Golden Years, Golden Laughs: Over-70s Take Comedy by Storm

Marie McLaren is 88 years old and she is proving that age is just a number by making her debut as a stand-up comedian. Marie joined a comedy class in Glasgow, where she and other people over 50 have been learning how to perform comedy from Viv Gee, a professional comedian. Marie was nominated for the class by her daughter, and she says she has always enjoyed making jokes and making people laugh. She believes that laughter is important and that it is better to be cheerful than to complain. Marie says, 'Nobody's interested in moaners, so it's quite nice to just make people laugh and enjoy life. '

The comedy class is full of people who want to try something new. Ronnie Bergman, who is 74, used to be a journalism lecturer but is now retired. He says that as people get older, they sometimes feel invisible, like when they get on the bus and people ignore them. Ronnie wanted to get out of his comfort zone, so he joined the class even though he does not like having his photo taken or hearing his own voice. He says that being older means he has heard a lot of jokes, and he looks up to Billy Connolly, a famous Scottish comedian who is still funny even as he gets older.

Christine MacCormack, who is 70, says that being older gives her a different perspective on life and comedy. She wants to enjoy her time on stage and make the most of her experience. The class is taught by Viv Gee, who has won Scottish Comedy Awards. Viv says that anyone can try comedy, and while she cannot teach people to be funny, she can help them become funnier. The group performed their first show at The Social Hub in Glasgow, with jokes about everything from health and family to the habits of younger people. Some performers wore costumes, like Mitch Milmore, who wore bug-eyed goggles, and Andy Burke, who joked about his hometown. The class shows that it is never too late to try something new and that older people have a lot to offer when it comes to making people laugh.