"When I started doing standup in the 80s," said Stewart Lee, during his slot on the Stand comedy club's Political Animal bill, "it was all about crowds of people who hated the Tories coming to see comedy performed by a man who hated the Tories. And everyone left happy. Nowadays, it's about crowds of people who hate their electrical appliances coming to see a man who hates his electrical appliances. And everyone leaves happy."
Political Animal, a nightly mixed bill created by satirist Andy Zaltzman (below) to allow standups to focus on political material, embodied this problem. On the night I attended, Ahir Shah largely avoided the subject, and E4 presenter Jack Whitehall's only political reference was to discuss the wonkiness of Gordon Brown's eye. The saving grace was Robin Ince, whose set recalled the days when comedy wanted to change the world.
Zaltzman believes the last 10 years (Bush, Iraq, the war on terror) has been a boom time for satire. He blames TV for the low profile of political comedy. "The panel show, where your contributions are only ever 30 seconds long, does not allow much opportunity for rage."
Were broadcasters to cater for it, more comedians would address politics, Zaltzman believes – although without the fervour of the 80s. "That was a left against right thing. Politics are now more broadly central. But there's still lots to get angry about."
