The week's best comedy on demand

The week's best comedy on demand. For more streaming gigs use the search box with 'online' as the region.

Tonight

#WEROAST2020: John Robertson tonight hosts a three-hour Twitch show roasting the miserable events of 2020 to raise money for the Samaritans. He aims to raise £7,710 - the same amount the mental health helpline costs to run for three hours. Make a donation here to suggest a bugbear for him to insult on his Twitch page. And throughout the roast, the comic will be get annoyed with loud sound effects and be asked to perform physical challenges that may include sexy Bible readings and chilli sauce shots...

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR SOCIALLY DISTANCED PEOPLE (THE ENCORE): Robin Ince’s shows have never been known to underrun, so even a 24-hour version of his festive science-skewed variety show last weekend wasn't enough to accommodate all the guests he wanted. So now he invites more on to this virtual gig, from 7pm here

COMEDIANS TELLING CHRISTMAS STORIES: Rachel Fairburn introduces some yarns from Jordan Brookes, Charlie George, Helen Bauer and Sean McLoughlin, with music from Will Duggan. Tickets are priced £8, here.

KEVIN BRIDGES: THE STORY SO FAR: The comic's debut DVD, recorded in May 2010 at Glasgow’s SECC Arena, in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,000 fans, is being put online for free for a week from 7pm tonight. Watch on YouTube.

Sunday December 20

CINDERELLA & THE BEANSTALK: The Stand comedy club in Newcastle stages a regular panto, but this year the team are, of course, doing it online. Hal Branson, Hannah Walker, Lee Kyle and Sammy Dobson will be performing live on YouTube from 3pm today, and the family-friendly show will then be available until January 17. And if you want an adult version, this will be streamed at 8.30pm on Boxing Day.

RHYS NICHOLSON LIVE AT THE ATHENAEUM: The waspish comic lands his first Netflix special, recorded live in Melbourne and released today. A familiar face at the Edinburgh Fringe, he becomes only the third Australian stand-up to release a Netflix special, following Hannah Gadsby and Jim Jeffries. While you wait, here's a clip of a recent set uploaded by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival:

SUSPICIOUSLY CHEAP COMEDY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: The ever-popular night bows out with Tim Key, New Yorker Catherine Cohen and Sindhu Vee joining regulars Gein's Family Giftshop, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Goose and Tarot. Tickets here.

Monday December 21

BRIEFS: Briefs is a sitcom revolving around the day-to-day life of a High Street legal practice. Filmed in Redcar and written by local resident Teresa Taylor, it stars Billy Doherty and Andy Tate. It has an online premiere tonight and tickets, priced £3.75, are available here The show will be available until December 28. Here's a trailer:

Tuesday December 22

LONDON HUGHES - TO CATCH A D*CK: The comedian kicks off what looks like being another massive year with the release of her Netflix special – a version of the show that was nominated for last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award. In 2021, she'll be working on a film loosely based on her own life, entitled Hot Mess, as well as co-hosting new show The Netflix Afterparty. Here's a teaser clip from To Catch A D*ck in which she discusses how male comedians can get laid because they’re funny, but it doesn’t work the other way around...

Wednesday December 23

THE FROG PRINCE: Another pantomime! This one the brainchild of comic and clown Dan Lees who has recruited Nathan Lang, Neil Frost, Helen Duff, Annie Bashford and Marny Godden to tell this story of a Princess, a rare Mexican frog, a mad king, an evil witch and a scatty dame. Many wigs will be involved. The event, at 8pm, will raise money for Clowns Without Borders UK, which aims to improve the quality of life of people in crisis through workshops and performances. Register to watch on Zoom here.

Published: 19 Dec 2020