George Burns Bill Hicks Micky Flanagan more recently Impossible to choose three (even though I just tried)
Joan Rivers is worth a mention as there doesn't seem to be many women in our suggestions and Rita Rudner had a brief spell on British TV.
I agree with your first point about needing a theme, I suppose my issue is that their 'theme' is lazy, predictable and unoriginal, its been done to death and done a lot better before. There's nothing new or original about being a minority comedian, it doesn't push boundaries anymore, they need to find a way of being funny without relying on that for cheap laughs. Although I suspect they are encouraged by the BBC to an extent to push a minority positive agenda. With regards to Flanagan, his act is based on being working class and he connected with audiences through that, now he's a millionaire making up stories about being working class it doesn't work. The others you've mentioned are completely different their religious views or nationality do not become irrelevant with success or wealth, they are independent of that.
Good call; I think The Royle Family was the most beautifully observed comedy sit-com ever produced - others may not agree but, it's certainly a fitting epitaph to a brilliant comedy writer.
I did that in Bali Hai once. I cried. I also got thrown down the stairs by bouncers after goosing a page three girl who was doing a promo thing. Opposites.
Royle Family almost scares me with how close to the truth it is, particularly in my life around family. On that point, Spaced is scarily close to my life away from family/at university. Mainly because, like Simon Pegg's character, I'm a twentysomething nerd and loser.
Current Comedians Kevin Bridges Gary Delaney Mickey Flanagan Old Skool Les Dawson Tommy Cooper Mick Miller
It was certainly marmite stuff tash, I'd be watching those early 'big nights out' creased double while my Mrs would be looking at me wondering if I'd been at the magic fungi