What Makes the World Laugh?

Every August, some of the best stand-up comedians in the world head to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – a month-long jamboree of art, theatre, dance, music, literature and comedy. Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay (well known to British audiences through programmes like BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, BBC One’s Have I Got News For You and BBC Scotland’s MacAulay & Co.) presents the very best of these international acts, recorded in front of a live audience at the heart of the Fringe, and asks them how comedy differs around the world.

South Africa’s Loyiso Gola, Australia’s Zoe Coombs-Marr and India’s Aditi Mittal are just three of the comedians who bring their stand-up acts to the World Service audience. We see what – if anything - makes the whole world laugh.

(Photo: Fred MacAulay)