Be Funny Or Die

Comedy is a game that all humans play. There are big social prizes if you win, but it is easy to end up with custard pie on your face and the joke is on us if we don't understand how it works. So, what are the rules and why does comedy matter? Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the world of shared laughter where he reveals what comedy can teach us about ourselves. From stand-up to slapstick and sitcom to spoof, Morris examines comedic patterns, rhythms and dynamics to uncover the algorithms that secretly underpin comedy. Be Funny or Die is a fascinating investigation into how our species has developed and mastered the essential art form of comedy where laughter is the universal language and only the funniest survive.

Joel is a BAFTA-award-winning comedy writer, a regular collaborator with Charlie Brooker (Wipe, A Touch of Cloth) and co-creator of dimwit pundit Philomena Cunk. He has written for TV and radio shows from Mitchell & Webb to Miranda to Murder In Successville, and was on the team for the Paddington films. He co-created cult spoof newspaper The Framley Examiner, the hit Bollocks To Alton Towers tourist guides, and the chartbusting Ladybird Books For Grown-Ups. He is also an award-winning podcast producer and presenter (Comfort Blanket, Rule of Three), a member of the band Candidate, and a regular contributor to Viz.