Ava Vidal
- English
- Actor and stand-up comedian
Press clippings
The insidious racism of UK comedy
For years, talent agents and promoters have discriminated against comedians of colour. Now top acts such as Dane Baptiste and Ava Vidal are speaking out.
Thomas Ling, Vice.com, 10th September 2020Blackface is never 'just a joke' - it's oppression
Amid the blackface in comedy controversy, comedian Ava Vidal addresses why racism can never be 'just a joke' - and those Harry Enfield comments.
Ava Vidal, Radio Times, 12th June 2020Harry Enfield defends using blackface
Harry Enfield has defended using blackface in his comedy career, saying: 'I don't think I regret it.' 'I've done it several times in the past. I've played Nelson Mandela in one thing for laughs,' he said. 'I did it because this thing had come round from the BBC that we couldn't do it any more.'
Chortle, 11th June 2020Ava Vidal battles her ex over their daughter's ashes
A TV comedian is battling it out with her ex-partner in a tragic High Court fight over the cremation and ashes of their daughter who committed suicide at an exclusive mental health clinic. Mock The Week panellist Ava Vidal's daughter, Shaquelle, was found dead at the clinic in London, in April.
Daily Mail, 17th October 2018New documentary film about prejudice in comedy
Stand-up Catie Wilkins is directing her first film, about sexism, racism and class prejudice in comedy. Finding The Funny features comics Tiff Stevenson, Richard Herring, Janey Godley, Brendon Burns, Ava Vidal, Nish Kumar, Grainne Maguire, Andrew Watts, Suzi Ruffell and former stand-up Christina Martin.
Jay Richardson, Chortle, 10th December 2015Ava Vidal: As a black female comedian, I do loathe Ukip
A British comedian has won the praise of Nigel Farage for slamming TV comics as politically correct liberals. Ava Vidal, (who also took exception to his views on female and ethnic comedians) explains why right-wing jokers are no longer popular.
Ava Vidal, The Telegraph, 30th October 2014Stop hating on Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre's new chat show is losing viewers perhaps because of his 'ego', but Ava Vidal wants to know what's wrong with having a good sense of self-esteem? Far better that than being crippled by self-doubt.
Ava Vidal, The Telegraph, 21st March 2014Why clubs are afraid of booking 'too many women'
After a comedy night dropped a female comic because it had 'too many women' on the line-up, stand-up comedian Ava Vidal offers the real reasons why so many male promoters think girls galore will spoil all the fun.
Ava Vidal, The Telegraph, 12th March 2014'It's only a joke': How far is too far in comedy?
As Nigel Farage claims we 'can't start censoring humour', after a comedian made several jokes about foreigners and Muslims at a UKIP event, stand-up comedian Ava Vidal offers a masterclass on where to draw the line in a modern Britain.
Ava Vidal, The Telegraph, 6th March 2014'My name is Ava Vidal and I'm a psychotic comedian'
Comedians are outraged at a study suggesting they possess psychotic traits. But stand-up comic Ava Vidal, a self-confessed psycho, isn't the least bit offended. You have to be psychotic - especially as a woman - or you'll get eaten alive out there, she says.
Ava Vidal, The Telegraph, 23rd January 2014