The comedy week ahead

Sunday May 10

TV: Python star Terry Jones presents the latest in ITV’s Perspective series of  personal arts documentaries. In his, he traces Charlie Chaplin’s incredible journey from abject poverty in South London to being one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood - including clips of his work and home movie material. Jones also doesn’t shy away from Chaplin’s troubled private life. ITV, 10.35pm

Monday May 11

LIVE IN LONDON: Standard Issue, the online, intelligent women’s magazine backed by Sarah Millican, is hosting a West End benefit night in aid of Comic Relief. As well as Ms M herself, the line-up at the Lyric Theatre comprises Holly Walsh, Jenny Eclair, Jessica Fostekew, Jo Brand, Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe and Susan Calman.

LIVE IN LONDON: Beth Vyse’s bonkers chaos-fest, Get Up With Hands, is at Soho Theatre for a couple of nights this week. It’s nominally based around an awful breakfast TV host, not that that matters too much for the slapstick comedy… Review

LIVE IN KINGSTON: An excellent bill at the Outside The Box club tonight reads like a shortlist for some unspecified live comedy award, featuring as it does the no-duds line-up of  Ed Gamble, Hal Cruttenden, James Acaster, Lucy Beaumont and Seann Walsh.

Tuesday May 12

RADIO: He’s been a high-end circuit comedians for decades, but only now has John Moloney been given his own Radio 4 stand-up show. Recorded in front of an audience at The Stand in Edinburgh, the first of four 15-minute shows also features Julia Sutherland, Gareth Waugh and Fred MacAulay. Radio 4, 11pm

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: Raising much-needed funds for the Nepal earthquake appeal, this month’s Charity Chuckle at the Komedia features hard-bitten American absurdist Al Lubel and the troubled mind of Bobby Mair, among others…

LIVE IN LONDON: Meanwhile in the capital, a host of comics are raising money for War on Want, including News Quiz favourite Jeremy Hardy, former Edinburgh best newcomer nominee Aisling Bea and the ever-wonderful Carey Marx. At the Union Chapel, and just £15 (£10 concs)

Wednesday May 13

TV: The BBC call Rory Bremner's Election Report a ‘timely’ programme looking back at the general election… though whether there’s still appetite for satire about the polls six days after the event remains to be seen. But hopefully the master impressionist will find satire not already covered by Charlie Brooker, C4’s Alternative Election Night, Have I Got News For You, Dead Ringers, Newzoids and The Now Show… or even just Twitter. BBC Two, 10pm

LIVE IN HARROGATE: The Sitting Room hosts the charismatic and funny Tom Stade tonight, headlining  solid line-up of Holly Walsh, Nathan Caton and cheeky MC Dan Nightingale.

Thursday May 14

LIVE IN LONDON: Even after all these years. the Comedy Store can still have its pick of comedians - and it’s collected some of the circuit’s top flight this weekend with  Adam Bloom, Alun Cochrane, Carey Marx, and the improvisation song-and-dance of Noise Next Door all compered by Phil Walker.

LIVE IN LEEDS: Several shades of madness, all entertaining, at the  Belgrave Music Hall tonight, with hyperactive oddball  Harriet Dyer, absurdist Seymour Mace and laconic comic storyteller Tom Wrigglesworth all on the bill.

Friday May 15

LIVE IN LONDON: If you’ve got your stick ready to shake at comedians, put it away - there are simply too many on the bill of the annual Channel 4 Comedy Gala at the O2, organised by agents Off The Kerb in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The line-up includes - deep breath - Aisling Bea, Alan Carr, Jack Dee, Jason Byrne,Jon Richardson, Josh Widdicombe, Katherine Ryan, Kevin Bridges, Michael McIntyre, Paul Chowdhry, Rich Hall, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Sean Lock, Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi, Jonathan Ross and Warwick Davis. Phew.

Published: 10 May 2015