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The Fab Four: The Mount Rushmore Of Always Be Comedy
Every comedy club has its legends. The acts who seem more at home at a gig than they ever did in the womb. But at Always Be Comedy, there is a specific tier of comedian that goes beyond "legend." The topic of "Mount Rushmore" comes up a lot on the Always Be Comedy podcast (say, in the realm of sitcom, or history of British comedy, and so on). And so it's time to present our own. We’re talking about the acts that are woven into the very DNA of Always Be Comedy. They are the on
James Gill
13 hours ago5 min read


An open letter: the case for a Russ Abbot TV tribute
Dear Commissioning Editors at the BBC, ITV and - as they're good at this sort of thing - Channel 5, We write to you today with heartfelt urgency, admiration, and a simple request: It is time to celebrate Russ Abbot. In the fractured landscape of modern media, it is difficult to describe to a younger generation just what a monolithic force Russ Abbot was in the 1980s. He wasn't just a comedian; he was the anchor of Saturday night. The Russ Abbot Show (and Madhouse before it)
James Gill
Nov 245 min read


What comedy* can teach us about creativity (*OK, mostly our podcast)
The Always Be Comedy podcast has had some wonderful guests since launch a couple of years ago, and has also been home to some incredible stories (did you hear Alex Lowe's yarn about Denzel Washington and Kate Beckinsale recently? Strap in - showbiz gold). But beyond the ruddy laughs and japes, it's also provided some genuine insight and wisdom when it comes to the creative process. Indeed, what started as fun chats with an amazing array of comedians has also been known to go
James Gill
Nov 174 min read


The secret society of funny: why joining the newsletter isn’t so easy
If you’ve ever tried to sign up for the Always Be Comedy newsletter and found it a little… elusive, you’re not imagining things. There’s no big shiny pop-up box on the home page. No big neon arrow that says: “Here!” We're even cagey about it on the podcast. And that’s all entirely by design. We know it’s a bit unconventional. And probably flies in the face of "sensible business model". But, in a world where every brand is clamouring for your inbox, we’ve chosen a different pa
James Gill
Nov 104 min read
Always Be Comedy's James Gill was a journalist for more than 20 years. He misses writing enough to commit to the Always Be Comedy blog. That's right. ABC has launched a blog. In 2025. Go figure.
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