Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard at Altitude Festival, review

Eddie Izzard produced a triumphant 45-minute comedy set but struggled when forced to improvise at Altitude Festival in Austria, says Veronica Lee.

Altitude festival - Izzard in a blizzard

Yet Eddie Izzard, with his long-term political ambitions, is clearly one who has plans to engage with the outside world. That will have to wait though. In the meantime Altitude suggests that he has got his stand-up mojo back.

Eddie Izzard interview

Comedian Eddie Izzard is bringing his unique brand of 'weird bollocks' to France this month for five gigs to be performed in French. In an interview with The Local, the hyperactive Europhile shares his world vision, his plan to become Mayor of London, and his thoughts on David Cameron.

Eddie Izzard headlines Altitude Festival

Eddie Izzard has been unveiled as the headliner of Altitude Festival 2013.

Top 20 comedy shows in London - March

A real bumper month, featuring Russell Brand, Eddie Izzard, Doctor Brown, Stewart Lee, Louis CK, Tape Face, Andrew Maxwell, Red Nose Day fundraisers, and plenty of clubs ...!

The return of a series that was binned after one episode last month - up against Africa on Wednesday night, it died on its backside. Now, in a less high-profile slot, it continues its exploration of the commercial end of comedy by looking at how managers and agents ensure that the nation's top comics earn pop-star bucks. Rhod Gilbert and Jo Brand, whose extremely candid interviews helped to make the first episode so engrossing, are back along with Eddie Izzard and David Baddiel.

Eddie Izzard crops up in the delayed second episode of Funny Business, in which the machinations of comedy agents and promoters fall under scrutiny. But the focus is largely on the rise during the last 30 years of stand-ups earning ludicrous sums of money from sell-out mega-tours, thanks in part to the heavily monopolised likes of Live at The Apollo.

The most fascinating portion of the programme by far is when a comedy historian delves into the BBC's Written Archive - housed in a modest bungalow in Berkshire, believe it or not - to contrast the earnings of today's top comics with those of the heroes of yesteryear. One particularly sobering revelation is that when Ernie Wise died, he left behind an estate worth over just half a million pounds. In 2011 alone, Peter Kay earned an estimated take of over £20 million from touring and DVD sales. As the formerly funny Boltonian might himself remark, what's all that about?

Eddie Izzard for Harvard 'Lifetime Achievement' award

Eddie Izzard is to receive a lifetime achievement honour at Harvard University.

Russell Brand is so unpredictable, he's talk-show Semtex. Probably more famous for who he marries/divorces/dates than his movie career, he's on Ross's sofa tonight, with comedian and marathon man Eddie Izzard, who's starting a stand-up tour later this year, national treasure Sir David Attenborough, movie hulk Dolph Lundgren and, providing the music, those common people, Pulp.

Eddie Izzard London mayor in 2020?

Comedian Eddie Izzard says he is going to stand for London mayor.