The comedy week ahead

Yes, there are a lot of festivals in the comedy week ahead...

Sunday June 30

COMEDY IN SUNDERLAND: The City’s comedy festival kicks off today – eight gigs over a week that, like many events at this time of year, comprises mainly Edinburgh previews. Performing are Ian Cognito, Patrick Monahan,Paul Foot, Jason Cook and others.

Monday July 1

RADIO: What is, incredibly, the 59th series of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue returns to Radio 4. In the first of the new run, recorded at the City Hall in Salisbury, regulars Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor are joined by Tony Hawks. Jack Dee is, of course, the reluctant chairman. Radio 4, 6.30pm

COMEDY IN LONDON The brilliantly culty Alternative Comedy Memorial Society returns to the Soho Theatre with a packed line-up of weirdos that includes Bridget Christies, Josie Long and Claudia O’Doherty. Tickets

Tuesday July 2

TV: Starlings, Sky’s comedy-drama about a working-class family living near Matlock – written by and starring Matt King and Steve Edge – returns for a second series. Sky 1 9pm.

COMEDY IN LONDON: The deliciously dry Simon Evans previews his Edinburgh offering at Comedy De Luxe, supported with another full-length show by Romesh Ranganathan, recently seeon on Russell Howard’s Good News, at Comedy De Luxe in Spitalfields. Tickets

Wednesday July 3

RADIO The News Quiz gets an American makeover, just in time for Independence Day, with host Andy Borowitz taking Sandi Toksvig’s usual position in the presenter’s seat, and an all-American panel of comedians. Radio 4, 11pm.

COMEDY IN BRISTOL: The four-day Bristol Comedy Garden festival kicks off with Ed Byrne,Tony Law, Aisling Bea and Craig Campbell in the marquee. There’s a strong line-up over the rest of the long weekend, too, with shows headlined by such acclaimed comics as Alan Davis, Omid Djalili, Arthur Smith, Mark Watson and Richard Herring.

Thursday July 4

BOOK Radio producer Bill Dare wrote two series of the pastiche travel documentaries Brian Gulliver’s Travels, which starred Neil Pearson when they aired on the BBC. Now the adventures have been made into a novel, which is out today. <Buy

Friday July 5

FILM Director Ben Wheatley was last behind the camera for Sightseers, Steve Oram and Alice Lowe’s murderous trip through northern England. Now his follow-up Field In England – about a group of Civil War deserters who go on a psychedelic trip into magic and madness after consuming magic mushrooms – launches simultaneously in cinemas, on Film4, DVD, Blu-ray and video on demand. It’s not billed as a comedy, but the cast includes Julian Barratt, Richard Glover, Reece Shearsmith and Michael Smiley.Buy the DVD

COMEDY IN LONDON: The Balham Comedy Festival launches today with Milton Jones and Lee Nelson both doing intimate gigs. Stephen K Amos, Terry Alderton, Al Murray, Mark Thomas and Mick Miller are among the top names who will be popping in to The Bedford pub theatre – best known as the home of the Banana Cabaret – over the ensuing week.

COMEDY IN LONDON: Late-night show Spank has its last night at the Udderbelly on the South Bank with a line-up that promises chaos, with Tony Law, Phil Nichol, Anil Desai and musical comedy duo Hot Brew – aka Alice Lowe and Antony Elvin – all on the bill.

Saturday July 6

COMEDY IN LONDON The ARG comedy festival takes place this weekend at the Barfly in Camden. ARG stands for Actually Rather Good, and lives up to its billing with 32 Edinburgh previews packed into the two days. Tickets are either £22 a day or £36 to overdose on comedy over the whole weekend.

Published: 30 Jun 2013