The week's best comedy on demand

The week's best comedy on demand.

Saturday October 10

DESMOND’S: It’s always been on All4 anyway, but now all six seasons, and 71 episodes, of Desmond’s have landed on Netflix. The landmark black comedy series, from the late 1980s/early 1990s starred Norman Beaton as the owner of the titular South London barber shop.

SIMON MUNNERY: RENEGADE PLUMBER: After an online screening of the professional recording of his hour-long 2017 show about plumbing woes, his attempts at under tent heating, and the ridicule of capitalism, Munnery will be answering audience questions. Tickets are available from indie comedy label Go Faster Stripe, priced a fiver

Sunday October 11

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL: A week of virtual events kicks off at 11pm UK time tonight, including a number of events specifically to celebrate LGBTQ+ comedians, with Randy Rainbow, Bianca Del Rio from RuPaul’s Drag Race Judy Tenuta and comic and activist Selene Luna among those being honoured. The website is here

Tuesday October 13

RUBY WAX: HOW TO BE HUMAN: Based on her bestselling book, Ruby’s show How To Be Human addresses evolution, thoughts, emotions, the body, addictions, relationships, sex, kids, the future and compassion. Which is pretty wide-ranging. This online screening, again from Go Faster Stripe, will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets

THE CABIN WITH BERT KREISCHER: The party animal turned stand-up and his mates take part in a variety of therapeutic, and self-care challenges while staying in a remote cabin in this five-part series, which lands on Netflix today.

Wednesday October 14

NAT’S WHAT I RECKON: The ‘sweary social media sensation’, best known for his cooking videos, is performing a virtual gig from his Sydney home at 9pm UK time tonight, featuring some previously unseen content.

Friday October 16

THE FRIDAY SHOW: The acts at this live show, streamed from the Battersea Arts Centre in South London, are a lot more inventive than the title of the show! A varied line-up, put together by producers Berk’s Nest, Josie Long, Rosie Jones, Sara Barron, Kemah Bob, Helen Bauer and Sarah Keyworth grace the Grand Hall from 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £10, are available here.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD: Armando Iannucci’s brilliant retelling of Charles Dickens semi-autobiographical rags-to-riches tale lands on Amazon Prime. Star Dev Patel is joined by a host of familiar faces, including Paul Whitehouse, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Daisy-May Cooper, Tilda Swinton and Anna Maxwell-Martin. Recommended even if you don’t think you like Dickens.

Published: 10 Oct 2020