The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Monday April 27

LIVE IN LONDON: Mark Thomas brings his acclaimed show Cuckooed - about his discovery that a fellow anti-arms-trade activist he called a friend turned out to be a spy for a weapons manufacturer - is at the Four Thieves in Battersea all week, shifted from the nearby arts centre following its recent fire.

Tuesday April 28

LIVE IN LONDON: Harry Hill is back on the circuit, and tonight plays the Proud Gallery in Camden with a strong support bill that also includes Catskills throwback Sol Bernstein and assured up-and-comer  Hari Sriskantha.

Wednesday April 29

TV: You may have already seen it on iPlayer, but Peter Kay’s first sitcom in a decade, Car Share, makes its BBC One debut at 9.30pm. Review

TV: Comedy Central’s big new signing, Russell Howard, launches his Stand Up Central at 10pm. It’s billed as his first ever TV stand-up show - which is perhaps  disingenuous given the format of Good News. Recorded at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, North London, every week he's joined by two comedians, starting with Nish Kumar and Sara Pascoe.

Friday May 1

LIVE IN MACHYNLLETH: It’s the boutique alternative comedy festival the performers all love. Three days of largely work-in-progress shows as the likes of Rob Newman (pictured), Mark Watson, Max & Ivan, Stewart Lee and Simon Munnery descend on the tiny, picturesque  Powys market town (population 2,147). Don’t expect any coverage on Chortle, though,as  press and comedy industry folk are strictly verboten to protect the below-the-radar vibe. The only exception is   Radio 4 Extra, which will be presenting highlights over the bank holiday weekend, hosted by Arthur Smith.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: Meanwhile, on England’s south coast, the month-long Brighton Fringe kicks off. Tonight’s pick is the passionately intelligent Stuart Black at the Caroline of Brunswick at 10.15pm (and for free)...

LIVE IN DROITWICH: A very impressive line-up launches what could become a regular night at the Chateau Impney hotel. Unpredictable crowd-worker Jason Byrne joins pun maestro Gary Delaney, middle-class worrier Hal Cruttenden and affable everyman Justin Moorhouse on the ‘no-filler’ bill.

RADIO: Stand-up Des Clarke is to star in his own six-part BBC Radio Scotland comedy series, Des Clarke Exposed, starting at 1.30pm today. He is also performing at Falkirk Town Hall tonight as part of his ongoing Scottish tour.

Saturday May 2

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: Tonight’s Brighton Fringe suggestion is 67-year-old storytelling comic David James making his solo show debut,  Baby-Boomer, at the Komedia at 6pm.

LIVE IN LONDON:  With both Andrew Maxwell and Carey Marx, the Comedy Carnival at Bar Rhumba offers the best in stand-up tonight, mixing cheeky, dark and political humour in equal measure.

Published: 26 Apr 2015