The best of the week's live comedy

The week's best live comedy.

Sunday December 23

LONDON: Forget three wise men, there are two grumpy ones at Up The Creek tonight in the craggy guises of Arthur Smith and Rich Hall.

Monday December 24

LONDON: Ivor Dembina hosts his  Traditional Jewish Christmas Eve gig… and quite the tradition it is, too, this being its 25th year. Celebrating - or rather not celebrating - with him are  Josh Howie, Daphna Baram and, Joe Bor in the guise of Jasper Cromwell Jones. It's at the Camden Comedy Club in the Camden Head.

Thursday December 27

LONDON: Andy Zaltzman continues his droll, satirical review of the year – 2018: The Certifiable History – at the Soho Theatre after its Christmas break. It's on until January 5.

LONDON: The Comedy Store presents a more-than-decent bill tonight, with frank and funny Desiree Burch and thoughtful Paul Sinha backed by Imran Yusuf, Rory O'Hanlon and Nathan Caton.

GLASGOW: There's a good spread of Scottish acts at The Stand for Hootfest, running from now until New Year's Eve, with  Janey Godley, Ray Bradshaw, Jamie MacDonald, Donald Alexander and host Scott Agnew entertaining every night.

LIMERICK: A hometown gig for comedy hip-hoppers Rubberbandits, a perfect post-Christmas fillip.

Friday December 28

LONDON: Jen Brister returns to the Soho Theatre for another six performances of her acclaimed show Meaningless, about being a mother to toddler Twins, while also being judged by her own mum. In a four-and-a-half-star review from this year's Edinburgh Fringe, Chortle's Jay Richardson wrote that it was 'a striking example of how to channel frustration and raw emotion into hard-hitting stand-up'.

MANCHESTER: Britain's Got Talent favourite Daliso Chaponda is at  the Comedy Store this weekend with circuit powerhouses Danny McLoughlin, Justin Moorhouse, Phil Nichol and Jimmy McGhie.

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Published: 23 Dec 2018