The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy

Sunday July 8

DERBY: Bar One hosts a day-long marathon of Edinburgh previews from 2pm, with stand-ups Adam Rowe, Alistair Barrie, Jayde Adams,Laura Lexx, Patrick Monahan and Tom Houghton.

SHEFFIELD: And it's the same story at the New Barrack Tavern, with the day-long bill featuring Alfie Moore, Carey Marx, Chris Stokes, George Lewis, George Zach and Patrick Monahan (again)

Monday July 9

LONDON: Entirely unbiased, of course, but our Fast Fringe showcase of 28 diverse comedy and variety acts heading to Edinburgh has to be the gig of the week. Gathering at the Underbelly on the Southbank are Lost Voice Guy – fresh from his Britain's Got Talent victory, Flo & Joan, Jim Tavare, The Raymond & Mr Timkins Revue, Edfringe: The Musical, John-Luke Roberts, Alex Edelman, Rhys Nicholson, Elf Lyons, Griffin & Jones, Josh Berry, Lolly Jones, Ivy Paige, Zach Zucker, Tessa Waters, Luke Rollason, John Hastings, Josh Pugh, Mark Silcox, Catherine Bohart, Charlie Partridge, George Rigden, Micky Overman, Sophie Duker, Maisie Adam, Josh Berry, Ciarán Dowd, Heidi Regan and Rachel Fairburn. It's all compered by Arthur Smith and tickets are available here

Tuesday July 10

LONDON: A couple of very strong transatlantic acts are previewing their Edinburgh shows at the Honor Oak in Forest Hill: potty-mouthed Canadian storyteller Tom Stade and clued-up millennial American Alex Edelman.

Wednesday July 11

Let's face it, few people are going to be watching comedy tonight. But just in case the World Cup semi-final isn't your thing...

HENLEY: The five-day Thameside festival kicks off tonight, with major musical stars on a stage over the river every night. But there's also a comedy tent, and tonight Mark Watson will be competing for attention with Rita Ora, on a bill that also includes Andrew Maxwell, Alfie Brown and Thunderbards.

LONDON: Well-dressed, well-spoken Tom Allen settles in for a two-week run at the the Soho Theatre, offering an hour of arch comedy as part of his first solo tour.

LONDON: Pigspurt's Daughter, a new theatre show in which Ken Campbell's daughter Daisy describes what it was like being brought up by such a larger-than-life theatrical figure, starts a five-night run at the Hampstead Theatre.

Thursday July 12

LONDON: This sounds intriguing: The Assassination Of Adam Riches By 'The Coward' Ben Target is a one-off at the Battersea Arts Centre's outdoor courtyard in which the powerhouse Riches and surreal Target staging a 'bespoke night of western hijinks and geographically questionable accents'. Yeeeee-haarrr!

Friday July 13

SOUTHWOLD: Britain's finest comedians are descending on a Suffolk field this weekend for the Latitude Festival, including Bridget Christie, Harry Hill, Dylan Moran, the QI team, James Acaster, David O'Doherty, Tim Key etc etc. Friday and Sunday day tickets are still available, as are weekend camping tickets. And here is our guide to the comedy line-ups at all the summer festivals.

LONDON: It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the Muppets at the O2 Arena tonight. The foam heroes are staging three shows over two nights, with guests ranging from Adam Hills to Kylie Minogue, David Tenant to Charles Dance.

BLACKPOOL:Jon Richardson is performing his last tour show, Old Man one last time as he tapes the DVD at the The Grand.

Saturday July 14

BARNARD CASTLE: Another big bill of Edinburgh previews kicks off at the Witham Hall at 5pm, with Mash Report satirist Nish Kumar, whip smart Alex Edelman, winsome weirdo Lucy Pearman, and former BBC New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja.

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Published: 8 Jul 2018