Jenny Eclair

If I may say this without repetition, hesitation or deviation, a radio institution celebrates an anniversary on Monday as the splendid Nicholas Parsons introduces the panel show he has chaired since its inception in just a minute.

Doubtless the shades of such esteemed departed panellists as Clement Freud and Kenneth Williams will be issuing some hollow challenges from the wings as panellists Ross Noble, Jenny Eclair, Gyles Brandreth and Paul Merton are asked to pontificate on subjects given out in the original series back in 1967, from "Why I Wear a Top Hat" to "Knitting a Cablestitch Jumper".

Once again we come across another example of a great comedy programme that is only on in Scotland (thank goodness for the iPlayer). Late 'n' Live Guide to Comedy is a six-part documentary series about the Late 'n' Live comedy show at the Gilded Balloon venue during the Edinburgh Fringe.

For those who don't know, this is a series of late night stand-up shows featuring several comedians performing on stage in front of an audience who are usually loud, drunk and willing to heckle at any given opportunity. To quote Jenny Eclair, the greatest error made when you're try to avoid heckling at Late 'n' Live is when "you make the mistake of breathing," and thus leave a short enough pause for someone to shout: "Fuck off!"

Other than learning about the history of the late-night show, the best thing about this documentary is watching some early stand-up performances by famous names. These include Johnny Vegas encouraging his audience to throw coins at him while he sang and Russell Brand in 2001, who at the time had only performed between 20-30 gigs. His stand-up involved deliberately angering and provoking the audience - what a surprise. But this lead to a storm of abuse and Brand getting an encore.

During the encore someone tried to throw a glass bottle at him. It missed Brand, but a shard landed in the leg of the next act, Fiona O'Loughlin, meaning she was bleeding when she went on stage...

Big name line-up for Glasgow Comedy Festival

Dara O'Briain, Rory Bremner and Jenny Eclair will perform at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

Video: Amnesty at the fringe: Stand Up for Freedom

Amnesty International has always had great support from comedians, who value the right to freedom of speech more than most. At last week's Stand Up for Freedom comedy night at the Edinburgh festival, a 1,200-strong audience watched the best of fringe comedy and also did their bit for human rights. Here's a sneak peek at the sold-out show, with Ed Byrne, Holly Walsh, David O'Doherty and Jenny Eclair.

Interview: Jenny Eclair, comedian

Comic is all grown-up but still liable to surprise.

Celebrities come together in Comic Relief kazoo band

Celebrities including Miranda Hart, Jenny Eclair and Stephen Mangan will be forming a special kazoo band as part of Radio 3's Big Red Nose Show.

Jenny Eclair and Dom Joly enter Celebrity Jungle

Comedians Jenny Eclair and Dom Joly will go into the Australian jungle today for reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Jenny Eclair shares her Guide to turning 50

Who needs HRT when you've got cooking sherry and biscuits!

Invented by Ian Messiter in 1967, now starting its 57th season, still brilliantly chaired by resourceful Nicholas Parsons (who got the gig when Jimmy Edwards, the original choice for chairman, said he'd rather play polo than turn up on a Sunday to record the pilot episode). Messiter, who also invented Many a Slip and other fondly remembered amusements, used to wear red socks at recordings, for luck. Perhaps "red socks" could be a subject for tonight's panel, Graham Norton, Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth and Jenny Eclair, as they strive to fill their 60 seconds.

Jenny Eclair interview

Speaking to Jenny Eclair feels like I'm talking to a cool aunty.