondents choosing it as their favourite. Beyond the traditional favourites, the perennial debate over whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas film continues to divide the…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (157+ words) Vogue Williams hits out at I'm a Celeb campmates talking behind her back Source: ITV I'm a Celebrity contestant calls out fellow campmates after being eliminated - Vogue Williams became the third celebrity to be evicted from the I'm A Celebrity camp following a public vote. - Hosts Ant and Dec announced Vogue's departure after she and Kelly Brook were in the bottom two. - In her post-eviction interview, Vogue discussed her relationships with other campmates, including Aitch and Angry Ginge. - The campmates had another disagreement over chores, specifically the washing up, with Angry Ginge frustrated by the number of items. - "Ginge and Aitch are a bit resistant to their chores," said the model. "I don't really understand the whole cup-gate. I just turned into what I'm like at home." Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page…...

1+ day, 12+ hour ago (101+ words) Holly Patrick | Monday 01 December 2025 11:21 GMT Kevin Bridges has announced a 44-date tour across the UK and Ireland, with 13 shows in Scotland in 2026. The stand-up comedian, 39, will kick off the "Here If You Need Me" tour in Sheffield on 14 August, with the final show in Aberdeen on 11 December. "Good to get away. Great to get home. Back in the game and here if you need me," Bridges wrote in the tour announcement on Instagram. Ticket pre-sale will begin on Monday, 1 December, with general sale on Thursday, 4 December....

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (294+ words) David Lister remembers the brilliant, complicated man whose work explored politics, science, love, Shakespeare, and even rock'n'roll It's a very Stoppard moment " funny, self-deprecating and in tune with popular culture across the decades. There was also his still underrated and little seen TV play Professional Foul, which aired on BBC in 1977 and combined moral philosophy, international football and totalitarian politics to both hilarious and chilling effect. Stoppard was one of a line of emigres, perhaps starting with Joseph Conrad, who brought to their adopted country an intellectual sensibility and a deep love of, and fascination with, its language. His verbal dexterity was usually too much for reporters who tried to ask him an awkward question. When he was asked about his relationship with the actor Felicity Kendal, he replied: "With these things one can decide whether to contribute or not…...

1+ day, 16+ hour ago (85+ words) The creator-star of "I Think You Should Leave" has channelled his uniquely bizarre sensibility into a new conspiracy series, "The Chair Company". As far as Louis Chilton"s concerned, no one is doing comedy like it The creator-star of "I Think You Should Leave" has channelled his uniquely bizarre sensibility into a hit conspiracy series, "The Chair Company". As far as Louis Chilton"s concerned, no one is doing comedy like it "The Chair Company" is available to watch on Sky and NOW...

3+ day, 10+ hour ago (420+ words) Sir Tom Stoppard has passed away at the age of 88 but leaves a lasting legacy behind Sir Tom Stoppard, the acclaimed playwright whose career spanned over six decades, captivated audiences with his unparalleled ability to seamlessly blend intellect, emotion, and humour. His profound contributions to the dramatic arts earned him a host of accolades, including multiple Tony and Olivier awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award for the 1998 screenplay Shakespeare In Love, co-written with Marc Norman. Beyond mere entertainment, Sir Tom's work consistently delved into philosophical and political themes, challenging societal norms and reminding audiences of the power of thought. Award-winning plays such as Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, The Real Thing, and Travesties showcased his enduring impact, characterised by complex ideas, sharp dialogue, and unrivalled wit. His prolific output extended to television, radio, and film, including adaptations like…...