In polls for the best British comedian of all time Tommy Cooper nearly always seems to come top. His appeal was universal and surprising. How could such an incompetent performer have people rolling in the aisles? The answer was comic genius. This new CD recording includes some of his funniest moments.
This title contains two comic fantasies: ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘Odds and Gods’.
HERE COMES THE SUN: The sun rises late, dirty and so badly in need of a service it’s a wonder it gets up at all. The moon’s going to be scrapped soon and a new one commissioned - but they’ve been saying that for years …All is not well with the universe, and it’s because the mortals are running the show. It’s time for a Higher Power to take charge …
ODDS AND GODS: It’s a god’s life at the Sunnyvoyde Residential Home for retired deities. Everlasting life can be a real drag when all you’ve got to look forward to is cauliflower cheese on Wednesdays. But things are about to change, because those almighty duffers Thor, Odin and Frey have restored a thousand-year-old traction engine …and the thing actually works. Then there’s Osiris, preparing to set out on a quest that will test his wheelchair to the very limits. Only one thing might save the world. Dentures.
“Brilliantly Funny” - Mail on Sunday
Fancy yourself as a comic but unsure where to start? This new guide to the art of stand-up comedy gives all the tools necessary for a great and enjoyable performance. It covers the history of humour and what makes us laugh, helps readers find their own creative streak and their funny side, builds the confidence to deliver, and offers plenty of practical advice on stagecraft, from dealing with hecklers to coping with props. It offers a full guide to the business side of your hobby, from finding gigs to securing an agent, with plenty of valuable hints, tips and advice. Authored by a comic with over 20 years’ touring and performing experience, and with top tips from some of the most well known people in the business, it is guaranteed to bring a smile to both your face and that of your future audience.
Dara O Briain moved from Ireland to England many years ago and it’s clear that the English still remain a bit of a puzzle to him. But O Briain loves a challenge… with his gregarious personality and sure-fire wit, he’s bringing down the barriers of our famous English reserve and having a good old rummage through what’s hidden inside. The result is Tickling the English - an affectionate, funny and deeply personal view of our country’s mores and manners.
Find the best lines from your favourite jokesters and wordsmiths, add that extra something to a speech or presentation or just enjoy a good laugh… This dazzling collection selected by the late great Ned Sherrin brings together the wittiest oneliners, the funniest phrases and the most hilarious comments of inspired observation. Covering over 200 subjects, from Censorship to Sex, and featuring over 5,000 quotations, this collection will be an efficacious addition to any book shelf.
Packed with enough jokes to fill a whole new series, Mock the Week: This Year’s Book! is a brand new collection of near-the-knuckle humour and timely and topical witticisms from one of TV’s most popular shows. With a host of laugh-out-loud one liners throughout, categories include Bad Things to Hear on Waking Up, Unlikely Dictionary Definitions and Cards You Never See in a Newsagent’s Window. Ideal for dipping into or reading from cover to cover!
Alan Davies was always a hoarder. Not much that came out of his bedroom made it into the bin, never mind the uninvented bin liner. But this ‘rubbish’ sums up an era… Nostalgic and laugh-out-loud funny, My Favourite People and Me is an affectionate trip through a surburban childhood and an Eighties education. Blending genuine enthusiasm with touching personal revelations, this is an intimate portrait of one of Britain’s leading comedians.
Updated and revised, the new edition of this bestselling favourite enables readers to master the fundamentals of humour writing and better understand the demands of the market for comedy. Comedy Writing Secrets now includes examples from venerable comedy greats as well as cutting-edge contemporary comedians. A complete spectrum of techniques, from writing one-liners and stand-up routines, to finding a market for one’s work. Step-by-step writing exercises accompanied with sample answers, so readers can practise and hone their skills With this guide, aspiring comics can learn how to sharpen their comedic talent and turn it into a well-paying pursuit.
Hilariously funny and absolutely packed full of quotable lines and language-changing gems, PG Wodehouse is responsible for providing us with one of literature’s all-time great relationships and some of the best comic studies in print. Here you’ll not only meet the incomparable valet Jeeves and his hapless charge Bertie Wooster, but you’ll encounter Totleigh Towers, Sir Watkyn Bassett, Roderick Spode and Gussie Fink-Nottle to name just a few of the inimitable characters that pass in and out of Jeeves’ care. If you haven’t yet encountered Jeeves and Wooster, you’re in for a wonderfully self-indulgent treat.
From tried and tested knock knock jokes to your favourite author’s funniest jokes, this bumper collection is sure to raise a smile! Children love reading joke books from cover to cover, and they’ll also never tire of trying their one-liners out on an adult audience… so be prepared to start laughing!