Charity gigs dominate the comedy week ahead

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Here are the highlights of the comedy week ahead...

Sunday February 22

RADIO: The Friday just gone would have been character comedian Dick Emery's 100th birthday - and to mark the anniversary Radio 4 Extra is airing his 1964 show Emery At Large for the first time. Among the writers is John Cleese, and the cast includes Deryck Guyler, sadly now best known for being the inspiration for a nodding car-insurance dog.  This show first aired on the  Light Programme just as Emery's TV series was getting under way - a programme that would run for 166 episodes up to 1981 and establish him as a comedy superstar of his day. Radio 4 Extra, 3pm.

LIVE IN LEICESTER: It's the final day of the city's comedy festival. Go out with a bang with Andrew Watts's Feminism for Chaps at Heroes at LCB Depot at 4pm; Matt Forde: 24 Hour Political Party People at Just The Tonic at Hanson Hall at 6.15pm and  Brendon Burns: Outside The Box at the Cookie at 7pm. Other shows are available...

Monday February 23

LIVE IN LONDON: Miles Jupp, Josh Widdicombe, Pappy's and Sara Pascoe are among a quality bill at the Palace Theatre in the West End tonight, raising money for Centrepoint homeless charity. Tickets.

LIVE IN LONDON: Ms Pascoe is also on at a benefit at the Union Chapel in Islington in aid of Legal Aid, part of a line-up that also includes Kevin Eldon, Stephen K Amos and Stewart Lee.

LIVE IN GLASGOW:  The Stand hosts a new post-referendum satirical show So... That Was February?, capitalising on the run-up to the General Election. Mark Nelson, Keir McAllister, Bruce Morton and Andrew Learmonth promise a mix of stand-up, chat and comment on the current affairs of the day.

LIVE IN DURHAM: It's the second heat of Chortle's Student Comedy Award at Durham Students' Union tonight. And over the rest of the packed week we are in Dublin on Tuesday, Belfast on Wednesday and Southampton on Thursday.

Tuesday February 24

LIVE IN LONDON: It can't be a bad deal to see improvised rap outfit Abandoman for free… and add to the line-up top circuit comic Jeff Innocent, up-and-coming weirdo  Cheekykita and a load more newer acts, and it looks like an irresistible offering at The Queens Head in Limehouse.

Wednesday February 25

LIVE IN LONDON: Another day, another benefit for a homeless charity that features both Josh Widdicombe  and Sara Pascoe. Bigger news is that Eddie Izzard headlines this one, at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, and it's in aid of  Shelter. Tickets

Thursday February 26

RADIO: Radio 4 Extra's topical comedy series Newsjack - the one with an open-door writing policy for anyone to submit ideas - returns for a 12th series  with a new host, Nish Kumar. Read the submissions guidelines here.

LIVE IN LONDON: Double 2015 Chortle Award nominees James Acaster and John Robins along with Ellie Taylor, Lloyd Griffith and Rhys James - all for free? Yes indeed, at the Betsy Trotswood in Clerkenwell.

LIVE IN ABERYSTWYTH: Elis James - the star of BBC Three's Crims and, more importantly, a nifty stand-up in his own right headlines a gig at the arts centre tonight, supported by Sam Fletcher and Clint Edwards.

Friday February 27

LIVE IN LONDON: There can't be many people who don't like Russell Howard OR Daniel Kitson - and both are on the bill of a fundraiser at Battersea Arts Centre to raise money for pioneering cancer treatment at the Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia. You also get  Alun Cochrane and MC Andy Zaltzman for your £15, you lucky people.

LIVE IN MANCHESTER: The Comedy Store does the business again tonight - and tomorrow, come to mention it - with a bill that combines livewire Jarred Christmas, cerebral Josh Howie, whip-smart Sean Collins and assured stand-up from Mark Nelson and Rich Wilson.

Saturday February 28

TV: Nick Frost's movie Cuban Fury - costarring Rashida Jones, Ian McShane, Chris O'Dowd, Olivia Colman and Kayvan Novak, gets its network TV premiere on Channel 4 at 9pm. Here is our review.

Published: 22 Feb 2015