Stewart Lee, Danny Dyer and the police...

The week's best comedy on TV, radio and streaming

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

Monday July 15

MARK STEEL’S IN TOWN: This week the comedian visits Stoke-on-Trent to give a bespoke stand-up performance. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Tuesday July 16

SECRETS OF THE SUN WITH Dara O Briain: Documentary in which the comedian explores our relationship with the sun, travelling to Texas to watch a total eclipse. Read an interview with him about the show here Channel 5, 9pm

BATTLE IN THE BOX: Jimmy Carr locks a group of celebrities inside the box for a full day and a night as they take part in games to win pride, prizes and floorspace. In the first two episodes, tonight and tomorrow, Joe Swash and Seann Walsh take on Harriet Kemsley and Lara Ricote. Carr talks about the show here. Part two’s tomorrow U&Dave, 9pm

Wednesday July 17

MR BIGSTUFF: Ryan Sampson, from Plebs and Brassic, takes the lead for the first time in this comedy, which he also wrote. He plays Glen, a nervy perfectionist living a mundane life with fiancee Kirsty (Harriet Webb) until his brother Lee (Danny Dyer) comes crashing into their lives, whilst on the run from a past that's quickly catching up with him. Sky Max, 9pm

Friday July 19

8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN: Dan Tiernan makes his debut on the show as it returns to Channel 4 for a new series. He’s paired with Jon Richardson to take on Richard Ayoade and Katherine Ryan. Channel 4, 9pmSaturday July 20

PIGLETS: Having already upset the Police Federation, this new six-part comedy set in a fictional police training college comes from the award-winning team behind Smack The Pony and Green Wing. Mark Heap and Sarah Parish play the officers in charge of a rag-tag team of newbies. A British Police Academy, anyone? ITV1, 9.30pm

STEWART LEE, BASIC LEE: LIVE AT THE LOWRY: Superficially an uncharacteristically simple Stewart Lee show, in which the gnomic 56-year-old veteran attempts to define by example what stand-up comedy is, Basic Lee slowly reveals a subtext about staying sane by re-structuring reality. Sky Comedy, 9pm. Here’s a clip:

ALEXEI SAYLE’S STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: The comedian begins a new series of rail journeys with a trip from Nottingham to the seaside town of Skegness. In this programme, he meets Leyla and Cecelia who are off to Skegness to spend an 80s weekend packed with bands from the golden era of their youth; Ashton, who has bought a caravan to live in and is working at a seaside ba and Karen who is having her hen party after deciding to finally get married after a 20-year engagement, among others. Radio 4, 10.30am

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Published: 14 Jul 2024