Debauchery and the Black Death

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

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

Tuesday July 23

BATTLE IN THE BOX: Today and tomorrow, Jimmy Carr pitches Katherine Ryan and Tom Rosenthal against Fatiha El-Ghorri & Josh Jones in this new challenge-based gameshow. U&Dave, 9pm

GREYWING: In this virtually forgotten radio comedy from 1992, Timothy Spall stars as furniture maker Nigel Struddock and his super-hero alter ego Greywing. Originally broadcast on Radio 5 Live, it features co-stars Tilly Vosburgh, Bernard Hill, and Julian Rhind-Tutt - who went on to star in the similarly named Green Wing… Radio 4 Extra, 12pm

Wednesday July 24

STEWART LEE: UNRELIABLE NARRATOR: After the screening of his stand-up special Basic Lee yesterday, a second treat for Lee fans as the comic draws on a lifetime of professional untruths to consider the disorienting world of the unreliable narrator. This documentary - which also features comics Rob Auton, Nish Kumar and Russell Kane - originally aired on Radio 4 in 2021. Radio 4 Extra, 10am

Thursday July 25

SNEAKERHEAD:This three-part sitcom set in Sports Depot, a fictional sports shop in Peterborough, comes to iPlayer. It follows the antics of Russell, a confirmed sneakerhead, and his fellow long-suffering employees. Starring Hugo Chegwin, Big Zuu and Things You Should Have Done's Lucia Keskin.

Friday July 26

THE DECAMERON: Not many comedies are based on the work of 14th Century Italian poets, but this new oddall Netflix series is based on the book of the same name by Giovanni Boccaccio, the story of a group of nobles and their servants sheltering in a grand villa as the Black Death rages in 1348. To pass the time, they take turns telling each other stories that range from witty to debauched. The series has a similar premise, with society collapsing and the chasm between the haves and the have-nots growing wider. Stars include Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet and Saoirse-Monica Jackson.

WICKED LITTLE LETTERS: Also coming to Netflix today is this 2023 British black comedy film based on a true scandal of an anonymous author sending crudely insulting letters sent to the residents of seaside town Littlehampton. Directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet its stars include starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Lolly Adefope and Timothy Spall.

TL;DR: Catherine Bohart's topical comedy show begins a full Radio series following a pilot last year. The programme promises to go ‘beyond the headlines; of one of the biggest stories this week, aided by a guest journalist and roving correspondent Sunil Patel. Radio 4, 6.30pm

8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN: Jimmy Carr hosts as Sarah Millican and Tom Allen take on Joe Wilkinson and Rosie Jones. Mr Swallow joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Channel 4, 9pm

GREAT SCOTT! IT’S TERRY SCOTT: Thirty years to the day since the great comic actor died at the age of 67 comes a rerun of this 1971/2 sketch series. With June Whitfield, of course. Radio 4, Extra, 12.30pm

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Published: 21 Jul 2024