The comedy week ahead

Today

COMEDY IN BRIGHTON: The city’s busy Fringe festival continues all week… highlights tonight include Glenn Wool at the Komedia (6.15pm) the storytelling show Immigrant Diaries at the Quadrant (4.30pm) and Luisa Omielan’s follow-up show to What Would Beyonce Do, Am I Right Ladies?, at the Caroline Of Brunswick (4pm).

RADIO: In a new comedy series written by Katy Wix, Reece Shearsmith stars a young scientist working in sub-Antarctica, who is trying to adapt to the loneliness by keeping a cheery audio diary on his Dictaphone. Julian Rhind-Tutt, Alison Steadman and Wix herself also co-star in the 15-minute show Bird Diaries. Radio 4, 7.15pm

Tuesday May 6

LIVE IN LONDON: Jack Dee is working on a new idea, Jack Dee’s Helpdesk, in which he plays an unsympathetic ‘agony uncle’ to his audience’s problems, along with a panel of experts. A five-night trial run begins at the Soho Theatre tonight.

RADIO: The Horne Section returns to Radio 4 with Alex and his band offering songs about a record player, vacuum cleaner and a Teasmaid amongst others. They're joined by guest comedians Sara Pascoe and James Acaster. Radio 4,6.30pm

Wednesday May 7

LIVE IN LONDON: The first of two big benefits in London this week, with Doc Brown, Kevin Eldon, Miles Jupp, Richard Herring, Sean Hughes, Stewart Lee, Zoe Lyons on the packed bill for homeless charity Shelter at the Wyndhams Theatre. Tickets.

Wednesday May 8

TV: Australian comic Chris Lilley’s new series Jonah From Tonga tells of what happened to his 14-year-old rebellious schoolboy character after he was expelled from Summer Heights High. Now in Sydney, he is starting a new life at a Catholic High School. BBC Three, 10pm.

Friday May 9

LIVE IN MANCHESTER: There’s an accomplished line-up at the Comedy Store this weekend, including Hebburn creator Jason Cook and the ever-charming Joe Lycett.

FILM: Frank – the indie film very loosely based on journalist Jon Ronson’s time with Frank Sidebottom’s Oh Blimey Big Band – opens today. Starring Michael Fassbender as the man in the papier mache head, along with Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the plot revolves far more around the artistic struggles at the heart of an artsy band than it does on the comedy elements, but will surely still intrigue Sidebottom fans.

Saturday May 10

LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM: After his hastily-arranged, but hugely successful, benefit for Teenage Cancer Trust, inspired by #stephensstory, Jason Manford’s new comedy club has its first weekly night at the Players Bar tonight. The man himself isn’t scheduled to appear, but you can’t really fault the line-up he’s put together for opening night: Alun Cochrane, Barbara Nice, Paul Tonkinson and Tom Stade.

LIVE IN LONDON: Highlight is no more, but as the Camden comedy club reverts to the Jongleurs banner, it offers an appealing line-up of mixed styles tonight: The deliciously dark Carey Marx, politically-inspired Kate Smurthwaite, smart and savvy Nick Doody, and energetic improv from the Noise Next Door.

Published: 4 May 2014