And on radio and streaming, too

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

Sunday December 22

BAD TIDINGS: Strictly champ Chris McCausland stars alongside Lee Mack –in this festive film as rowing neighbours, whose dispute about Christmas lights ends up plunging the whole street into a blackout. Unfortunately, a notorious local crime family, The Brennans, plans to take advantage of the lack of lights, cameras, or alarms and rob the street, so The Odd Couple must team up to stop them… It's been written by Ghosts co-creators Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas with McCausland, and co-stars include Rebekah Staton, Sarah Alexander and Ben Crompton. The two leads became something of a double act when they presented an award at the 2022 Baftas. Sky Max, 7.30pm

INSIDE No 9: THE PARTY'S OVER: Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton reminisce about their acclaimed anthology series in this behind-the-scenes documentary, made during production of the last ever episode. Plodding On reunited guest stars from across the show's nine seasons, including Katherine Parkinson, Nick Mohammed and Tim Key, adding to valedictory atmosphere. The Inisde No saga continues, however, with the West End show Stage/Fright in the new year.BBC Two, 9pm

BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS COMEDY MOMENTS: A clip extravaganza, based around a poll run with The Mail Online. Expect The Vicar of Dibley, Only Fools and Horses, The Royle Family, Gavin and Stacey and more… Channel 5, 9pm

Monday December 23

JUNIOR TASKMASTER: THE FINAL: The spin-off ends with Rose Matafeo presenting the newly crowned champion with a spectacular trophy of her golden head. Mike Wozniak, as always, officiates with no sense of authority. Channel 4, 7pm

CHELSEA BIRKBY: NO MORE MR NICE CHELSEA: The comic’s 2023 Edinburgh Fringe debut streams for free on YouTube from today.

Tuesday December 24

MORTIMER & WHITEHOUSE: GONE CHRISTMAS FISHING:To celebrate another year of fishing, Paul and Bob travel to south west France to fish the River Lot and soak up the local French culture – as well as staging their annual awards ceremony BBC Two, 9.15pm

THE BEST OF BENNY ​HILL: A collection of sketches and musical numbers from his long-running comedy series, from shows produced and originally aired between 1969 and 1972. Talking Pictures TV, 9.10pm

KENNY EVERETT ON BBC RADIO BRISTOL: Radio 4 Extra celebrates the 80th anniversary of the birth of Kenny Everett (as Maurice Cole on Christmas Day 1944) with three rarely-heard recordings from BBC Radio Bristol in 1971, a year after being sacked by Radio 1 for making a joke about the wife of the Transport Minister bribing her driving test instructor. This first one, from June 12, includes an interview with John Lennon. Episode 2 is on Boxing Day (from 3 July 1971) and Episode 3 on December 27 December (from December 26, 1971). Radio 4 Extra, 10am

TOMMO'S CHRISTMAS MUSIC SHOW:  Mark Thomas's ow-regular event, which started in lockdown features comic writers and musicians talking about their favourite Christmas songs and playing them.  Comedians taking part include Bethany Black, John-Luke Roberts, Victoria Melody. It's  free but donations are encouraged to Samaritans and Shelter here.  It kicks off at 8pm on YouTube.

Wednesday December 25

WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL: The first film featuring the much-loved duo – and only the second feature-length episode – this 80-minute delight revolves around Wallace and his smart gnome, Norbot, becoming the suspects in a psate of garden forces. It features the voices of Ben Whitehead as Wallace, Reece Shearsmith as Norbot, Peter Kay as Chief Inspector Macintosh and Lauren Patel as PC Mukherjee, alongside Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Muzz Khan, and Lenny Henry. BBC One, 6.10pm

GAVIN & STACEY: Relentlessly plugged for the last month or so… can the comedy's finale live up to the hype? It’s been five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her. And a lot has happened since. For this feature length-episode, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in Barry ready for a trip to Essex; Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their seventeen year marriage and Gwen is behaving most strangely. Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the Baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad. And over in Billericay, Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship. For more behind-the-scenes photos and interviews, start here BBC One, 9pm. And the previous festive special airs on U&Gold at 8pm on Christmas Eve if you want to get up to speed.

