Joan Rivers
- American
- Stand-up comedian
Press clippings
Comedians on their stand-up heroes
We've done a lot of things in lockdown - followed the news obsessively, become amateur crafters, howled with despair - but laughing hasn't been one of them. Thank goodness, then, for the BBC's Festival Of Funny, celebrating all things comedy. To mark the occasion, we asked some of our favourite comedians to tell us which stand-up they love the most.
Nancy Durrant, Evening Standard, 7th March 2021Urban Myths: When Joan Kissed Barbra review
Katherine Ryan's acerbic stand-up has been compared to Joan Rivers so often that it was surely a no-brainer to cast her as the younger version of her comedy hero.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th October 2020Stunning portraits of stellar stand-ups
From Ken Dodd and his tickling stick to Nina Conti and her monkey, Guardian photographer Tristram Kenton has snapped a host of superb comedians on stage.
Tristram Kenton, The Guardian, 9th September 2020Proof that crowd-pleasing comedy isn't solely the preserve of middle-aged men. Particularly interesting is seeing those people you generally spot behind a panel-show desk or on a sofa. The late Joan Rivers dispenses deceptively ad hoc brilliance, while Jo Brand is withering but actually oddly conservative.
John Robinson, The Guardian, 16th June 2018Comedy books of the year
Funny tomes for not-so funny times including books by Robert Webb, Joan Rivers and Eddie Izzard.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 15th December 2017Force everyone to try standup comedy to mend our world
The benefits to society would be profound - not least that people would learn the difference between a joke and a threat.
Jack Bernhardt, The Guardian, 31st July 2017Jewish humour ain't what it used to be
The UK Jewish Comedy festival's salute to the Borscht Belt comedy of Woody Allen and Joan Rivers is poised awkwardly between tribute and parody.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 5th December 2016TV review: Rik Mayall - Lord of Misrule, BBC2
2014 has not been a good year for comedy departures. Robin Williams and Joan Rivers left us, but it was Rik Mayall's sudden death on June 9 that struck the most resonant chord with me. Without getting all UKIP about it, Mayall was a Great British Comic and the BBC tribute Lord of Misrule was a fitting send-off.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 21st December 2014Sweat The Small Stuff interview
As the BBC3 panel show returns for a fourth series, Grimmy, Rochelle Humes and Melvin O'Doom talk nightmareish pranks, awkwardness, dream guests and Joan Rivers.
Kasia Delgado, Radio Times, 28th October 2014My comedy hero: Bruce Devlin
The Scottish comic discusses some of his favourite influences and idols, including Margaret Cho, Jane Mackay, Joan Rivers and Kitty Flanagan.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 7th November 2013