The week's best comedy on TV and radio

The week’s best comedy on TV and radio.

Sunday March 7

FUNNY FESTIVAL LIVE: This new stand-up showcase is being stripped across the week every night until Thursday. Tonight’s comedians are Jason Manford, Judi Love, Toussaint Douglass, Michael Stranney and Jayde Adams. BBC Two, 9.45pm

FESTIVAL OF FUNNY: In the first of two comedy pilots, Kiri Pritchard-McLean explores all the things she’s missed while living in isolation, using audience stories to help recall the awkward moments of life that we so weirdly want back. The second show, The Empire, is set in Imperial India, where the new district magistrate of Darjeeling grapples with the responsibilities of his new post with the help - and sometimes hindrance - of his colleagues. The cast features Stephen Fry, Alexander Owen Rasika Dugal, Michelle Gomez and Arnuvab Pal - the stand-up who also wrote the script. Radio 2, 9pm.

IN THE LOOP: Armando Iannucci’s pin-sharp transatlantic follow-up to The Thick Of It gets a new airing as a series of films spun off from British sitcoms is stripped across the week in a late-night slot. Tomorrow it’s the Ab Fab movie, Tuesday Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Wednesday David Brent: Life On The Road, and Thursday, it’s, unfortunately, Mrs Brown’s Boy’s Boys D’Movie. BBC Two, midnight

STEPHEN BUCHANAN: TALKING SHOP: The former BBC New Comedy Award winner talks about his chequered work history and his friendship with a refugee Dove, in his first Radio 4 show – the latest in the series of half-hour Sunday night specials. Radio 4, 7.15pm

THE RANGANATHAN: This week, Romesh’s guests are Roisin Conaty and Jamie Laing BBC Two, 9pm

Monday March 8

HARRY HILL'S LONELY ISLAND: A series of silent, black-and-white slapstick comedy shorts, written and directed by Harry Hill, are stripped across the next four nights. Each are set on the same island - and feature a caveman, Napoleon, a monkey and a queen. BBC Two, 10.40pm

FRANKLY SPEAKING: On the 50th anniversary of the death of one of silent cinema’s greatest comedy stars, Harold Lloyd, Radio 4 Extra repeats this 1962 Home Service programme in which he faces a panel of interviewers. Radio 4 Extra 2.30pm

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES: Glenn Moore and Kiri Pritchard-McLean rise to the challenges this week, alongside Thin Blue Line actress Mina Anwar and EastEnders and Extras star Shaun Willaimson – a pub quiz whizz, who’ll likely prove tough to beat. BBC Two, 6pm

WOULD I LIE TO YOU: A compilation episode this week, or previously unseen truths and lies from David Mitchell, Lee Mack and their guests, overseen by Rob Brydon. BBC One, 8.30pm

THE STAND-UP SKETCH SHOW: This week, Russell Kane, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Eshaan Akbar, Glenn Moore, Jayde Adams and Adam Rowe have their Stand-Up Stories acted out on film. ITV2, 10.05pm

Tuesday March 9

CAROLINE AHERNE AT THE BBC: John Thomson looks back at the life and work of his friend and comedy colleague, from rarely seen early routines from her days on the Manchester stand-up circuit, through to the Fast Show, Mrs Merton and The Royle Family, BBC One, 9pm

THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR STAND UP TO CANCER: Rob Beckett and Tom Allen are among the contestants as the charity specials return. Channel 4, 8pm

MEL GIEDROYC: UNFORGIVABLE: Jennifer Saunders, Harry Redknapp and Phil Wang spill their secrets to Mel Giedroyc and sidekick Lou Sanders this week. Dave, 10pm

Wednesday March 10

HYPOTHETICAL: Alan Davies, Judi Love, Liza Tarbuck and Chris McCausland face the bizarre hypothetical scenarios set by Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster. Dave, 10pm

Thursday March 11

ALEXEI SAYLE'S THE ABSENCE OF NORMAL: This new series of dark comic plays, narrated by Alexei Sayle, have been adapted from his own short stories. The first revolves around a TV commissioner incapable of making a decision. Where does Sayle get his ideas?! Radio 4, 11.30am

Friday March 12

FERN BRADY: POWER & CHAOS: The comic’s stand-up special - covering sexuality, feminism, power, Brexit, and nationality - gets its first terrestrial TV airing. BBC One, 11.35pm

Saturday March 13

MITCHELL ON MEETINGS: David Mitchell invites us to investigate how meetings have become so prevalent in business. On the agenda for episode one: Russell Kane explores how different personality types behave in meetings, executive coach Sophie Bryan teaches Mitchell how to be a good chairman; and Dutch sociologist Wilbert van Vree sums up the history meetings. Radio 4, 10.30am

POINTLESS CELEBRITIES: Stephen K Amos and Zoe Lyons are one of the teams in tonight’s quiz about obscure knowledge. BBC One, 7.30pm

Published: 7 Mar 2021