Comedy

Have we missed your London comedy highlight of 2007? Let us know

It’s that time of year when we look back at the highlights of 2007 and try to forget the crap bits. I started as comedy editor in August, so basically we’re going to pretend that 2007 actually began then. Anyone who has a problem with that can get tanked up on eggnog and fight me.

Okay, so Edinburgh was really dominated by one loud, crude Aussie, Brendon Burns. He managed to rewrite his whole career with his fantastic, intelligent show ‘I Suppose This is Offensive Now!’ which challenged stereotypes and preconceptions and for which he deservedly won the if.comedy Award. The Best Newcomer Award went to the lovely Tom Basden for his beautifully simple, unassuming show ‘Won’t Say Anything’ and, if he wants it, the world is his oyster.
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On the London circuit my three favourite clubs have been Comedy Camp on Tuesday nights in Soho, which has had consistently great line-ups and the best atmosphere of any of the smaller clubs. Also on a Tuesday, there’s Tiernan Douieb’s great little night Fat Tuesdays at the Salmon & Compass in Islington; again there’s always a good bill and an enthusiastic, appreciative audience. Finally, one of the coolest clubs in 2007 was Clark’s at Lowdown at the Albany. This monthly night is hosted by the utterly charming Dan Clark and is home to a lot of the new wave of young, offbeat, erudite comedians.

Stewart Lee

New or newish comics who are making waves include the sickeningly young wünderkind Jack Whitehall, posh and witty Andrew Watts, confident gagman James Branch and the charming Joanne Lau who’s grown as performer with every show. Andi Osho has also made great strides this year and rightly won this year’s Funny Women competition.

Solo shows which have stayed with me include Terry Saunders’ brilliant and heart-warming ‘Missed Connections’, Stewart Lee’s exquisite ‘41st Best Stand-Up Ever’ and Jon Richardson’s ‘Spatula Pad’, an inspired look at his own OCD.

If I had to pick one comic though, that blew me away, it would be a fist-fight between the twisted dark comedy of Marek Larwood or the evil elegance of Andrew Lawrence. Actually, I’d quite like to see that.