Mel Smith, the comic actor who rose to fame through the ground-breaking sketch show Not The Nine O'Clock News, has died.

Moviegoers be warned, things are about to get dumb, twice as dumb in fact with the release of a sequel to one of the 90s most popular comedies.

About 20 clowns have been accepted into New Zealand's first academic programme to become fully qualified medical comedians.

Tenacious D's jokes didn't have the subtlety for an 80 minute set but they made up for it with musical talent and charisma, Lydia Jenkin writes.

He told the June issue of GQ magazine: "I don't think I've seen much of it.

What sort of voice should we read your answers in?

A top international comedian has hit out at the NZ Comedy Festival, angry that he's lost thousands of dollars and that promoters charged him a fee to send an email.

One of the problems with writing about television is that I have to look at more of the stuff than might actually be good for me.

What sort of voice should we read your answers in?

She married on screen with great fanfare in romcom Love Actually - but Keira Knightley's real-life nuptials were a much more laid-back affair

It is that time of the year when mirth abounds, as the International Comedy Festival rolls into town and suddenly everybody's a comedian.

Comedians Guy Williams and Chris Martin join us for a live chat as they prepare to embark on a New Zealand tour together as part of the 2degrees Comedy Convoy.

Hardly anyone saw it, but Rainer Hersch's homage to the great Victor Borge was brilliant, writes Russell Baillie.

You can just imagine how many hours Sam Wills (The Boy With Tape On His Face) must spend in variety or emporium stores, looking at everyday objects and imagining a whole new life for them.

I'm not too sure what my 5-year-old Mia made of Dr Brown at first, an odd-looking man wearing white tennis shorts, a suit jacket, shirt and tie, woolly hat and safety goggles. He was a fruity fright.

What sort of voice should we read your answers in?

What sort of voice should we read your answers in?

Trevor Noah's one man show, The Racist, blends comedy with social comment.

Comedian Brendon Green explains his deceptively personal songs and deep seated wish to possess Emma Stone's voice.

We ask the hard questions to comedy duo Hedluv + Passman. Who is your comedy hero? What does your mother think of what you do? Where are you when your jokes come to you?

Think of it as speed dating: A chance to see which comedians you might like to take it further with in the coming three weeks.