The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Today

ONLINE: The BBC has releaseda batch of comedy shorts online today, as part of its move to put more content online ahead of BBC Three’s eventual transition to an iPlayer-only service. Out today are: Matt Berry narrating The Lone Wolf; Frankie Boyle And Bob Mortimer's Cookery Show; Micky Flanagan's Foxageddon; Reece Shearsmith In The Case Of The High Foot’ Morgana Robinson in Channel M and Meera Syal's Playback. Click here for our verdict, and to view them.

Monday June 2

LIVE IN LONDON: Having completed his attempt to pull off 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, Mark Thomas visits the National Theatre to report back on how his playfully seditious mission panned out.

BOOK/LIVE IN LONDON: Conveniently ahead of the big O2 farewell gigs, Michael Palin tells the story of how all the Monty Python clasics came to be in his new title, Monty Python At Work, drawn from his published diaries. And he’s launching it with an event, again at the National Theatre, tonight. Buy the book.

LIVE IN LONDON: Lucy Porter, Paul Sinha, Richard Herring, Robin Ince, Shappi Khorsandi and Stewart Lee fight the good fight at a benefit in aid of the British Humanist Association at the Bloomsbury Theatre.

Tuesday June 3

LIVE IN BRISTOL: A fundraiser for the city’s Slapstick comedy festival has certainly brought out the stars. Jack Dee, Al Murray and Dara O Briain headline an unbeatable bill at the Colston Hall that also boasts Jeremy Hardy, Richard Herring, Jo Caulfield and Tony Hawks.

LIVE IN LONDON: The Comedy Museum has had the lowest of low-key openings in London last week, with not even a press release to announce its coming. And today is the first show in the performance space there, with an Edinburgh double preview from Glenn Wool and Carey Marx, taking place among the artefacts.

LIVE IN MAIDSTONE:Brendon Burns, former Chortle newcomer Diane Spencer and promising up-and-comer Dan Cardwell, among others.

Wednesday June 4

LIVE IN LONDON The Royal Albert Hall hosts an unusual evening of music and comedy for Parkinson's UK. Compered by Al Murray, it features Armstrong & Miller, Alfie Boe, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Manford, Jane Horrocks, Rob Deering and Watson & Oliver...not to mention appearances by Jane Asher and Sarah Brightman as guest conductors of the full 60 piece orchestra and choral ensemble .

Thursday June 5

LIVE IN SHEFFIELD: Dawn French kicks off her ‘audience with...’ tour, 30 Million Minutes, with four nights in Sheffield. Full schedule.

Friday June 6

LIVE IN GATESHEAD: The week-long Jesterval kicks off tonight, with highlights in Baltic Square over the coming days including Jason Manford, Simon Munnery and the Lumberjacks (aka Stewart Francis, Craig Campbell and Glenn Wool). Website

LIVE IN LONDON: We mention this just for the cost of tickets, the CHEAPEST of which is £1,690 for a table of ten. For that you get Kevin Bridges, Mark Dolan, Mike Gunn and a four-course lunch, but this corporate event at the Tower Of London still seems a tad overpriced…

Published: 1 Jun 2014