Gordon Brown (I)

Laugh? I almost cried at Gordon Brown's night of Edinburgh Fringe comedy

The former PM's one-off onstage chat with stand-up Matt Forde belied his dour image. If only he'd shown more of this side of himself to the electorate.

Underbelly announces a new batch of 2022 Fringe shows

Including Rachel Parris, Geoff Norcott and Austentatious.

Scott Capurro on comics who lie & a PM's hot handshake

29 days ago - yes, 29 days ago - I chatted to American comedian Scott Capurro in London, after one of the Museum of Comedy's Monday Club 'new material' nights. Then I got busy and/or distracted and/or just plain lazy. I have no excuse. But here it is, 29 days later...

If you read this website on a regular basis then you know we're big supporters of the save BBC Three campaign. Despite that, occasionally the channel produces a programme that tarnishes their name and The Revolution Will be Televised is one such show. Whilst I don't blame the channel for bringing back the satirical comedy, especially as it won a BAFTA last year, Heydon Prowse and Jolyon Rubinstein offer nothing new during this third outing. Old ground is retread courtesy of Dennis Pennis-lite character Zam Zmith whilst plenty of the puns concerning Wonga and Nandos' suspect business policies were just woeful. Meanwhile the duo's jaunt to America means that their coalition MP characters were given the chance to mingle with Sarah Palin and Bill Clinton. This trip to the States also allowed for their character of reporter Dale Maily to quiz several Americans about their use of firearms. These segments took up quite a lot of the show and I thought that the show really sought cheap soundbites rather than anything substantial. I personally feel that the main issue with The Revolution Will be Televised is that both Prowse and Rubinstein come across as self-satisfying toffs who feel jubilant when they get a famous face on their programme. This is best exemplified when they approach Gordon Brown at a book signing with their version of his tome having a different cover from the original. I felt that this segment had nothing to say and instead felt like an opportunity for the boys to pat themselves on the back for getting a former Prime Minister on their show. For a show that won the Comedy Programme BAFTA, the other issue with The Revolution Will be Televised is that it's not funny at all. All the gags are obvious and clichéd there is nothing clever on show here and I for one feel that if the programme hadn't won an award then it wouldn't have been rewarded with a third series. Suffice to say that I won't be watching the rest of this run and I recommend that all of you do the same.

Video: Stephen Mangan on emotions and giving birth

Actor Stephen Mangan, who has portrayed Tony Blair and currently plays a pregnant man on the London stage, spoke of emotions in the week when David Cameron's temper and the the "feisty form" of Conservative MP Ann Marie Morris were in the news.

Michael Portillo recalled losing his seat at Westminster - and also claimed there were "extensive similarities" between Andy Murray and Gordon Brown - as he debated political image and emotions with Andrew Neil and Alan Johnson.

The interview ends with the actor talking of his hopes for a new series of Episodes - in which he stars with Matt LeBlanc and Tamsin Greig.

How comedian Janey Godley conned Gordon Brown

Janey Godley's autobiography Handstands in the Dark mentions encounters she had with Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and James Callaghan. But my favourite story of hers involving a politician is about former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and it is not in the book, because it took place after the book ends and after the Trainspotting years.

Bid to have Frankie Boyle charged with obscenity

Police are to be asked to investigate whether a new book by comedian Frankie Boyle, which jokes about the rape of the Queen and the deaths of David Cameron and Gordon Brown's children, has broken the law.

I love Rory Bremner. There are sterling comedy writers on his team here. Yet almost every joke ends in a dismally predictable pay-off. As satire on events political and financial it's too angry to hits its marks, as caricature of people in the public eye it is so obviously moulded to fit Bremner's repertoire that Gordon Brown turns up more regularly here than he has in real life for a whole year. I try to imagine Radio 4 Controller Gwyneth Williams sitting by her radio and laughing her socks off, this comedy slot having been her idea. That picture won't come. Alas.

Gordon Brown didn't throw a tangerine. I made it up

Robert Popper - or should we call him Robin Cooper? - explains why he's addicted to crank calls