The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead…

Sunday May 24

TV: The 26th series of The Simpsons, likely to be the last starring Harry Shearer, wraps up with an episode in which Lisa spearheads a campaign to turn Springfield Elementary into a more innovative and nurturing environment. Science writer Simon Singh should stand by his Sky Plus, too, as executive producer Al Jean says the season swan song features the most fiendish maths-related joke they could come up with. Sky 1,6.30pm

LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE: Francesca Martinez performs her uplifting show about identity and conformity, What The #### Is Normal?, at the Junction tonight.

Tuesday May 26:

LIVE IN LONDON: There’s a strong bill at the 99 Club in Leicester Square tonight, courtesy of venue regulars Holly Walsh, James Acaster, John Robins and Josh Howie.

Wednesday May 27

TV: 10.45pm is a surprisingly late time slot for BBC One’s new comedy Suntrap, which seems to have primetime written all over it, sounding somewhere between Benidorm and Minder. Kayvan Novak plays an undercover reporter Woody, forced to lie low on a Spanish island with his former mentor Brutus (Bradley Walsh), who now runs a bar. Adopting a range of larger-than-life personas, Woody embarks on a series of mad escapades – the first involving the kidnap of a fraudster’s talking parrot. Guest starring Jack Dee. BBC One, 10.45pm

Thursday May 28

LIVE IN EDINBURGH There’s a playful feel to The Stand’s line-up this weekend. Both Dan Nightingale and Mickey D are regular comperes for their ability to spread good cheer, but here they perform regular sets, with the dry Scott Agnew as MC. Punchy Jessica Fostekew, and West Country storyteller Will Hodgson complete the bill.

Friday May 29

LIVE IN WELLS: A small festival with a big line-up kicks off its three nights of gigs with Tommy Tiernan, Robin Ince, Simon Munnery and Mike Wozniak. It’s booked by Time Out’s comedy guru Ben Williams, which explains the high quality. Nick Helm, Tim Key and Mark Watson are among those appearing at the Little Theatre over the rest of the weekend.

LIVE IN LONDON: Like marathon shows? Then how does a 50 hour improvised soap opera grab you? The annual endurance event is back at Lambeth’s Lost Theatre, from 7pm. Created by Canadian troupe Die Nasty, and originally imported to London by maverick theatre genius Ken Campbell, the show takes the form of 25, two-hour episodes, back-to-back.

LIVE IN LONDON: Enjoy a Friday Night Dinner with at least some of the cast of Friday Night Dinner. Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal, Tamsin Greig, and Tracy Ann Oberman will be present at a meal and screening of the Channel 4 sitcom at Jewish cultural centre JW3.

Saturday May 30

TV: John Bishop spearheads the BBC’s latest bid to bring variety back to Saturday night telly, with an eight-part series recorded at the Hackney Empire. Guests in episode one are comics Trevor Noah, James Acaster and Felicity Ward, improv-comedy-musician Beardyman, and Paul Weller with his latest single Saturn’s Pattern. BBC One, 9.45pm

Published: 24 May 2015