The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead…

Sunday July 5

LIVE IN LONDON: It's Fast Fringe, Chortle's annual showcase of Edinburgh-bound comedy and variety acts. Sample almost 30 of them in one ridiculously packed bill, overseen by festival legend Arthur Smith. This year's gloriously eclectic line-up includes: Alex Edelman, Tiff Stevenson, Kevin Day, Ed Aczel, Nish Kumar, Dane Baptiste, Danielle Ward and many, many, many more…. Tickets

Monday July 6

RADIO: Robin Ince and Professor Brian Cox return for a new series of their science/comedy crossover show The Infinite Monkey Cage, with four programmes coming from the States. In the first, they are joined by Bill Nye The Science Guy and comedian Lisa Lampanelli, among others, as they mull whether science is a force for good or evil. Radio 4, 4.30pm

LIVE IN LONDON: The Landor Theatre in Clapham is running a week of preview shows from some of the more interesting Edinburgh-bound stand-ups under the banner of the Under One Roof Comedy Festival. It kicks off tonight with Tim Key, Ivo Graham and James Acaster, and continues with the likes of Liam Williams, Bridget Christie and Joseph Morpurgo over the coming days. Listings.

LIVE IN DARLINGTON: There's a comedy festival going on in County Durham, too, with a gig most nights from now until August. Tonight's offering is a strong charity gala show at the Dolphin Centre with Alun Cochrane, Carl Donnelly, Jonny Awsum,Patrick Monahan and Dan Nightingale.

Tuesday July 7

LIVE IN LONDON: The Cutting Edge, the Comedy Store's weekly show themed around topical events (sometimes quite loosely) celebrates its 25th birthday tonight. It was set up in 1990 by John Connor, formerly comedy editor at radical London listings magazine City Limits, with the original team comprising Mark Thomas, Kevin Day, Bob Boyton, Nick Revell and Richard Morton. Tonight Jo Brand makes an appearance alongside Jarred Christmas, Sara Pascoe, Ian Stone and Paul Thorne.

LIVE IN LEICESTER: We don't recommend many previews here since work-in-progress gigs are by their nature unpredictable. But with James Acaster and Nish Kumar, both of whom have good instincts for what's funny, tonight's double bill at The Cookie should be among the safer bets…

Wednesday July 8

LIVE IN LONDON: Dave Chapelle starts his run of eagerly-anticipated Hammersmith Apollo shows - his first appearance in the UK since a ten-minute slot seven years ago.

LIVE IN LONDON: One of the hits of this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival makes a one-off appearance at the Soho Theatre. Joel Creasey's The Hurricane is an impressive slice of storytelling comedy, packed full of camp energy and pop-culture references, but also a meaningful undercurrent about those who would undermine your confidence. Click here to read our review from Australia.

Thursday July 9

LIVE IN LONDON: This one's for anyone who wants to know how the industry side of comedy actually works. The day-long Chortle Conference features expert speakers from the club circuit, Edinburgh and broadcasting - plus those who can give help on getting corporate work and making money online. Or put questions to the panel from trade union Equity and learn to from the successes of star speakers such as Inside No 9's Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton; Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner Brendon Burns, and radio star and writer John Finnemore. Full details are here.

LIVE IN HIGH WYCOMBE: A strong mixed stand-up bill at The Swan tonight boasts inventive Adam Bloom, sardonic Romesh Ranganathan and lively Damian Clark.

RADIO: Comic Toby Hadoke (pictured) has written a sci-fi comedy-drama for Radio 4, The Dad Who Fell To Earth, about a man who turns out to be the son of an alien. The stand-up, who also plays the lead, says: 'Although it is science fiction I have written it in a way that will hopefully make the genre-dubious forget about their misgivings and enjoy the jokes and get involved in what is actually a very human story about grief and loss. With some jokes about cheese and a line from Plan 9 From Outer Space.' Radio 4, 2.15pm

Friday July 10

LIVE IN LONDON: The Balham Comedy Festival kicks off nine nights of star-name comedy tonight. Organiser John Moloney has secured the services of such comics as Ed Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi, Ardal O'Hanlon and even Paul Daniels to make appearances at The Bedford pub, the year-round home of the Banana Cabaret. And tonight's launch gala includes Harry Hill. Listings

RADIO: In 1975, at the height of their popularity, Eric Morecambe And Ernie Wise recorded a series for Radio 2, which is now getting a repeat run. Radio 4 Extra, 8.30am

Published: 5 Jul 2015