We ended up at a hotel that had its glory days in the 70s, it was huge with practically no guests in it.

Last year, it staged 111 shows - 62 in its regular programme, 23 in the Fringe, 26 in the NZ Comedy Festival and more than 100 "other" events.

I entered an underground fight club on Phi Phi Island in Thailand a couple years ago. They put me up against an actual K1 fighter. Needless to say, the fight didn't last long.

Noel Fielding took to the stage and embraced the bare accoutrements of traditional stand-up comedy, writes Karl Puschmann.

It might be years since the end of The Mighty Boosh, but the local following that Noel Fielding earned from the surreal show will be welcoming him to this year's comedy festival.

I have never been a big fan of comedians who resort to crude, shock humour, riddled with curse words that would make a sailor proud. So it was refreshing to get along to Wash Your Mouth Out, at Vault at the Q Theatre, in Auckland.

Miles Allen was a struggling actor in LA when his Breaking Bad impressions went viral, making him one of the hottest tickets at this year's Comedy Festival. He talks, in many voices, to Chris Schulz.

Colin Hay, the singer of Men At Work classics like 'Down Under', returns to Auckland as part of this year's comedy festival.

21 comics over three-and-a-half hours became 'comedy as punishment' at last night's Comedy Gala.

Rape may not be a joke, but comedian Adrienne Truscott pokes fun at the absurd issues around the subject - even stripping to make her point, writes Lydia Jenkin.

Is this the cheekiest act of the Comedy Festival? One-half of Aussie duo The Naked Magicians tells us about their accidental 'orgy' of comedy, magic and nudity.

He was a loudmouth vampire in What We Do in the Shadows, but comedian Cori Gonzalez-Macuer prefers dry understatement. He talks about tattoos, whisky, failure and success.

The line-up for the 2015 Comedy Festival is out today with a programme featuring everyone from returning international and local stars to provocative new acts.

Trygve Wakenshaw is from Auckland via performing and studying stints in Paris, London and Oslo.

Where have we seen you before?: TV3 Comedy Gala or the Classic Comedy Bar in Auckland.

Where have we seen you before? Either rummaging through a dumpster out the back of your favourite Chinese restaurant or you might have seen me on stage.

Where have we seen you before? I was a gynaecologist on Shortland St, a street comedienne in Power Rangers and a gossip on Good Morning.

Comedian and TV presenter Rose Matafeo has apologised after scandalising the town of Waiuku by naming it her worst holiday destination.

Seven Englishmen, an Essex girl and a Northern Irishman walk into a casino. Actually, the joke among the Best of British 5 Star Comedy Preview on Thursday night was the speed of SkyCity lifts, but that's not quite as catchy.