Mark Thomas launches new NHS podcast

Today's best comedy on demand

Here's Chortle's daily round-up of new comedy to watch at home during lockdown.

This list, updated at around 3pm daily, covers subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, iPlayer and NextUp, to podcasts and shows that comedians are releasing themselves, is your essential guide to getting a daily dose of laughs.

As well as these highlights, you can search our listings for other online events using the blue box at the left or top of this page. Or if you're a promoter wanting to add an event, details are here.

Friday July 31

MARK THOMAS'S LOCKDOWN CHECK-UP: While in lockdown with his 85-year-old mother, the political comedian has been working on this project to record NHS and care workers' testimonies. The first podcast was published yesterday, and more will come over the next six weeks. Thomas jokes: 'It’s a good 'un and it's 24 minutes long - unlike anything else I have done where I normally rattle on for hours.' Listen here.

YOU'RE DEAD TO ME: Horrible History 'head nerd' Greg Jenner returns for a new series of his podcast combining comedy with the past. In this new episode he is joined by historian Prof Michael Scott and stand-up Shappi Khorsandi to cover The Battle of Salamis of 480BCE. Listen here.

ERIC ANDRE DOES PARIS: This one-off Adult Swim special from the world's 'most inept and violent host' has today landed on All 4. Tired of trying to make America great again, Eric hits the streets of Paris to ponder existential questions with the people of France. There are also more than 40 episodes of his anarchic talk show on the same platform.

MARCEL LUCONT'S CABARET DOMESTIQUE: It's the last episode of the online variety showcase tonight, with the aloof Frenchman introducing cabaret & comedy artistes including Anna Mann, Hannah Finn and Virgin Xtravaganzah from 9pm. Tune in here.

Thursday July 30

THE WEEKLY STAND-UP: Russell Howard is the big-ticket name at Jason Manford's online comedy club tonight, but the bill also features Barbara Nice and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, both of whom performed at the first pilot gig of indoors stand-up last night, and fellow comic Dane Baptiste. It starts at 8pm, and tickets are available here.

THE LUNCHTIME SPECIAL: Usually a fixture of the Edinburgh Fringe, The Boat Show comedy club is reviving this compilation stand-up show for the Zoom audience. In the first, at 1.15pm tomorrow, Hal Cruttenden introduces former Edinburgh best newcomer nominee Sara Barron and improv rapper Abandoman. Tickets are available here, priced £3.

SAY MY NAME: Comedian and Guilty Feminist podcaster Deborah Frances-White wrote this 2018 rom-com movie about a couple who wake up after a drunken one-night stand, and promptly find themselves the targets of a couple of armed robbers (including Catastrophe's Mark Bonnar). Former Doctor Who Peter Davison also appears as a local lawyer. And it's just been released to watch for free to Amazon Prime subscribers. Here's a trailer:

Wednesday July 29

CHATTIN' SHIT: People Just Do Nothing stars Allan Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin launch their new podcast today - and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Normally the duo, who play MC Grindah and DJ Beats in the BBC comedy, will be joined by a guest, but for the opening episode it's just the pair of them chewing the fat. Episode two, with This Country’s Charlie Cooper, is also released today, all via the usual podcast platforms, including Acast.

EASEY COMEDY: Adam Hills host a virtual version of this Melbourne Comedy Club every Thursday, at 11.30am UK time. This week's Zoom line-up includes Aussie TV regular Celia Pacquola and Brit Lloyd Langford among others. More details here.

HAMILTON - BUT IT'S MUPPETS: We're not sure who needs to hear this... and who will last the full two-and-a-half hours, but YouTuber Ricky Downes III has recorded the entire Hamilton musical as the Muppets. Kermit's in the lead role, obviously with Miss Piggy as Eliza Schuyler, the Great Gonzo as Aaron Burr and Fozzie Bear as 'Marquis de LaFozette'....

THE REAL McCOY: As we reported earlier today, the groundbreaking black and Asian sketch series FINALLY arrives on iPlayer, 24 years after it last aired on the BBC.

Tuesday July 28

BAFTA TV SESSION: Some of the nominees for the best comedy performance Bafta on Friday share their tips on preparing for roles, shaping their characters, and getting those all-important laughs. In the YouTube session, which starts at 5pm, are Sian Clifford from Fleabag; Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats); Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education); Gbemisola Ikumelo (Famalam); Youssef Kerkour (Home, pictured) and Guz Khan (Man Like Mobeen). Watch here.

HOW THEY DO IT: RICK AND MORTY PANEL: On the topic of trade secrets, this session from the virtual Adult Swim Con takes a look behind Rick and Morty. Dan Harmon, Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, and Spencer Grammer go over classic episodes and stare their making-of stories...

MAT EWINS - RETROSPECTIVE: Inventive both comedically and technically, the 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee rifles through the archives and presents a curated selection of his infamous videos in this show, airing on Zoom at 8pm tonight. Tickets, priced £5.50, are available here.

Monday July 27

OLD ROPE: Alex Edelman, Nish Kumar and Isma Almas are the comics working out how to make their ideas funny in the online version of one of London's most-loved new material nights. Tiff Stevenson hosts from 9pm on Insta.

SEMI-DETACHED: Before the August 6 launch of the first season of this Lee Mack sitcom, set in real-time 24-style, the BBC have re-released the 20-minute pilot on iPlayer. And here's a trailer for the series:

HOT TUB WITH KURT & KRISTEN: Braunohler and Schaal are staging another of the cult LA shows for inventive off-the wall comedy and variety tonight. But you'll have to be a night owl, as it airs on Twitch at 4am UK time. Rhea Butcher, Gary Anderson, Chloé Hilliard Ian Karmel and Butt are among those on the bill.

Sunday July 26

FREEZE!: Tim Key and Tom Basden revive their shambolic, more than decade-old double act, live and online for tonight only. This virtual show will mix poetry, a few films and a song or two. The exact details are being kept under wraps, but Tim Key did reveal: "We'll be on wi-fi by and large, but I will cycle up to Lord's house (like the clappers) so that bit will be on 4G. Should be fine I think, I did a gig in a field last week and that was 4G but worth giving you the old heads-up.' It starts at 8pm here.

FAST FRINGE: Another plug for Chortle's annual Fringe showcase, which has gone online this year. Twenty comics entertain over the course a jam-packed and very varied hour, including Richard Herring, Nick Helm, Kevin Eldon, Lucy Porter, the late Sean Hughes, Tony Law, John-Luke Roberts and many more. Click here for further details.

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