The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead.

Tonight

TV: BBC Two pays tribute to Rik Mayall with repeats of an 1991 episode of Bottom and the Comedy Connections show looking at the legacy of The Young Ones. From 10.30pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Do The Right Thing, a panel-show podcast that really ought to be on every comedy fan’s subscription list, records its latest episode at the Soho Theatre at 7pm. Danielle Ward hosts, with Brett Goldstein and Humphrey Ker join regulars Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Michael Legge.

Monday June 16

DVD: Chris Lilley’s Ja’mie: Private School Girl and Jonah From Tonga are both out on DVD today.

TV: Alan Davies starts his free-form chat show – As Yet Untitled -– with guests Noel Fielding, Jon Ronson, Andrew Maxwell and Kerry Godliman. It’s so named because the panel come up with the name of the show only at the end, depending on where the conversation led them. The Dave channel is stripping the five episodes in the first series at 10pm every night this week.

TV: It’s the gay wedding episode of Modern Family (or at least the first of a two-part storyline) when Mitch and Cam finally tie the knot… following a comedy of errors, of course. A TV milestone for equality, but primarily a consistently funny comedy retaining its impressive form. Sky 1, 8.30pm

Wednesday June 18

LIVE IN CHELTENHAM: Good times assured at the town hall tonight, courtesy of Jimmy McGhie, Romesh Ranganathan and Sara Pascoe.

LIVE IN LONDON: Stewart Lee and Josie Long front two nights of Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, comedy and music benefits in aid of Arts Emergency. Tonight Shappi Khorsandi and Robin Ince are among the line-up; tomorrow it’s Tony Law, Sara Pascoe and others.

Thursday June 19

RADIO: Trodd en Bratt Say 'Well Done You' in a new late-night sketch series of that name for Radio 4. According to the BBC blurb: ‘This week, Ruth [Bratt] gets to perform her favourite sketch featuring eight different Kens – she just has to get Lucy [Trodd] to understand it. Meanwhile, the 1940s divas who run a lighthouse can’t work out whose turn it is to switch on the light. And, on Wetumpka's public access radio station, Thandy is trying to find a date for her clumsy and slightly terrifying daughter, Lily-Rose-May.’ Radio 4, 11pm

RADIO: And in an unfortunate scheduling clash, Radio 4 Extra is airing a rerun of The Penny Dreadful’s 2008 Radio 4 series, starring Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck, starting at exactly the same time. Radio 4 Extra, 11pm

LIVE IN EDINBURGH: If you can get tickets, Frankie Boyle is doing a rare club gig as he runs through some new material at the Stand. The less controversial Markus Birdman, Alex Boardman and Vladimir McTavish are also on the bill.

Friday June 20

LIVE IN WINDSOR: Adam Hess and Ed Gamble - two former Chortle Student Comedy Award finalist who’ve gone on to even greater accomplishments - prove a big draw for the club night at the Old Firestation tonight. Smokin...

LIVE IN LONDON: All killer, no filler as stand-up acclaim-magnets Andrew Maxwell, Bridget Christie, Henning Wehn and Tony Law take to the stage of the Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. Or if you’re the other side oft town, you could do a lot worse than Tom Stade and Josh Howie at Up The Creek.

Saturday June 21

LIVE IN WALTON: The Playhouse in this Surrey commuter town boasts a brilliantly eclectic bill, with the erudite satire of Andy Zaltzman, the raucous character comedy of Lee Nelson, and the filthy sad-sack stand-up of Canadian comedy hero Mike Wilmot.

LIVE IN LONDON: Before he joins the West End stage version of Made In Dagenham, Steve Furst returns to Lenny Beige for a revival of the Regency Rooms Club, a cult variety night of the 1990s. Guests for this one-off at Kensington Town Hall are Armstrong & Miller plus more eclectic names such as Elephant Man Elvis, Skate Bush, Reverend 2Tone and Matt Berry.

Published: 15 Jun 2014