The best of the comedy week ahead

The best of the comedy week ahead…

Sunday January 17

RADIO: The BBC’s Asian Network presents a stand-up show marking 50 years of Asian programming. Recorded at The Drum in Birmingham in December, it features host Tommy Sandhu and comics Shaista Aziz, Aditi Mittal, Tez Ilyas and Guz Khan, who recently joined BBC Radio Asian Network as a presenter. A half-hour of highlights are  also available on on iPlayer from now. 1pm

Monday January 18

RADIO: Brian Cox and Robin Ince return for a new series of their award-winning science/comedy show The Infinite Monkey Cage. In this first episode they are joined by Jo Brand, neuroscientist Anil Seth, and robotics expert Alan Winfield to discuss artificial intelligence. Radio 4, 4.30pm

LIVE IN LONDON: There’s a Smiths tribute band called The Iain Duncan Smiths. We bring you that pleasing information as they take their place alongside a stellar comedy line-up at the legendary 100 Club raising money for CALM, which works to prevent male suicides. Also appearing are the likes of Adam Riches, Andrew Maxwell, John Shuttleworth and tribute act Woody Allen(ish).

LIVE IN LONDON: ‘The more you drink the funnier we are,’ is the common compere’s refrain. But can comedy work without booze? That’s what tonight’s dry comedy night at the Leicester Square Theatre aims to find out, with a bill that boasts Arthur Smith, Hal Cruttenden, Richard Herring,Sara Pascoe and  Vikki Stone.

LIVE IN LONDON: Eddie Izzard starts a four-week reprise of his Force Majeure show at the  Palace Theatre. Here is our review of its original incarnation, as seen in Brighton in 2013.

Wednesday January 20

TV:  Peter Richardson’s Comic Strip collective take on the phone-hacking scandal in Red Top, the much-anticipated new 75-minute one-off. Maxine Peake plays Rebekah, whose papers get caught up in a 1970s Watergate-style scandal. As usual the supporting cast features the creme of British comedy, including  Nigel Planer as Rupert Murdoch, Russell Tovey as Andy Coulson and Stephen Mangan  reprising his role as Tony Blair. Johnny Vegas, Alexei Sayle, Harry Enfield, James Buckley and John Sessions also star. UKTV Gold, 10pm

LIVE IN EDINBURGH:  Keir McAllister, Mark Nelson, Vladimir McTavish take their monthly look at the news in So… That Was January at The Stand.

Thursday January 21

LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM: Playful and inventive mime Boy With Tape On His Face joins the line-up of the Chortle award-winning Comedy Carousel at the Birmingham Glee tonight.

Friday January 22

LIVE IN LONDON: The Bush Hall in West London normally attracts an A-list line-up, and tonight is no exception with the eclectic talents of Andrew Maxwell, Ardal O’Hanlon, Elis James and Nick Helm.

LIVE IN SHEFFIELD: The intellectual humour of ITV Chaser Paul Sinha is contrasted with the childish stupidity of Rob Rouse at the Laugh Laugh at the Memorial Hall both tonight and tomorrow.

Saturday January 23

ON DEMAND: Chelsea Handler’s documentary series, Chelsea Does, launches on Netflix today. The series comprises four ‘revealing and introspective’ film on marriage, racism, Silicon Valle and drugs, promising ‘hard conversations about things that are not easy to talk about, and learning who she is along the way’.

LIVE IN EASTBOURNE: The Stand Up For Labour fundraisers stage a gig in honour of Denis Healey, who appeared at one of the organisation’s first events here on the South Coast. Tonight’s bill at the Underground Theatre features Grainne Maguire, fresh from her appearance on Question Time on Thursday, plus Arthur Smith and Norman Lovett.

LIVE IN YORK: Upbeat ‘carpe diem’ comedy from Luisa Omielan and the wry familial observations of Paul Tonkinson grace the stage of the Hyena Lounge at The Duchess pub tonight.

LIVE IN CANTERBURY: A strong bill of up-and-comers at the Marlowe Theatre includes Ed Gamble, whose BBC America show Almost Royal has just begun a second series, and former Chortle Student Comedy Award-winner Adam Hess.

LIVE IN DUBLIN: Super-excitable Jason Byrne spreads his madness to the Draiocht Arts Centre in the Blanchardstown suburb tonight and tomorrow.

Published: 17 Jan 2016