Stand-up shows head the best of the week's comedy on TV and on demand

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

Sunday December 15

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE: Comedians Ellie Taylor, Matt Forde, Scott Bennett and Larry Dean are among those on the annual fundraiser, this year recorded at the Royal Albert Hall with the King in the audience. Alan Carr hosts with his pal Amanda Holden while the line-up also includes Elton John introducing his new West End show The Devil Wears Prada, magicians Penn and Teller, and Mischief Theatre, the team behind Play That Goes Wronggiving the first public performance of their follow-up show The Comedy About Spies, which opens in the West End next year. ITV. 8pm

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED: The comic releases his latest special on YouTube today, based on how – in his mid-30s – he just wants to stag in bed. He hates leaving the house and enjoys nothing more than an event being cancelled…

ROB AUTON: THE TIME SHOW: Also out today is Auton's comedy/theatre/spoken word show that received critical acclaim at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe. It follows from others shows about talking, hair, sleep, water, faces, the sky and the colour yellow, and is the first to be released as a special, having been recorded at the Tom Thumb Theatre, Director Stuart Laws said: ‘I’ve always loved Rob Auton’s comedy, it takes you to a different place and hits such a different rhythm to other comedians so I was thrilled to be given the chance to bring that mood to the screen in Rob’s first comedy special.' It is available now on the Turtle Canyon Comedy YouTube channel.

ORRY I DIDN’T KNOW: Shazia Mirza, Lucy Porter, Curtis Walker and Tyler West are this week’s guest panellists on the show looking at black history. ITV1, 10.25pmTuesday December 17 QI XL: The series' Christmas special features Gyles Brandreth, Lulu and Emmanuel Sonubi as guests. BBC Two 9pm

LIVE AT THE APOLLO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Judi Love introduces comedians Dan Tiernan and John Kearns to kick off the latest series, the 19th. BBC Two 9pm

LEROY BRITO: LIVE IN CARDIFF: The first TV special for the Welsh comic, who grew up in Tiger Bay. This is a half-hour version of a show, which toured live as Leroy!!! recorded at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama It's directed by fellow Welsh comic Ignacio Lopez. BBC One Wales and iPlayer 10.40pm

Wednesday December 18

TAPPED OUT: PRANK STARS: A celebrity special version of the prank show that airs on Channel 4.0, the broadcaster's digital channels. Hosts Nella Rose and Harry Pinero challenge three celebrity contestants - rapper ArrDee, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri and JLS star Aston Merrygold - to take on a series of cringe-worthy tasks in front of unsuspecting members of the public. The goal? To withstand the pranks for as long as possible without tapping out. Channel 4, 11.05pm

Thursday December 19

JO CAULFIELD: HERE COMES TROUBLE: The stand-up known for her biting humour, brings her latest special to comedy streaming platform NextUp. Sign up here.

Friday December 20

PAUL CHOWDHRY - FAMILY FRIENDLY COMEDIAN: Recorded at the Blooomsbury Theatre, this speical sees the comic try - not entirely successfully - to lose his adult-only rating. He toured the show from 2021 to 2023, culminating in a run at last year's Edinburgh Fringe. Sky Comedy, 9pm

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW: James Corden and Ruth Jones talk about the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special as they join Timothée Chalamet and Andrew Garfield on Graham's couch. BBC One, 10.40pm

THE LAST LEG: Sir Lenny Henry is among the guests joining Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. Channel 4, 10pm

MISCHIEF MOVIE NIGHT (IN): This improv show from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong, making up a full movie based on an audience suggestion, will be streaming eight shows over the next four days from their Christmas residency at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London, which you can watch at home for £15 a pop here.

Saturday December 21

MEET THE RICHARDSONS: Their marriage only just outlasted the series about their relationship. Now the fictional look into the home life of Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont ends with two new compilation episodes, airing back-to-back tonight. The first is a look back at all five series of Meet the Richardsons, and the second is an outtakes episode. U&Dave, 11pm.

Published: 15 Dec 2024