The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead.

Monday December 21

LIVE IN LONDON: Rescheduled from earlier in the year, when a little distraction of landing The Daily Show hosting job kept him away, Trevor Noah is back at the Hammersmith Apollo tonight and tomorrow with his Lost In Translation stand-up show.

FILM/LIVE IN LONDON: Tom Basden, Tim Key and director J Van Tulleken made a none-too-festive Christmas short film Anthony on location in Lapland. The 15-minute film is getting a rare airing at the Soho Theatre tonight, including an intro from Key and Basden. Here is a short review from when it was shown at last year's Latitude.

Tuesday December 22

TV: The BBC pays tribute to one of its most enduring comedy hits, with this drama about about how Dad's Army came to the screen, despite some opposition among executives and tension between the writers. We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story will be on BBC Two at 9pm.

LIVE IN EDINBURGH: Camp as Christmas and twice as twinkly, the pop-musical comedy of Frisky and Mannish fills the Spiegeltent tonight and tomorrow.

Wednesday December 23

TV: The Detectorists is back for a one-off… though it's not a Christmas special, which might come as a relief in this week full of 'em. Needless to say, it's a delight. Here's a preview:

Thursday December 24

TV: Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns might have a clunky time to make the most of its star's pulling power, but it remains the sort of family viewing that's the staple of Christmas TV. Written by Charlie Higdon it features David Mitchell, Steve Pemberton, Simon Day and Matt Berry among the comedy nobility in the cast. BBC One, 5.20pm

TV: 8 Out Of 10 Cats returns for a Christmas special in which Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Jon Richardson are joined by Peter Andre, Seann Walsh, Roisin Conaty and Joe Lycett. Channel 4, 9pm

TV: David Walliams finds a new double-act partner in Joanna Lumley in this one-off, Walliams & Friend. The Beeb's head of comedy commissioning, Shane Allen, says it's 'proof that the sketch show in the right hands can still deliver laughs in surprising and satisfying ways.' BBC One, 10.05pm.

TV: Lee Mack's Not Going Out – now Britain's longest-running sitcom after Peep Show bowed out – returns for a Christmas special. BBC One, 10.45pm

LIVE IN LONDON: A couple of Jewish gigs in town tonight: Steve Furst dusts down the Lenny Beige wig for a 'Matzo Ball' at the Holiday Inn in Camden, which also features Adam Bloom and Lewis Schaffer. While just yards away at the Camden Comedy Club in the Camden head, Ivor Dembina hosts his Traditional Jewish Christmas Eve gig.

Saturday December 26

TV: Russell Howard makes his acting debut – alongside his sister Kerry from Him And Her – in A Gert Lush Christmas, a family comedy that promises 'earth humour and a lot of heart'. BBC Two, 9pm

TV: Channel 4's annual Big Fat Quiz Of The Year this time around features Rob Brydon, Richard Ayoade, David Mitchell, Claudia Winkleman, Greg Davies and Jo Brand. 9pm

LIVE IN LONDON: If you're itching to get out for some live comedy after a couple of days with the family… or more likely if you're a tourist, the Comedy Store has a line-up that would be strong any day of the year: Carey Marx, Jeff Innocent, Pete Johansson, Tom Wrigglesworth and MC Rich Wilson.

Sunday December 27:

TV: Catherine Tate's intolerant pensioner returns for two new specials, tonight and next Wednesday. In this first episode - which features Warwick Davis as a guest star – she is ordered to go on an anger management course. BBC One, 10.25pm

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: You'll probably feel you're on top of all the events of 2015 given the glut of reviews of the year… but all week Treason Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2002 at Chortle.co.uk">The Treason Show put their comic spin on things with their annual round-up at the Dome.

Published: 20 Dec 2015