Ickelwick FM and the rest of the week's best comedy on TV, radio and streaming

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

Sunday January 21

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?: A showcase of character comedy, hosted by Jim Smith and featuring posh boy rapper MC Hammersmith, Lorna Rose Treen, and viral character comedians Michael Fry and Eleanor Morton. BBC Radio 4, 7.15pm

Monday January 22

ACCESS FESTIVAL: Mark Watson kicks off a week of online gigs via streaming platform NextUp, also featuring the likes of Colin Hoult, Lost Voice Guy, Angela Barnes, Sarah Keyworth, David O'Doherty and Daliso Chaponda. Subscriptions cost £35 a year and also include access to NextUp’s catalogues of specials and regular live-streamed comedy shows. Click here to sign up..

RICHARD OSMAN'S HOUSE OF GAMES: Comedian Leo Reich takes part this week, alongside TV presenter Craig Doyle, Paralympic hero Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and scientist Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon. BBC Two 6pm

GHOSTS: Gold is airing series three of the hit BBC One sitcom across this week. Gold, 8.40pm

IAN HISLOP'S OLDEST JOKES: The Private Eye editor delves into the history of humour and finds there are themes and techniques in British comedy that seem to survive any social or political upheaval: wordplay, double entendre and gags involving animals. Hislop begins his quest in the dark ages and visits libraries, museums and chapels, and also talks to comedy stars and writers of today like Nina Conti, Paul Whitehouse, Flo and Joan and parodist Craig Brown. BBC Radio 4, 1.45pm

Tuesday January 23

ICKLEWICK FM: Chris Cantrill and Amy Gledhill - aka The Delightful Sausage - have created this improvised sitcom, based on phone-ins at a dysfunctional community radio station in a 'post-industrial every-town'. Mark Silcox plays the producer, Colin Hoult is the ADHD-riddled reporter, Lucy Beaumont a concerned mum and Jen Brister the chief of police. Steen Raskopoulos, Shivani Thussu, Alex Lowe, Janice Connolly and Phil Ellis all make appearances. BBC Radio 4, 11pm

Wednesday January 24

JOHNNY VEGAS: CARRY ON GLAMPING: Johnny Vegas is back with a mission to relaunch his Field of Dreams glamping business, seeking in a bigger and better campsite for his unique 'upcycled' vehicles, as well as some new additions. With his long-suffering assistant Bev they scope out new locations while, Johnny is up to his old tricks and cuts a deal to buy a dilapidated Puma helicopter to convert into a glamping pod. Read an interview with the pair about the second series here. Channel 4, 9pm

Friday January 26

8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN: Rob Brydon and Katherine Parkinson take on Jon Richardson and Babatunde Aléshé while Adam Buxton is in Dictionary Corner. Channel 4, 9pm

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW: Guests include Kevin Bridges talking about his stand-up show The Overdue Catch-Up and Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan on their Oscar-tipped Bernstein biopic Maestro. BBC One, 10.40pm.

Published: 21 Jan 2024