From I'm Alan Partridge to Episodes, The Old Vic to children's author, Landscape Artist of the Year to Slapstick gala host, Stephen Mangan doesn't know what to call himself. Many fans still call him Dan...
He's at the Royal Albert Hall with Brian Cox, is on a 100 bookshop tour, with Nine Lessons to come, and has a science-infused new book out. We met Robin Ince in his old haunt, Herts, to ask: how did those uninspiring science schooldays lead to this?
She's back gigging at Chester Comedy Festival, after a lockdown that looked likely to mangle her momentum. But Maisie Adam has a hardy, punky, bring-it-on attitude to stand-up - much of which comes from her mum.
Back from lockdown shielding, Matt Forde has six political heavyweights on his radar. Will one party leader use these live shows to relaunch his image?
He's now a Radio 4 documentarian, with a unique insight into why people get stuck in things: Ian Smith talks contortion tests, grim swings, crossword podcasts, polar bear chasing, and how lots of backstage areas will be very tense as comedy returns.
Cheered by rave reviews for their punk doc, King Rocker, Stewart Lee and Michael Cumming talk lockdown darkness, awkward legends, post-punk vs new comedy, Swells, Skinner, and the upside of ads and panel shows.
The one-time world-wanderer has been holed up in Cromwellian digs during 2020 weird-times. At least he isn't offending any swan-sensitive spectators there - although his new special might well ruffle some feathers.
His career had lost momentum and his mood was dark. Then lockdown struck, and Bilal Zafar found himself with the unlikeliest change of direction: managing a surreal virtual soccer team on an old video game. Now he's getting loads of viewers and even selling replica shirts. Which is a far cry from the not-fun TV work he was offered before.
Olga Koch should now be travelling, after giving up her tech job for grad school. Still, there is a cool stand-up event on the horizon: her last show If/Then is going vinyl. We talk sinister tech, right-wing swings, Soviet equality, immigration, Tarkovsky vs Chernobyl, and live comedy vs first dates.
Big stars, a big in-the-Zoom audience, plus an occasional naked weirdo. Stuart Goldsmith's Infinite Sofa is the lockdown show that might just run and run.
