Tristram Fane Saunders
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 6
Goons at 70: anarchic rowdy never-bettered radio comedy
After 70 years, the zany antics of the Goons still hold up to modern ears. What makes their bizarre comedy so enticing, even today?
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 28th May 2021Stewart Lee: punks, ghosts & why he won't do Zoom gigs
The comedian on his unlikely chart-topping single, and the eureka moment that inspired him to become a stand-up.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 30th January 2021Why I won't be wishing Mr Bean a happy birthday
Forget the tweed-jacketed clown - the funniest Rowan Atkinson show of recent years doesn't actually have Atkinson in it.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 7th January 20212020 in comedy: where will future stars come from?
As established names go global online, the next generation of stand-ups face losing their launchpad.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 12th December 2020Andy Zaltzman: Impartiality is difficult in comedy
Last week the BBC's new director-general, Tim Davie, used his introductory speech to stress the importance of impartiality - prompting articles asking whether the corporation's comedy was impartial enough. Zaltzman's response is characteristically thoughtful and level-headed. "Impartiality is a difficult thing in comedy, because I don't know how you define it. In a sense, what is being sought is a balance of partialities. You can't have all the comedy being neutral - you need to balance the opposing views." That balance is "clearly needed", he says - and he's working hard to make sure The News Quiz has "a balance of pundits - politically, geographically" (though he can't yet confirm who will appear in future episodes).
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 11th September 2020The future of jokes
With the threat of social media outrage seemingly ever-present, what we will laugh at in the future and where we will do it?
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 3rd September 2020Bill Bailey on finding laughs in lockdown
"I've turned the Skype ringtone into a dance track"
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 16th July 2020Jordan Brookes / Micky Overman, review
Two shows at a new online comedy festival made the most of lockdown's difficulties.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 22nd June 2020How comedians are fighting coronavirus from their sofas
Being an observational comedian is a lot tougher when there's nothing to observe but the same four walls every day. But necessity is the mother of invention, as comedians have shown this week in a flurry of online shows - many available now for catch-up viewing, and with more happening every day.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 26th March 2020Jack Dee: Off the Telly review
The grumpy persona's still a gem, but the jokes are too off-the-peg.
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph, 24th February 2020