Highlights of the comedy week ahead...

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Sunday March 22

LIVE IN LONDON: Welcome a promising debutant to the West End stage, one Mel Brooks, who takes to the Prince Of Wales theatre with a show that is billed as offering a mix of 'childhood memories, Hollywood history, unforgettable live music and uproarious laughter'. Although long sold out, front row tickets to see the 88-year-old in conversation will be sold through a lottery at the box office today. Entries are accepted at £25 from 5pm, with names drawn at random at 5:30pm.

LIVE IN GLASGOW: The Glasgow International Comedy Festival continues all week. Tonight's highlight has to be Al Murray performing his One Man, One Guvnor tour at the King's Theatre. Later in the week, TV show Burnistoun stage a live show, double 2015 Chortle-winner Bridget Christie is in town, and Frankie Boyle headlines a benefit for MND.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: There's a 'Big Green Comedy Gig' at the Theatre Royal tonight in aid of the Green Party, which runs Brighton council and, via Caroline Lucas, represents the city in Parliament. This fundraiser boasts the cream of political stand-ups: Jeremy Hardy, Mark Steel, Rob Newman, Robin Ince, and Shappi Khorsandi.

Monday March 23

RADIO: Couples is a new, semi-improvised comedy in which Julia Davis and Marc Wootton play a series of couples on the couch with therapist Dr Tanya Ray-Harding, played by Vicki Pepperdine. Radio 4, 11pm

Tuesday March 24

LIVE IN LONDON: The annual Teenage Cancer Trust comedy fundraiser at the Royal Albert Hall is hosted by Kevin Bridges, and boasts the impressive line-up of Frankie Boyle, Noel Fielding, Jon Richardson, Kerry Godliman and Doc Brown.

LIVE IN UXBRIDGE: It's the final heat of the Chortle Student Comedy Awards at the Union of Brunel Students tonight. Could we find the future of comedy here? Tickets for the 8pm show are a fiver on the door.

Wednesday March 25

RADIO: Miles Jupp visits the land of his ancestors in Miles Jupp Is Insufficiently Belgian. Radio 4. 11.30am And his cookery show In And Out Of The Kitchen is on Radio 4 Extra at 11pm tomorrow.

LIVE IN LONDON: The Comedians' Cinema Club have an under-rehearsed, knockabout attempt at covering another Hollywood classic - this time E.T. - at the Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park.

LIVE IN DUBLIN: Cheaply bemasked Limerick comedy hip-hop duo Rubberbandits present the Irish premiere of their latest show, Continental Fistfight, with four nights at the Abbey Theatre. Read our review of an earlier London run here

Thursday March 26

TV: Rejoice as the magnificent Inside No 9 returns for another series of suspenseful comic vignettes, all concealing a curious twist in the tales. Series 2 kicks off with La Couchette, set on the sleeper carriage of an overnight French train where the passengers increasingly rile each other. Jack Whitehall guest stars alongside creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Read our feature on the series here

Friday March 27

RADIO: A new comedy-drama, Frankie Takes A Trip, looks at the roller-coaster career of Frankie Howerd, via a genuine 1962 incident when, during a period of depression, he tried LSD. It stars David Benson in the title role and was written by Martyn Hesford, who also penned the BBC Four bioic of Kenneth Williams, Fantabulosa! Radio 4, 2.15pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Slow-burn sketch maestros Cardinal Burns had been due to play the Grand Hall of the Battersea Arts Centre tonight… but due to this month's fire that gutted the space they have moved to the nearby The Four Thieves. As this venue is smaller, they are doing two performances, at 7:30pm & 9:30pm

Saturday March 28

LIVE IN GUILDFORD: East Midlands comedy club Just The Tonic launches an offensive into Surrey with a new night at Guildford Casino. And it's opened by a trio of top acts who are all strong touring names in their own right: Ed Byrne, Gary Delaney and Hal Cruttenden.

LIVE IN GLASGOW: Local radio star Des Clarke kicks of his first stand-up tour in five years with a comedy festival gig at the Citizens Theatre. Click here for full dates.

LIVE IN LONDON: Inspired by Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball, NHS in Stitches aims to use top stand-ups to highlight the threats facing the health service. Lucy Porter, Rufus Hound (who stood for election as a Euro-MP on a save-the-NHS ticket), Slim, Kerry Godliman, Stewart Lee, Junior Simpson, Mark Steel, Wendy Wason, Nish Kumar, Pappy's and Francesca Martinez will all be taking to the Hackney Empire stage tonight.

Published: 22 Mar 2015