The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead.

Monday May 23

TV: Good to see The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer get a repeat running on Gold… even if the 12.20am timeslot isn’t exactly primetime. The series, of course, features folk duo Mulligan and O’Hare, flatulent farceurs the Petomanes and Otis and Marvin…

Tuesday May 24

TV: Craig Cash and Sue Johnston make their first appearance together on screen since 2012's The Royle Family special, in new Sky 1 comedy Rovers. The show - written by Joe Wilkinson and David Earl - follows fans of Redbridge Rovers, a struggling lower-league football team. Craig plays loveable loser Pete Mott, while Johnson plays the club's matriarch, Doreen. The ensemble cast includes Steve Speirs, Seb Cardinal, Jamie Demetriou, Lolly Adefope and Diane Morgan. Read more about the series here. Sky 1, 10pm

Wednesday May 25

TV: Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central returns for a second series, with Jimmy Carr and up-and-comer Darren Harriott performing sets in episode one. Comedy Central, 10pm.

LIVE IN LONDON: Top weirdos John Kerns and Beth Vyse are on the Sabotage bill at the Backyard Comedy Club tonight, backed with the more conventional stand-up of Johannesburg-born, Isle of Man-raised Pierre Novellie.

Thursday May 26

RADIO: Paul Sinha returns for a second series of his History Revision, uncovering stories that have been lost over the years. In episode one, he looks at the forgotten women of history – although just one episode probably isn’t enough to overturn centuries of patriarchy…. Radio 4, 6.30pm.

LIVE IN MANCHESTER: Another showcase from the Invisible Dot, producers of new-wave comedy, features the varied talents of Nick Helm, blasting out his insecurities in a glam-rock package, the brilliantly quotidian poetry of Tim Key and internet-inspired madness from Adam Buxton. The show – at the Opera House from 7.30pm – is a warm-up for an even bigger show on Saturday.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: It’s nearly reached the end of its, erm, cycle as Kieran Hodgson prepares to retire Lance, his character comedy show about shamed Tour De France champ Armstrong, before unveiling this year’s Edinburgh Fringe show. But there are still a few more outings to go, including tonight’s at the Komedia,

LIVE IN LONDON: High-energy improvisers The Noise Next Door, and smart-but-accessible Adam Bloom are among the treats on offer at the Comedy Store all weekend.

Friday May 27

RADIO: Comedian Michael Fabbri gets his first Radio 4 programme, a ‘catalogue of mistakes and challenges’ caused by his dyslexia. The first of two episodes in Michael Fabbri’s Dyslexicon covers his school years, and the ‘mental scarring’ of being forced to play Romeo and being confronted with surprise bible readings. Radio 4, 11.30am.

Published: 22 May 2016