The best of the week's comedy on TV and radio

Our pick of the comedy on TV, radio and streaming this week…:

Sunday December 17

ROB & ROMESH VS LAPLAND: Mssrs Beckett and Ranganathan encounter elves, reindeer, and Santa Claus in this festive special. Sky Max 9pm

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE: Comics Tom Allen, Rosie Jones and Simon Brodkin are among those Bradley Walsh introduces to the Royal Albert Hall audience, which includes the Prince and Princess of Wales. ITV1, 8pm

SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW: Charlene White, Shazia Mirza, Jessica Fostekew and Stephen K Amos join team leaders, Chizzy Akudolu and Eddie Kadi as host Jimmy Akingbola asks questions about blackhistory ITV1, 11.05pm

CARBON LIFEFORMS: Comic Jon Long looks at how we can have less of a carbon footprint at Christmas. Radio 4, 7.15pm.

Monday December 18

LEO REICH: LITERALLY WHO CARES?!: Hot. Young. Cool. Fresh. Ripped. Hilarious. Groundbreaking. Avant-garde. These are just some of the words that comedian and writer Leo Reich uses to describe himself. In his first TV comedy special, this self-diagnosed important young mind faces the swirling uncertainty of our collective future with songs, anecdotes, and anxious non-sequiturs in a valiant attempt to raise awareness about important social and political causes… or something. Sky Comedy, 9pm.

LIVE AT THE APOLLO: Tom Allen introduces Thanyia Moore and Lloyd Griffith in this new 45-minute Christmas version of the stand-up showcase. BBC Two, 9.45pm

RICHARD OSMAN'S FESTIVE HOUSE OF GAMES: Jessica Knappet represents the comedy world this week against Radio 2 travel presenter Richie Anderson, Coronation Street star Simon Gregson and the lovely Debbie McGee. BBC Two, 6pm

EVIL GENIUS WITH Russell Kane: In the final episode, the comic is joined by Miles Jupp, Maisie Adam and Desiree Burch to discuss the life and legacy of the disgraced US president Richard Nixon Sky History 9pm

Tuesday December 19

NEVER MIND THE BUZZCOCKS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Greg Davies, Daisy May Cooper, Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix are joined by Harry Hill, Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson. Sky Max, 9pm

Wednesday December 20

THE LATEISH SHOW WITH Mo Gilligan: The show comes to an end with this festive special, in which the comic is joined by Joel Dommett, singer Leona Lewis, TV Cupid Fred Sirieix and People Just Do Nothing's Allan Mustafa. And in Manchester, Babatunde Aléshé leads a squad of partygoers in a Pass The Mic singalong. Channel 4, 10pm

WE FORCED A BOT TO WRITE THIS SHOW: The comedy that conclusively proves that AI is an absolute idiot. Or rather than comedians are rather cleverer and funnier than computers, as they mimic what a large language learning model might come up with if fed every bit of pop culture going. It's based on a hit Twitter feed and spin-off book by US comedy writer Keaton Patti and has been produced by The Skewer's Jon Holmes, who writes with Sarah Dempster and Gareth Ceredig. Radio 4, 11pm

Thursday December 21

A VERY BRASSIC CHRISTMAS: This Christmas episode co-stars Imelda Staunton as Aunt Edie and Greg Davies as Dick Dolphin and features a robbery that ruins a school nativity and a heist at a winter wonderland. Davies previously told Radio Times: 'I love Brassic. I think it's the mayhem and I think it's the surreal comedy, there's a real sort of energy to it.' Sky Max, 10pm.

8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Joe Lycett and Danny Dyer take on Jon Richardson and Roisin Conaty, with Mr Swallow (aka Nick Mohammed) in Dictionary Corner. Channel 4, 9pm

LATE NIGHT LYCETT: IT'S CHRISTMAS! Joe Lycett returns to his hometown of Birmingham for some festive tomfoolery, with celebrity guests Aisling Bea, Guz Khan, Mel B and Self Esteem. Channel 4, 10pm

Friday December 22

WOULD I LIE TO YOU?: In this Christmas edition, David Mitchell is joined by his wife Victoria Coren Mitchell and BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty, while Alex Brooker and Melvyn Hayes join Lee Mack. The stories debated include: Did Victoria once shock David with one of her Christmas gifts? Did Alex Brooker once accidentally tip his bin men £500? And did Lee Mack once rescue a couple called Mary and Joseph when there was no room at the Premier Inn? BBC One, 8pm

HERE WE GO: MUM’S CLASSIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS: The relentlessly chaotic Jessop family return to our screens. Tom Basden writes the show and stars alongside a starry cast that includes Jim Howick, Katherine Parkinson, Alison Steadman and Freya Parks, with Alex Macqueen making a guest appearance in this festive special. BBC Two, 8.30pm

THE LAST LEG OF CHRISTMAS: This week, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by comedian and actor Tom Davis and TV presenter Alison Hammond. Channel 4, 9pm

CELEBRITY I LITERALLY JUST TOLD YOU WITH Jimmy Carr: AJ Odudu, Ben Shephard, Bill Bailey and Sarah Millican play the game that relies on their powers of observation and recall. Channel 4, 10pm

PAINTING BIRDS WITH JIM AND NANCY MOIR: A Christmas special in which the Vic Reeves funnyman is reunited with his old mucker, Bob Mortimer. Read more here. Sky Arts, 8pm

Saturday December 23

THE UNOFFICIAL SCIENCE OF DIE HARD: Chris Ramsey and Paul Chowdhry, alongside engineer Zoe Laughlin, will scientifically assess stunts from the much-loved Christmas action film, from rooftop escapes to walking over shattered glass Sky Max. 9pm

Published: 17 Dec 2023