The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Today

TV: A sitcom starring Madness; an early incarnation of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat and rare Pete & Dud clips are among the gems in The Comedy Vaults: BBC Two’s Hidden Treasure on – yep – BBC Two at 9pm. Read more.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: The Brighton Fringe continues this week. Tonight’s highlights include Stuart Black’s passionate and poetic ranting at the Caroline Of Brunswick (9pm), even more fury from Ian Cognito at the Temple (9.45pm); and Colin Hoult’s odd but charming character piece Carnival Of Monsters at the Warren (9.30pm)

LIVE IN SURREY: The late great Linda Smith is commemorated in the annual Lovin' Linda benefit, held at the Rose Theatre in Kingston and raising cash for Target Ovarian Cancer. Hosted by Susan Calman, the gala line-up includes Bridget Christie, Angela Barnes, Mark Thomas, Andy Hamilton and Rory McGrath with Philip Pope.

LIVE IN OSWALDTHISTLE: Jason Manford’s comedy club empire continues to grow with another classy line-up at the Civic Arts Centre: Alun Cochrane, Barbara Nice, Caimh McDonnell and compere Mick Ferry.

Monday May 12

LIVE IN KENDAL: Star names including Lee Evans, Omid Djalili, Lee Nelson and Arthur Smith will be converging on the Cumbrian town’s Brewery Arts Centre for the annual Freerange Comedy Festival which runs all week. Website.

LIVE IN LONDON: The Comedy Store hosts a benefit for HemiHelp, the national charity for hemiplegia, a stroke-like condition that leaves people with impaired use of one hand. The evening is headlined by Al Murray and also includes Paddy Lennox, Jonny Pelham and Pippa Evans as the unhinged Loretta Maine.

LIVE IN LONDON: Two very different shows start downstairs at the Soho Theatre tonight: Marcus Brigstocke puts aside his usual politics to talk about his life - including stints as a podium dancer, oil rig worker, food addict and goth in Je M’Accuse at 7.30pm. That’s followed by Adrienne Truscott’s provocative ‘one-woman rape about comedy’, Asking For It, which won the Panel Prize at the Edinburgh Fringe last year for its full-frontal feminism. Review

DVD: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's The Trip To Italy is released today. Order

Tuesday May 13

LIVE IN LONDON: To mark 20 years as a Londoner, Irish comic Andrew Maxwell takes presents a new stand-up show about the capital in four venues around town, starting at Peckham Liberal Club tonight; Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush on Friday; Arcola Tent, Dalston on Saturday and the Comedy Cafe Theatre, Shoreditch next Tuesday.

Wednesday May 14

TV: Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan return in the third series of Episodes. In the first episode, Matt continues to fight for custody of his children, trying to convince his ex-wife to forgive him for sleeping with his stalker... BBC Two, 10pm

LIVE IN HARROGATE: A very strong bill at the Sitting Room tonight, led by Prince Of Puns Gary Delaney and backed with the strong observational comedy of Rob Rouse and Zoe Lyons. Katie Mulgrew hosts.

Thursday May 15

LIVE IN LONDON: Jason Manford headlines another of the week’s benefits, this one for the Depression Alliance at the Union Chapel, Islington. The supporting line-up includes Ellie Taylor and former Chortle Student award-winner Adam Hess. Tickets.

LIVE IN BATH: The strange, and intense, Red Bastard lands at the Komedia tonight. Prepare to shed inhibitions as New York clown Eric Davis casts his strange, seductive spell.

RADIO: Deliciously dry stand-up Simon Evans tries to make economics funny in this four-part guide, Simon Evans Goes To Market - looking at gold, land oil and grain and how those markets affect us. If anyone can make such a potentially dry subject humorous, it’s him... Radio 4, 6.30pm

Friday May 16

RADIO: Seminal comedy series The Mary Whitehouse Experience - the show that gave us Rob Newman, David Baddiel, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis – returns for a repeat run on Radio 4 Extra. Produced by Armando Iannucci, this nine-part series dates from October 1990, when it was first broadcast on Radio 1. Radio 4 Extra, 11pm

Saturday May 17

LIVE IN LIVERPOOL: How many headliners? Jason Byrne, Jason Manford, Justin Moorhouse AND Stewart Francis share a packed bill at the Philharmonic Hall with Daliso Chaponda and MC Chris Cairns.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: The multi-talented Kevin Eldon headlines a benefit gig for the Neuro Foundation being staged at Brighthelm Centre, as part of the Brighton Fringe. The eclectic bill also includes John Kearns, Pete Johannson, Benny Boot and Edward Aczel.

Published: 11 May 2014