The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead…

Today

LIVE IN LONDON: As probably not recommended by the Daily Express, Coming Over Here, Laughing At Our Jokes is a celebration of the movement of people and comedy across the world in aid of the Migrant Rights Network.Headlined by Stewart Lee and compered by Daniel Kitson, the bill at the Leicester Square Theatre features Nish Kumar, Richard Herring, Bridget Christie, Shappi Khorsandi, Henning Wehn, Ginger & Black, and Shazia Mirza. Organisers joke many of them are performing in slots 'that might otherwise have been given to hard-working, white, English comedians’.

Monday December 8

RADIO: It's the second semi-final of the BBC New Comedy Award tonight, recorded at the 100 Club in London with host Patrick Kielty. Radio 2, 10pm

LIVE IN LONDON: The king of character-based audience participation, Adam Riches, brings his latest show to the Soho Theatre for a 'brand new hour of phenomenal bullshit' running from tonight and into the new year. Review

LIVE IN LONDON: Karl Schultz and Joz Norris introduce some of the circuit's more interesting acts in their Over The Top Xmas Love-In at the Bloomsbury Theatre. On the bill is Brian Gittins, Bridget Christie, John Kearns, Josie Long, Liam Williams, Sara Pascoe and Tim Key.

Tuesday December 9

TV: Brian Pern: A Life in Rock returns – and this time promoted to BBC Two. In this series, Simon Day's prog rock hero reunites his group Thotch to discuss the making of their first ever jukebox musical. . Written and directed by Rhys Thomas, the show also features the likes of Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers and Lucy Montgomery as well as a huge array of guest stars including Kathy Burke, Martin Freeman, Jack Whitehall, Annie Nightingale and more.

TV: Last year Rhod Gilbert climbed to the peak of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, with fellow comics Barry Castagnola and Clint Edwards. He took no camera crew with him and never intended to broadcast his experience, but the home video footage has now been compiled into a one-off show for BBC One Wales. It captures six days of altitude sickness, exhaustion, blizzards and sub zero temperatures. Rhod Gilbert v Kilimanjaro: BBC One Wales, 11.05pm, and then on iPlayer

LIVE IN EDINBURGH They don't want your money at the Stand tonight, just a bag or more full of non-perishable food to donate to the Edinburgh North West Foodbank to help those who need it. And for that you get to see: Dylan Moran on a bill that also includes Janey Godley and Hardeep Singh Kohli, whose idea this was.

LIVE IN LONDON: After taking on Hook and the Colonel Sanders story, the Weirdos collective present their third Christmas panto, likely to be silly, inventive but a a bit rough around the edges. A Christmas Tail is about 'friendship, family and fish and the determination to do what you know is right even when people say you should be living underwater.' The vast cast at the Heroes Grotto of Comedy pop-up venue in the City includes Harriet Kemsley, Joz Norris, John Kearns, Luke McQueen, Pat Cahill, Beth Vyse and many, many more.

LIVE IN LONDON: More alternative festive celebrations at the Soho Theatre as Nick Helm kicks off a two-week run of his show, Merry Christmas Motherfuckers. It promises to ''kick Christmas in the dick so hard that, who knows, in 2,000 years time we may well be remembering this guy alongside that other guy we already remember at this time of year.'

Wednesday December 10

TV: There's exclusive home movie footage in a new personal portrait of Spike Milligan on BBC Four tonight. Love, Light And Peace features the comedy genius in his own words, along with contributions from collaborators, family and fans.

LIVE IN LONDON: Dark, theatrical and sometimes in-your-face comedy from Richard Gadd as he brings his second solo show, Breaking Gadd, to the Soho Theatre for a couple of weeks. Read our review of its Edinburgh Fringe run here

Thursday December 11

LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM: Birmingham University is an apt venue for the intelligent comedy of Paul Sinha, who's supported by lively storyteller John Robins and charismatic Suzi Ruffell ramping up the energy as MC.

LIVE IN MANCHESTER There's a strong and varied bill at the Frog & Bucket this weekend, with wry and dry anecdotalist Alun Cochrane, master of the one-liner Gary Delaney, and the silliness of Phil Ellis.

Friday December 12

LIVE IN LIVERPOOL: The Laughterhouse Live gig at the Liverpool Philharmonic features a bill that wouldn't be out of place on Live At The Apollo with heavy hitters Jason Manford, Terry Alderton, Hal Cruttenden, Paul Tonkinson, TanyaLee Davis and local lad Neil Fitzmaurice.

Published: 7 Dec 2014