The comic on her standup heroes, using depression as an inspiration for laughter and stereotypes about northerners

The social media star on performing to silent audiences, turning spite into success and still having to prove herself as a ‘proper’ comedian

The comedian on strange encounters with fans, performing to a room full of silence and the state of sketch comedy

The standup on being a vibe killer, studying Richard Pryor and why comedy isn’t for good-looking people

The US comedian and podcaster on his best heckle, his love of Earl Grey tea and a close encounter with a persistent fan

The character comic on gigging with chickens, harnessing the power of embarrassment and her spoof Radio 4 current affairs show

The standup on delusional confidence, her heroes and bugbears – and why she hasn’t bought a gold-plated toilet with her OnlyFans contest winnings

The comedian on his strangest fan encounter, preshow rituals and his new film with Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan

The standup on finding a good preshow pint, getting heckled and reflecting on the death of his brother in Tragedy Plus Time

The standup on the best advice he’s ever been given, performing on the London Eye and becoming a viral sensation

The actor, comedian and novelist on being a positive aunty role model and taking unsolicited advice on how to be funny

The American comic on performing to a stripper party, the best heckle she’s had and why honest emotions are funny

The Funny Women award-winner on her witty family, why she loves being mocked and the best heckle she’s had

The standup on her comedy heroes, preshow jitters and the parenting double standards for male and female comedians

The comedian, songwriter and actor on how Scotland’s annual arts jamboree has evolved, loathing corporate gigs and his Pick of the Fringe turning 30

The comedian on getting old, festival toilets and British standups’ failure to talk about inequality

The Glasgow comic on why she has to shower before a gig, taking a show about womanhood to the Edinburgh fringe and the need for more working-class voices on TV

The standup on his hateful first gig, battling with comedian DJs and whether he was right to pick A Fish Called Wanda as his funniest film

The standup on dressing funny, stealing material from his nan and how a seven-minute set from Omid Djalili led to an obsession with comedy

The Irish comedian on good gigs, bad gigs, her standup heroes and what makes a good soup