The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 5,000 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Sunday February 12

GLASGOW: Returning the UK after the tongue-in-cheek biopic, in which he was played by Daniel Radcliffe, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic kicks off a run of UK dates at the O2 Academy. The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour promises ‘ an intimate evening of musical comedy focusing on original (non-parody) fan favorites from his 14-album catalogue’. And as a special tread absurdist one-liner merchant Emo Philips is the support. ‘Weird Al’ ​Yankovic tour dates and tickets.

Monday February 13

LEICESTER: The UK Pun Championship, one of the highlight of the Leicester Comedy Festival, returns to De Montfort Hall with Jason Bryne again overseeing proceedings. This year’s competitors battling it out, rap-battle-style are Ben Emmett, Cosmic Kat, Daniel Edison, Geoff Alderman, Kat Molinari, Lee Brace, Pauline Eyre and Stevie Vegas.

LONDON: Multi-award-winning John Kearns begins a sold-out week at the Soho Theatre before a UK tour of his new show, The Varnishing Days. ‘Hell, it’s a man trying his best,’ the Taskmaster contestant pleadingly states in his blurb for the show. John ​Kearns tour dates

Tuesday February 14

BRISTOL: The Slapstick festival of classic comedy kicks off, with screening and sessions running though to Sunday. Highlights include Michael Palin in conversation with Rob Brydon, and, separately introducing a screening of Life Of Brian with Stephen Merchant; Griff Rhys Jones explaining ‘why I still love Laurel & Hardy’; a Q&A with the Comic Strip’s Nigel Planer, and Peter Richardson following a screening of More Bad News; and Harry Hill talking about his Lonely Island short film series, See the festival’s website for full details.

Thursday February 16

LEICESTER: Milton Jones headlines a fundraiser for Big Difference Company, the charity that runs the Leicester Comedy Festival as well as various related community schemes. Supporting him at De Montfort Hall are Nina Gilligan, newly crowned Club Comedian of the year at the Chortle Awards, plus Emmanuel Sonubi, Scott Bennett and compere Thanyia Moore.

Published: 12 Feb 2023