The comedy week ahead

Sunday July 3

LIVE IN DERBY: The Funhouse Comedy Club hosts one of it's pre-Edinburgh all-dayers at Bar One, where a feast of comedians run through their Fringe shows, and you can see as many as you like for £8. Today's line-up includes the often gross-out humour of Diane Spencer, fake pyschic (is there any other sort?) Ian D Montfort and the preposterous puns of the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre. From 2pm

LIVE IN LONDON: If you think comedy's a young person's game, the Old Comedian Of The Year competition run by the Leicester Square Theatre aims to disavow you of that notion, being open only to those who have reached the grand old age of… 35. Making it to tonight's final are: Elizabeth Mee, Jasper Cromwell Jones, John Pendal, Kelly Kingham, Magnus Turner MP,Pam Ford, Pete Beckley, Tim Shishodia, Boyce Bailey, Claire Parker, Georgia Thorp, Palan and Lenny Sherman.

Monday July 4

RADIO: Robin Ince and Brian Cox return for a new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage with an episode recorded at the Glastonbury Festival and also featuring stand-up Matt Kirshen. Appropriately enough, the panel discuss the evolution and science of music: including why and how humans are programmed to love everything from the Rolling Stones to rap to Rachmaninoff. But why wait for the wireless? The episode has been released on iPlayer in advance here.Radio 4, 4.30pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Another day, another competition final, this one the English Comedian Of The Year that, possibly uniquely, doesn't confine itself to newbies. Competing at the Udderbelly on London's South Bank are: Adam Rowe, Chris McCausland, Eddie Brimson, Gordon Southern, Ian Smith, Joby Megeean,Joe Bor, Josh Pugh, Nick Page, Nina Gilligan,Rachel Fairburn and Tom Toal.

LIVE IN SWANSEA: Beleaguered Jeremy Corbyn seems like he needs all the help he can get at the moment… So lending their support on the #JC4PM tour that comes into Bragwyn Hall tonight are comedians Boothby Graffoe, Josie Long, Rufus Hound, Francesca Martinez and Angela Barnes – plus music and poetry too.

Tuesday July 5

LIVE IN LEICESTER: Jim Jefferies begins a brief tour of the UK with his Freedumb tour. Sadly one of his best-known clips has gone viral again… and we say sadly as it's about gun control and always does the rounds in the wake of a tragedy. It's almost as if the American's never learn. His bluntly honest 'as I see it…' stand-up is at the De Montfort Hall tonight, and other dates are here.

LIVE IN NEWCASTLE: Gary Delaney, no stranger to panel shows thanks to his frequent appearances on Mock The Week, is among those involved in the new Panel Beaters format on at The Stand tonight. Caimh McDonnell, Gavin Webster and Jason Cook are his more-than-able fellow contestants.

Wednesday July 6

LIVE IN LONDON: Well, you'd expect us to feature our own gig in this round-up, but the Fast Fringe boasts an enviable line-up of 28 acts, from the silly shenanigans of Spencer Jones - most recently seen aping Ricky Gervais in BBC Two's Upstart Crow - to the social comments of Nish Kumar. There's music and variety, too, as this eclectic collection of Edinburgh-bound comics give bite-sized samples of their finest work, all compered by the inimitable Arthur Smith. For the full line-up and tickets, see the Leicester Square Theatre website.

LIVE IN HENLEY: Black ties at the ready for what's probably Britain's poshest festival, where evening wear is compulsory. The multi-arts Henley Festival kicks off with Elton John in the main stage, sandwiched between Simon Evans and inventive sketch group The Pin on the comedy one. Over the rest of the fest, which runs til Sunday. You can enjoy the likes of Al Murray, Reginald D Hunter and Nina Conti.

LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM: The comedy world is awash with Edinburgh previews at the moment, but you can't go far wrong with the double being offered at the Glee tonight: cheeky Carey Marx and delightful Lucy Porter.

Thursday July 7

RADIO: Comedian Ria Lina shares her experiences of home-schooling two of her children in this one-off, School Of Raison, based on her stand-up show of the same name. The programme is described as a lightly political-topical exposition on the dumbing down of society and 'didactic comedy for anyone who ever went to school.' Radio 4, 11pm

LIVE IN DUBLIN: American comedians and improvisers Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian come to Vicar Street with a show based on a fictional US Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

Friday July 8

LIVE IN LONDON: The fifth Balham Comedy Festival kicks off today with a line-up that boasts Marcus Brigstocke, Nick Helm, Richard Herring Milton Jones, Shappi Khorsandi and Robert Newman among many other circuit favourites and newer acts. Here is the website.

LIVE IN LONDON: A strong bill at the Comedy Loft in Camden is led by superlative Canadian Glenn Wool, the new voice of Jamali Maddix, musical comic Rob Deering and MC Steve Harris.

LIVE IN LONDON: Written with the driving narrative and gag rate of a taut sitcom script, former BBC New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja performs his solo debut, Day Release, two more times at the Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow.

Published: 3 Jul 2016