An exercise in comedy...

The best comedy on demand

This week’s best comedy shows on demand.

Sweats

This new Radio 4 sitcom, written by and starring Kieran Hodgson, and revolves around the team at a micro-gym in Worthing. This pilot episode co-stars Sarah Daykin, Nick Mohammed, Lolly Adefope, Paul Putner and Alison Steadman. Listen here

Phil Nichol

British stand-up subscription service NextUp has added a couple of new shows from Canadian powerhouse Phil Nichol. In The Naked Racist – which won the 2006 if.comedy award (remember when it was called that?) at the Edinburgh Fringe, he tells of a wild night of druggies, killers and racists in the streets of Amsterdam. The previous year he spoke about sexuality in the equally rambunctious Nearly Gay, which has also just been added to the site’s catalogue.

British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

This affable celebration of the art of sitcom – and how it has reflected and influenced social trends – originally aired on BBC Four in September as part of the landmark sitcom season, but a festive season rerun means it’s back on iPlayer here for 17 more days.

BBC stand-up specials

Also aired over the Christmas period were a number of stand-up specials, which are also currently available on iPlayer in case you missed them: Dawn French Live: 30 Million Minutes; Dara O Briain: Crowd Tickler Live; Miranda Hart: My, What I Call, Live Show and Kevin Bridges: A Whole Different Story

Blackbird

He’s a strange, quirky and beautifully shot short film about temporary employment from actor Daniela Pasquini, who has had successful shows at the Soho and The Bush Theatres in London. It was made with the aid of comic Jonnie Bayfield.