The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead

Monday January 5

LIVE IN LONDON: Daniel Kitson's two-hander Tree begins a four-week run at the Old Vic theatre… and unusually for a Kitson show there are still tickets available. The piece, which premiered in Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre in 2013, tells of a man (played by Tim Key) nervously waiting to meet his date beneath a tree - up which resides Kitson's character, an apparently accidental eco-protester. Banter ensues. You can read our review from Manchester here.

LIVE IN LONDON: London comedy fans are spoiled this month as Stewart Lee also embarks on a residency at the Leicester Square Theatre of his Room With A Stew, more work in progress for the next series of his Comedy Vehicle on BBC Two.

Tuesday January 6

TV: Raise your glasses for the return of Count Arthur Strong - and to a potentially bigger audience as he moves from BBC Two to BBC One (a transfer that also means a later time slot, 10.35pm).

Wednesday January 7

RADIO: Love In Recovery, Pete Jackson's comedy inspired by his own time with Alcoholics Anonymous starts on Radio 4, with a top-notch comedy cast that includes Sue Johnston, John Hanna, Rebecca Front and Paul Kaye. Here is a news story about the show we published lasy month. Radio 4, 11.15pm

RADIO: In a new series, David Baddiel Tries To Understand, the comedian sets out to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics - starting off with electricity. Radio 4, 8.45pm

Thursday January 8

LIVE IN GLASGOW: Dylan Moran kicks off a new series of gigs at Drygate, programmed by the Gilded Balloon. There's solid support, too, from Kai Humphries and Larry Dean.

LIVE IN SUNDERLAND Sandi Toksvig hosts I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, as it goes on tour, starting at the Sunderland Empire tonight. giving Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Jeremy Hardy 'silly things to do'. Tour dates.

TV: Elis James gets his first TV acting role as the unlikely inmate of a young offenders' institution in the new six-part sitcom, Crims, He stars alongside Kadiff Kirwan, Cariad Lloyd – and a cameo from former Dr Who Sylvester McCoy – while the show has been created by Dan Swimer (Simon Amstell's collaborator on Grandma's House) and Adam Kay, known on the live circuit for his Amateur Transplants musical comedy act. BBC Three, 10pm

Friday January 10

LIVE IN LEICESTER: The Leicester Comedy Festival's preview show offers a tantalising glimpse of some of the comics heading to town when the event proper opens on February 4. Hosted by Alan Davies, the gig at the De Montfort Hall includes Kate Lucas, Sara Pascoe, Tim Renkow, Jarred Christmas, and Alex Edelman.

LIVE IN LONDON: The benefit Sex Appeal - for young people's sexual health charity Brook, returns for its fourth year - with a packed line-up filling the Bloomsbury Theatre. Al Murray introduces Andrew O'Neill, Ava Vidal, Bec Hill, David Baddiel, Doc Brown, Gráinne Maguire, Mark Thomas, Scott Capurro, Shappi Khorsandi and Kate Smurthwaite.

TV: There's another 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown mash-up tonight when Sean Lock and David Mitchell take on Jon Richardson and Katherine Ryan. David O'Doherty joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner, while Joe Wilkinson 'assists' Rachel Riley and Jimmy Carr, as usual, hosts. Channel 4, 9pm

RADIO: Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis return with a new series of The Now Show, with guests Mitch Benn, Laura Shavin, David Quantick and Vikki Stone. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Published: 4 Jan 2015