How Jeff Dunham's offensive puppets became the voice of Trump's America
From José the Mexican immigrant to Achmed the dead terrorist, his foul-mouthed puppets have made him one of the richest comedians on the planet. How will the ventriloquist go down in Britain?
April 2016
Paul Zerdin review – stale standup for dummies
The British ventriloquist and America’s Got Talent winner is a virtuosic voice-thrower but his material isn’t up to the same standard
March 2016
Nina Conti review – the audience are the dummies for this ventriloquist
The comedian chucks out the art form’s creepiness for a thrilling interactive set in which her most essential prop barely features
December 2015
From the Guardian archive
Ventriloquism at its best
Manchester Guardian, 29 December 1821: Celebrated ventriloquist M. Alexandre put on an excellent show at the Minor Theatre
September 2015
British ventriloquist wins America’s Got Talent
Paul Zerdin lauded as master of the art after he scoops top prize of $1m with puppet trio
April 2015
Open mic
Keith Harris, Orville and the lost age of oddball comedy
Brian Logan
TV was once just a step away from musical hall – then along came alternative comedy and the standup boom. Do we now prefer authenticity to eccentricity?
Keith Harris obituary
Ventriloquist and comedian who found fame on stage and TV with Orville the duck. They also reached No 4 in the charts with Orville’s Song in 1982
Secret weapon that gave Keith Harris and Orville humanity and appeal
Stuart Heritage
The late ventriloquist wasn’t funny, or particularly inventive. But the inner sadness he expressed through stuffed sidekicks connected him to his audience
March 2014
Behind the joke
Nina Conti on the perils of audience participation
Nina Conti braves watching one of her performances to show how she picks who to bring on stage. First, make sure their head is the right size …
May 2013
Watch television with …
The Simpsons, You've Been Framed, The Muppets: Nina Conti's favourite TV
The ventriloquist on what she and her monkey like to watch on television
Nina Conti finds her own voice in new US sitcom
The ventriloquist daughter of Tom Conti is in the running for a Bafta – just as her latest show premieres in the US
Nina Conti – review
The ventriloquist gives us a short, sharp showcase of her voice-throwing, mirth-generating skill, writes Brian Logan
August 2012
Nina Conti: The ventriloquist speaks - Edinburgh festival video
Star ventriloquist Nina Conti escorts us into her dressing room at the Pleasance Dome and introduces some of her new cast of puppet characters
June 2012
TV review
TV review: Nina Conti – A Ventriloquist's Story; Louis Theroux: Twilight of the Porn Stars
Welcome to the weird – but rather wonderful – world of talking with your hand up a puppet
March 2012
30 minutes with …
Nina Conti: 'I feel it's not in my film how much I miss Ken'
The ventriloquist on her life with dummies and the film that pays tribute to her mentor and former lover, the late Ken Campbell
August 2010
Nina Conti
Pleasance Dome Ventriloquist Nina Conti's scurrilous voices are among the most entertaining and comic on the fringe, writes Brian Logan
May 2010
Ray Alan obituary
Ventriloquist Ray Alan dies aged 79
July 2008
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only
Arts theatre, London There is no denying the quality of Johnson's act - he is a terrific ventriloquist, writes Brian Logan
February 2008
Northern Rock
Ventriloquist and dummy
Peter Preston
Peter Preston: It was Darling that announced Northern Rock's nationalisation, but few can doubt Brown was pulling the strings
