The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead.

Sunday December 6

LIVE IN LONDON: It's the final of the Laughing Horse new act competition at the Dogstar in Brixton, with the culmination of the long talent hunt showcasing the comedy of Donal Vaughan, Cheekykita, Emmanuel Sonubi, John Pendal, Nigel Ng, Saskia Preston, Peter Flanagan, Dimitri Bankanov, Njambi McGrath, Dylan Gott, Glorious Monster, Lucy Roper, Flora Anderson and James Shakeshaft.

LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM: A benefit in aid of the British Red Cross at The Approach is lead by ITV Chaser Paul Sinha and features some of the best on the circuit, including musical comic Christian Reilly, Glaswegian storyteller Janey Godley and Junior Simpson, Spiky Mike and Sully O'Sullivan.

Monday December 7

TV: Twisted comic storytelling show Crackanory returns to Dave, stripped at 10pm every night this week and featuring the likes of Carrie Fisher, Sarah Millican and Catherine Tate taking to the battered armchair. Click here for a full episode guide, and here's an exclusive extract from Simon Bird's story, plus an an interview:

Tuesday December 8

TV: 8 Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown is back for a Christmas special with Johnny Vegas and Katherine Ryan as the guest contestants, and David O'Doherty joining Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. 9pm

LIVE IN LONDON: You're Not Alone, Kim Noble's powerful and disturbing show about loneliness in the age of electronic interconnectedness starts a month-long run at the Soho Theatre. Stretching comedy – and ethics – to its limit, this is a challenging and awkwardly funny hour of profound comedy. Review. 7.15pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Bill Bailey starts a long London run of his latest stand-up show, Limboland, with two nights at the Hammersmith Apollo before it moves to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End, where it remains until January 17.Tickets

LIVE IN LONDON: Brendon Burns is hosting a run of 'anti-Christmas' gigs which he promises will be the antithesis of the usual office party shenanigans. Top-notch guests popping in to the No F*cking Xmas Parties Podcasts being recorded at the intimate Hen And Chickens in Islington will include Matt Lucas, Rich Hall, Katherine Ryan and Robin Ince. Listings.

LIVE IN LONDON: The annual Weirdos panto, featuring some of the more surreal members of the comedy circuit, opens at the Grotto, the pop-up venue in the City, for a four-night run. And proceeds for the show, all about the magic of a Christmas Number 1, go to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. Expect cheap props, a preposterous plot and a cast that includes Beth Vyse, Gareth Morinan, Pat Cahill, John Kearns and Joz Norris.

LIVE IN NEWCASTLE: Seymour Mace got a shock this Edinburgh when his Niche as F*ck show was nominated for the Foster's award – given its premise was that he'd given up chasing success and acclaim and was just going to muck about on his own terms. Now he enjoys a home-town gig at the Stand tonight.

RADIO: The Show What You Wrote, the crowd-written sketch show, returns for a third series starring Jason Manford, Janice Connolly, Gavin Webster, Fiona Clarke and Darren Kuppan. Radio 4, 11pm.

Thursday December 10

TV: Julia Davis returns with the first of two hour-long episodes of her twisted period comedy Hunderby, in which she plays scheming housekeeper Dorothy. And joining the show for these specials are a new pastor, played in typical sinister style by Reece Shearsmith. In this episode he causes a stir after he announces that any homosexual men in the area are to be identified and hanged. Sky Atlantic, 10pm

Friday December 11

LIVE IN LONDON: Two oddball masters in the outer south-east corner of the capital tonight as both Harry Hill and Sam Simmons play Beckenham Comedy Cabaret at the suburb's Public Halls. And maintaining the offbeat atmosphere is the support bill of Anna Morris, Cheekykita and Jody Kamali.

LIVE IN CAERPHILLY You couldn't hope for a better double-bill of nearly-famous comics, with the smart insight of Paul Sinha contrasting with the witty wordplay of one-line maestro Gary Delaney, Paul Sinha. This gig at the Workmens Hall is compered by musical comic Abi Roberts.

Published: 6 Dec 2015