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

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

Monday September 30

FAITHLESS: This new six-part comedy form Northern Ireland, tells the story of three young sisters living in Dublin and their Irish/Egyptian dad who is raising them alone. That is until his irresponsible younger brother moves in to ‘help’ and never leaves. It’s written by and stars Baz Ashmawy, who previously made the International Emmy-winning non-scripted series  50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy. BBC One Northern Ireland, 11.40pm, and iPlayer

HOW TO SURVIVE A DICTATOR: NORTH KOREA: In another of his documentaries, Zimbabwe-bron comic Munya Chawawa surveys life under Kim Jong-Un, visiting Switzerland, Seoul and suburban West London – where the pariah state has its UK embassy – as he tracks down everyone from a former school friend of Kim Jong-Un to those who have seen the effects of Kim's regime at first hand. Channel 4, 10pm

Tuesday October 1

THE FRINGE RETURNS…: For the next six days streaming service NextUp offers a catch-up service for more than 20 livestreams from the Edinburgh Festival, including shows by Mark Watson, Chris Cantrill, Dan Tiernan, Jessie Cave and the Chortle Student Comedy Award final. Subscribe here for £60 a year.

TIM DILLON: THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY: A definite twist on the usual Netflix comedy special as Dillon eschews stand-up for a talk-show format.

Wednesday October 2

IVO GRAHAM'S OBSESSIONS: Replacing Joe Lycett as host of this Radio 4 panel show, Ivo Graham hears about Phil Wang’s love of crooners and Su Pollard’s soft spot for tmatoes. Also featuring extreme endurance runner Adam Tango Holland. BBC Radio 4, 6.30pm

WHERE’S WANDA?: This dubbed German-language dark comedy revolves around a couple who are desperate to locate their missing 17-year-old daughter Wanda. When the police fail to find her, the family takes matters into their own hands, obtaining surveillance devices with the help of their tech-savvy son and finding out the truth about tier neighbours behind closed doors. On Apple TV+ from today.

Friday October 4

HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU: The topical show returns for its 68th series on Friday 4th October. Available to watch on BBC One, 9pm. 

THE CLEANER: Greg Davies returns as crime scene cleaner Wicky. In the first episode he finds himself on a job for an old childhood school friend, Justin (Ghosts’s Ben Willbond) – who it turns out has done rather well for himself with a a dream house, a supercar, an adorable child, a grand piano, and a big pool of blood in his hall where the grand piano unfortunately fell on someone… Rosie Cavaliero, Naveed Khan and Vaun Earl Norman also co-star. BBC One, 9.30pm

Published: 29 Sep 2024