Talk:List of British comedians

2003 comment on structure
Many comedians could be included under several headings. Should they be included under all apropriate catergories or just under the one that seems most apropriate. I personally favor the first option but I would be interested in what other wikipedians think. Saul Taylor


 * I think the first is probably the way to go. The exception to this would be if someone did a bit of one genre, as part of your 'act', that doesn't qualify them for that category.  You aren't an impressionist if you do the odd impression of Tony Blair, or a musical comedian, if you just do the odd comic song (so the Two Ronnies aren't, for example).  Silverfish 12:05, 9 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Births and Deaths
There is a conflict in the convention used for years of birth, with some people choosing 'born 1952' say, and some using '1952-'. Both of these works, but I think we should have a standard. Is there a standard used on the site? If so we should use that, but if not then we should try and agree one for this page. Silverfish 13:32, 9 Dec 2003 (UTC)
 * I'm not that keen on the proliferation of birth/death dates all over the place: it's too denormalised. I feel that the proper place for these is on the relevant page, not everywhere the person is named. At the moment, if a previously-unknown date of birth is discovered, someone has to find all the pages where that person is named and insert the date. Phil 14:31, Dec 10, 2003 (UTC)

Not a Comedian but appearing on a Comedy show
By what stretch of the imagination is Fiona Bruce a comedian? Phil 12:14, Dec 10, 2003 (UTC)
 * Her bio at (her agent, one imagines) certainly doesn't make her out to be one. -- Finlay McWalter 13:04, 10 Dec 2003 (UTC)
 * I Wasn't sure about adding people who weren't comedians but did appear on panel games but I noticed that Gary Lineker and David Gower were on the list already (and I wouldn't really consider them comedians either) so I added as many people from other panel games as I could think off. Of course you could make the case that Call My Bluff isn't really a comedy show at all but I would say it was.Saul Taylor
 * We should certainly be consistent. IMHO, Lineker and Gower aren't comedians either. -- Finlay McWalter 13:16, 10 Dec 2003 (UTC)

The definition at Comedian is sufficiently loose that people appearing on a comedy show can qualify ... just. I would suggest adding some rubric at the top of the page emphasising this, and also noting that some people turn up under several different categories. FWIW I would say that Call My Bluff is definitely a comedy show since the intention is to make the viewers laugh. Simplistic but that's the way I like it. Phil 14:28, Dec 10, 2003 (UTC)
 * What about actors who appear on sitcoms regularly. I think if we're including panel game regulars then they should also qualify by the same crieria. Saul Taylor
 * I disagree sitcom actors have their lines written for them but panel game regulars don't.--Imran 15:32, 12 Dec 2003 (UTC)
 * True, but many stand up comedians don't write their own material either so I don't think thats a fair distinction. Saul Taylor

Fair enough, you go for it. Phil 11:49, Dec 12, 2003 (UTC)


 * To have panel game guests and hosts as commedians is ridiculous. Fiona Bruce is certainly not a Commedienne. Nor is Bob Holness or Robert Robinson (previous hosts of Call My Bluff). A TV presenter telling the odd gag doesn't make them a commedian. Mintguy 02:43, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)


 * I agree. Being on Have I got news for you includes a vast swathe of Frank Boughs, Sian Lloyds, Christine Hamiltons, Rick Wakemans, and the rest.  As for comedy actors, they should be on a List of British comedy actors, where Geoffry Palmer and Richard Briers belong.  (But then I have a prejudice against all these infinite "list of" articles") -- Finlay McWalter 03:01, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)


 * Frank Bough, Sian Lloyd, Christine Hamilton and Rick Wakeman were never regulars on HIGNFY so they wouldn't be included anyway. Saul Taylor

To quote from Comedian: A comedian is a person who attempts to make people laugh through a variety of methods. Whichever way you cut it, the chair of a comedy programme can be treated as a comedian for the duration of their service thereon. I thoroughly agree that one-off guests (such as Roy Hattersley's tub of lard) don't qualify. Phil 08:17, Dec 15, 2003 (UTC)

Heres how *[dictionary.com] defines a comedian:

''1.A professional entertainer who tells jokes or performs various other comic acts. ''

2.An actor in comedy.

''3.A writer of comedy. ''

4.A person who amuses or tries to be amusing; a clown.

And according to *[MSN]

 1. comic entertainer: a humorous entertainer

2. comic actor: an actor who plays comic roles

3. amusing person: somebody who is or tries to be amusing ( often used ironically )

And finally *[The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000]

1. A professional entertainer who tells jokes or performs various other comic acts.

2. An actor in comedy.

3. A writer of comedy.

4. A person who amuses or tries to be amusing; a clown. Saul Taylor

George Formby
Proberts2003 23:30, 3 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I was just wondering whether it was a decision based on taste that he's not listed as a musical comedian...? Paul Roberts

Jimmy Wheeler 1910-1970
Where is Jimmy Wheeler, both in your Lisdt of British Comedians & in your List of comedians (English language)

David Gregory. 27th January 2012 41.133.46.221 (talk) 08:27, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Missing names
Not sure where the best place to add these people is but I think they should be included on this page of lists

Joe Pasquale Les Dennis Max Boyce Hattie Jaques Colin Crompton Ken Goodwin

especially when others (e.g Craig Charles) get multiple entries

Lurcio (talk) 16:42, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

More names
Why aren't Dara O'Briain, Ed Byrne, Rich Hall and Catherine Ryan on the list? I know they aren't British, but they regularly appear on British TV. Henning Wehn isn't British either, but he is on the list. /Confused