Comedy Becomes The New Rock And Roll

2:48am UK, Saturday December 18, 2010

Lucy McDonald, entertainment reporter

This Christmas a record number of comedy DVDs are on sale in what experts are describing as a golden age for the genre.

Jimmy Carr believes his comedy is a type of wordplay

Comedians for every taste fill stadiums night after night, have newspaper columns and are even guests on political panel shows.

There is no escaping them and comic Jimmy Carr has a theory.

"I think it is linked to the recession, maybe there's that sense people aren't buying new cars or going on holiday but they are we will have a night out," he said.

"We will have a laugh. You forget about everything when you're laughing.

"You sit there in an audience and you laugh, releasing endorphins is fun and that is basically what I do for a living."

The English language is endlessly fascinating. I can't get bored of it. When someone's got a nice turn of phrase - I love that.

Comedian Jimmy Carr

Gone are the days when comics only appeared in small venues.

Big names like Michael McIntyre and Lee Evans tour like rock bands and playing a music arena like London's O2 is now considered a badge of honour.

A tenth of live gigs are now comedy shows while 80% of comedy DVD sales take place in the last six weeks of the year.

Comedy promoter Ed Smith told Sky News: "I don't think they are replacing rock stars I think they work to a different market, potentially a comedian's audience is much larger as they are more mainstream.

"Nowadays you see them on a panel show and get to know their personalities and so they [people] become very familiar with them so it is natural to want to see them live."

Carr thinks that Britain's wealth of comic voices is because the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a great breeding and training ground for new talent.

He thinks television is also helping funny men - and women - reach a wider audience.

Risky, political, observational or downright rude, the British appetite for comedy has never been greater and Carr thinks that post Sachs-gate comedians are still willing to push the envelope.

"I think TV comedy has got a bit milder since then, people are more sensitve about that sort of thing," Carr said.

Michael McIntyre is a large venue and DVD favourite

"People who work in TV have jobs and responsibilities, no one ever got fired for cutting a joke that was edgy.

I don't think comedy is meant to push boundaries, I think it is meant to reflect what's out there."

He describes his own type of comedy as wordplay and says that creating a joke in his head is similar to doing a crossword.

He said: "The English language is endlessly fascinating. I can't get bored of it. When someone's got a nice turn of phrase - I love that."

:: Jimmy Carr is touring with Laughter Therapy in 2010/2011.