Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jeremy Hardy's best jokes: From Brexit to right wing hypocrisy

The comedian, who was a regular on 'The News Quiz' and 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' has died aged 57 

Clarisse Loughrey
Friday 01 February 2019 05:44 EST
Comments
Comedian Jeremy Hardy sings 'Thank You For the Music' by ABBA

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The comedian Jeremy Hardy has died, aged 57, leaving behind a legacy of formidable wit and humour.

Born in Farnborough, Hampshire, in 1961, Hardy gained recognition on the comedy circuit in the 1980s and was a regular on BBC Radio 4 panel shows, including The News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.

He also appeared on televised quiz shows, such as QI and Mock the Week, and appeared as Corporal Perkins in the sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth.

As well as acting, he was also a columnist who wrote for The Guardian and London’s ES Magazine and, in 1996, presented an episode of Top of the Pops.

Hardy, who died of cancer, is survived by his partner, the photographer and filmmaker, Katie Barlow, and daughter Elizabeth Hardy, whom he adopted when he was married to comedian Kit Hollerbach.

In celebration of his life’s work, here is a selection of some of the comedian’s best jokes.

The only way you can ever accuse a Conservative of hypocrisy is if they walk past a homeless person without kicking him in the face

It seems a shallow observation, but… the Tory Conference are not an attractive lot, are they? I mean, if all those people were born in the same village, you’d blame pollution, wouldn’t you?

Most harm is done by people who are awake.

Why don’t they just accept that life is sad and cheer up? After all, it’s not forever.

The Afghan War has clearly reached a stage similar to that moment at your child’s party where you realise you’ve forgotten to give the other parents a pick up time.

Marriage is like the witness protection programme: you get all new clothes, you live in the suburbs, and you’re not allowed to see your friends anymore.

The left case for Brexit was an interesting exercise, a bit like a Marxist review of The Very Hungry Caterpillar or one of those games where you work out whether it would be better to have no arms or no legs

After winning an open contest with massive support, Corbyn has been accused of “seizing power”...

I have no wish to speak ill of the dead, even when they are still alive

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in