What makes you laugh out loud?

The General Danced At Dawn and McAuslan In The Rough by George McDonald Fraser. Had tears streaming...sat in a park reading it once and was asked by kindly stranger if I was alright! Trying so hard not to laugh out loud. Worth reading more than once.

I much prefer spontaneous humour than something contrived - someone 'telling a joke' doesn't often amuse. Books or radio do it for me, rather than TV. Perhaps my favourites are James Heriot's Vet books. I was reading one of them while I was in labour and was snorting with laughter. I love some of the 'old' humour on Radio 4Ex, though some of it is so dreadful and potentially offensive I'm amazed that they broadcast it again. But best of all is playing with the Grandchildren, not for repeatable anecdotes but just for sheer joy and laughter in the moment.

Number

I posted a made up a poor mans version of a Bob Newhart sketch on the 'Abdication' thread , there is a you tube clip on there Elegran put up! He is a classic like Joyce Grenville.

Peter Kaye, he is so clever whether it be on stage or t.v show. I laugh at ' Would I lie to you' and 'Alright on the night' .

Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Eric Morecombe, Jeremy Hardy, HIGNFY, the News Quiz, Heresy, Would I Lie to You.
Recently The Nap at the Crucible, anew play written by .Richard Bean and directed by Richard Wilson - wave after wave of shared laughter - the best tonic.

Mrs Browns boys makes me cry with laughter!, especially the bikini wax sketch. We have been to the live show 3 times and love it when they go off script. For some reason our DS and DD just don't get the humour at all.

Greyduster.. agree about Father Ted. I love Mrs Doyle. I'd say she is the funniest on there but then there are so many instances where I have almost died laughing.

I loved Father Ted! The episode where they got lost in the department store was hilarious. Another character who made me laugh was Nyles Crane in 'Frasier'. He was wonderful. The restaurant scene in the episode called "Cherries Jubilee" had DH and I rolling on the floor it was so funny. Also the auction scene in the film Mouse Hunt, and though I'm not a big fan of slapstick, the scene in The Money Pit with Tom Hanks where he is floundering around on the building site. For sheer comedy timing, if nothing else, it can't be beaten. Ah, they all come rushing back! We used to laugh like loons at 'Some mothers do 'ave 'em" but the last time I watched it, I couldn't help wondering why.

Abbot and Costello do it for me,they have always maid me laugh,my husband says it's nice to hear me laugh as I don't laugh or smile enough.

Anyone remember the Franglais books? Now they really made me laugh out loud! And I remember getting on the bus home from work one day and opening a book I'd just bought. It was Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. Talk about hilarious! It was all I could do to stifle my laughter, but even so little bursts kept escaping. I had to close it in the end and wait till I got home. it was just too embarrassing

Bob Newhart was in the 'Big Bang Theory' as Professor Proton. Really good acting and very dry humour.

Victoria Wood and her troupe, Father Ted, The Thick of It, Lenny Henry on Tizwass .............stil thinking ...........

I agree with Shysal. Would I Lie To You always makes me laugh out loud. But the person that really has me in stitches is Michael McIntyre. He hits the spot every time. I went to see him live once and I wasn't just laughing out loud, I was crying with laughter. It actually hurt!

Watching old people dancing on 'You've been framed' and falling over has me in stitches

I also love "Would I lie to you,"guaranteed laugh out loud moments even when watching repeats!

Oh, and the original radio recordings of 'Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. Great scripting by the inimitable Douglas Adams who died too young.

Fascinating Aida. Cheap Flights... Ofsted song... and many many more.

I agree with most of the posters above, including those liking Phoenix's tales.
I would add 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' and 'Would I Lie to You' to the list. It is nice to hear humour without swearing!

The greatly missed Victoria Wood. Radio 4 "The News Quiz" and "The Now Show." Father Ted.

some of the posts on Gransnet! ?

Half finished post - oops sorry! Quotes from some of the wonderful radio shows of the 50's, Round the Horne and The Goon Show.

Last one was going to be from Joyce Grenfell's nursery school sketch. Brilliant woman. 'Stately as a galleon she sailed across the floor...'

'I'm Julian and this is my friend, Sandy'

'For 10 miles I swam, the last 3 were agony - they were over land!'

'What a lovely

I love Tim Vine and his clever (and always clean) word play.
Example 'I went on the journey of a lifetime. I tell you what, never again!'

Love it Greyduster

'Ooh Mr Horne lovely to varda your jolly old eek. Jules come over here and say ello to Mr Horne'

I never realised at the time that it was the language of gay people.

I have several recordings of 'Round the Horne' that never fail to make me laugh out loud. I also thought The News Quiz was very funny. Most recently, it was something DH read off Twitter, to the effect of "My mate has a ticket for the England match on Saturday, but he can't go because he's getting married on that day. If anyone would like to go in his place, it's at St Peter's in Cambridge and her name's Louise!" It's probably been around for a while, but I hadn't come across it and I fell about.

Was just thinking of Dave Allen too.