The best of the week's comedy on TV and radio

The best of another busy week for comedy on TV and radio.

Monday September 18

W1A: The strategic wayfinders at the BBC have purposed their strong vision for the future of this prime, brand-leading humour content, going forward with a bold and exciting positioning within the executive-driven time-matrix of its secondary linear broadcasting medium. Or rather, this hit comedy about the inner machinations of the BBC – or any jargon-filled corporation – is coming back to BBC Two at 10pm tonight.

JOEL AND NISH VS THE WORLD: This six-part travelogue comes with a twist, as Joel Dommett goes toe-to-toe with some of  strongest, fittest, and toughest people in the world, including Sherpas and Masai warriors. And while the I’m A Celebrity… star provides the brawn, his pal Nish Kumar is the brains. Or at least the guy lobbing in snarky comments from the sidelines.  Comedy Central, 9pm

Tuesday September 19

SPOTLIGHT TONIGHT WITH Nish Kumar: There’s plenty of Nish in the comedy sea this week, with the return of his topical Radio 4 show for a second, four-part series. The late-night show aims to take a more in-depth look at the biggest stories from the past seven days as well as scrutinising the bigger issues of the moment. Comic Sarah Campbell, one of the show’s writing team, also makes an appearance today. Radio 4, 11pm

Wednesday September  20

GOOD MOVE: Here’s a rarity: a new ITV sitcom.  Jack Dee and Kerry Godliman play a married couple who decide  that a move to the countryside from the city is the answer to all their dreams. Spoiler alert: it isn’t, and now there is no going back. Miles Jupp plays a neighbour and Seann Walsh another villager called Grizzo, while Dee wrote the script with  his long-time collaborator Pete Sinclair.ITV, 8pm

PORTERS: The new hospital comedy Porters features Ed Easton as a hospital porter who dreams of passing his medical exam and becoming a doctor, while Chewing Gum’s Susan Wokoma plays his cynical colleague. In a double casting coup, the series also features Rutger Hauer as another porter and Kelsey Grammer making a guest appearance as a smartypants doctor (such range!). Dave, 10pm

FAMALAM: The latest ‘New On Two’ comedy pilot is this sketch show from an all-black cast - and just 21 years after The Real McCoy, so no rush, BBC! The team are  Vivienne Acheampong, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Roxanne Sternberg, Samson Kayo, John Macmillan and  Tom Moutchi. BBC Two, 10pm.

Thursday September 21

THE Russell Howard HOUR: Don’t expect too much deviation from the ‘Good News’ format that worked so well for him, even though the extended length  will allow more chat with celebrity guests, to go alongside the stand-up’s discussion of the week’s news. Sky 1, 10pm.

Published: 17 Sep 2017