The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Sunday July 7

COMEDY IN LONDON: There’s a decent line-up for the Stand Up For Women benefit at the West End’s Garrick Theatre tonight, led by Andi Osho, Lucy Porter, Josie Long and Lara Stubbs and Rob Castell of Barbershopera. There’s also apparently a ‘Seventies-style protest complete with flares and funk’. As if the comedy line-up needs any such help.

Monday July 8

TV: There are high hopes for the screen outing of Count Arthur Strong, the batty ex-vaudevillian that Steve Delaney has been working on for the best part of 30 years, on and off. Fringe-goers and fans of his radio show, which has run for an impressive seven series, will need no introduction to his odd comedy of confusion and malapropism and now, with the aid of co-writer Graham Linehan,  TV fame surely awaits...BBC Two, 8.30pm

COMEDY IN EDINBURGH: The Alternative Comedy Experience, Comedy Central’s showcase for stand-up’s more inventive elements as curated by Stewart Lee, is being recorded at The Stand in Edinburgh all this week, with two show a weeknight. It’s like the Fringe has come early – and without the hordes of Londoners.

COMEDY IN LONDON: Headliners at the British Summer Time series of events in Hyde Park include the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Bon Jovi. But there’s also four nights of comedy, starting with the Comedy Store Players tonight. Most interesting of the lot is probably the Kevin Eldon gig on Tuesday with Bridget Christie, Justin Edwards, Paul Foot and Robin Ince in support.

Tuesday July 9

RADIO: A mockumentary back from the days when it wasn’t a ubiquitous comedy style, Delve Special stars Stephen Fry as investigative reporter David Lander. In this first of four episodes from 1985 being repeated on Radio 4 Extra, he re-opens the investigation into an art robbery. Radio 4 Extra, 11pm

Thursday July 11

COMEDY IN LONDON: We obviously have to recommend this: Chortle Presents Fast Fringe... a stupidly frantic bill with 28 Edinburgh-bound acts performing three-minute samples for your delectation. Carey Marx, Andrew Maxwell, Piff The Magic Dragon, Showstoppers and Bridget Christie are among those popping in, plus plenty of interesting names you might not have heard of. Yet. Tickets

Friday July 12

COMEDY IN LONDON: Another outdoor comedy festival for the capital, this one is in a suburban park. It opens with a gala featuring a monster bill of The Boy With Tape On His Face, Shappi Khorsandi, Hal Cruttenden and 13 other circuit favourites, with other big names to come.

Saturday July 13

COMEDY IN BRISTOL: David O’Doherty’s enjoyable Seize The David O’Doherty tour has two shows at the Tobacco Factory – at 4pm and 8pm – before it’s put to rest with an open-air gig in London tomorrow.

Published: 7 Jul 2013