THE REUNION: ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: Following on from the recent UKTV retrospective, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horricks and producer Jon Plowman reunite to talk about the making of the classic sitcom. BBC Radio 4, 8am

PUNT & DENNIS: ROUTE MASTERS: Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis deliberately meandering talk show series, which has already been on BBC Sounds, findsunlikely links between random places, people and things. Now the series reaches its final destination as the pair go from 'beer' to 'eternity'. BBC Radio 4, 2.15pm

WITH GREAT PLEASURE AT CHRISTMAS: Jo Brand shares the poems, stories and jokes that have meant the most in her life, with the aid of guest readers Alan Davies and Isy Suttie. BBC Radio 4, 5pm

ONE PERSON FOUND THIS HELPFUL: In the panel show's Christmas special, Frank Skinner and his guests discuss the worst present they’ve ever received, among other topics. BBC Radio 4, 6.30pm

ELIS AND JOHN – CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Elis James and John Robin's Christmas special has been on BBC Sounds for almost two weeks, but now it hits old-fashioned radio. BBC Radio 5 Live, 11am and repeated at 8pm

A NIGHT ON MOUNT EDNA: In this 1990 special, Dame Edna Everage, aka Barry Humphries, plays host to stars such as Gina Lollobrigida, Charlton Heston, Julio Iglesias & Mel Gibson in Switzerland. Iglesias performs Can’t Help Falling in Love" while Heston serves the guests fondue. Talking Pictures TV, 5.55pm

MRS BROWN'S BOYS:A late-night slot for this year's divisive comedy special. BBC One, 11.05pm

Thursday December 26

OUTNUMBERED: The Brockmans are back for the first episode in eight years Written and directed by the show’s creators, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, this one-off epispdes will follow the chaos in the downsized home of Pete and Sue Brockman, as they grapple with the challenges of parenting kids who are now adults, with their own lives to lead.Read an interview with the cast here. BBC One, 9.40pm

MICKY FLANAGAN’S IF WE EVER NEEDED IT: The Cockney comic is back for a new stand-up special about growing older, now he's turned 60. Sky Comedy, 9pm

ALISON SPITTLE: PETTY PLEASE: In this new series, the comedian explores some of her longest and deepest-held grudges on the pettiest of things. For example, she’s still holding on to the fact she was fired from the leading role of Mary in the school nativity for lacking focus. Natalie Cassidy joins Spittle to help her get closure? Radio 4, 11pm

CINDERELLA: THE SHOE MUST GONE ON: This 1986 pantomime film is packed with famous names: Danny La Rue, Roy Kinnear, Cheryl Baker, Jimmy Cricket, Brian Conley, Brian Murphy, Roy Hudd, Mike Reid, Steve Nallon, Les Dennis, Roy Walker, Judith Chalmers, John Wells and more. It all revolves around female impersonator Danny La Rue trying to play Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, and the script was written by Barry Cryer and Dick Vosburgh Talking Pictures TV, 6.15pm

BRAVO TWO CHARLIES: The BBC Radio Wales police sitcom winds up after five years and 24 episodes with a two-part special, divide by a round-table discussion of the show with writers Matt Leys and Martin Trenaman and cast members Sion Pritchard, Laura Dalglish and Sarah Breese, hosted by stand-up Tudur Owen. In the final two episodes, Bravo Charlie unit deal with a massive sinkhole, an out-of-control school bus, a bucket of wet sponges and more. BBC Radio Wales, 7.30pm DAD'S ARMY: Another outing of the 1971 film version of the hits sitcom, with Arthur Lowe's Captain Mainwaring leading the Home Guard in defence of Walmington-on-Sea. Channel 4, 2pm

Friday December 27

BIG FAT QUIZ OF THE YEAR: Jimmy Carr quizzes Richard Ayoade, Katherine Ryan, Rob Beckett, Judi Love, Chris McCausland and Maisie Adam about the events of the past 12 months in the annual comedy extravaganza. Channel 4, 9pm

MIKE BUBBINS: THROWBACK: A stand-up special from the comic who created the Mammoth TV comedy, recorded at the New Theatre in Cardiff in Octobe and promising 'a bit of nostalgia about the good old days, a bit of optimism about the good new days'. BBC One Wales, 11pm

Saturday December 28

THE ARTS HOUR’S COMEDY SPECIAL: In this year's global stand-up showcase, hosts Nikki Bedi and Daliso Chaponda present South Africa's Schalk Bezuidenhout, Portugal's Andre de Freitas, China's He Huang from China, India's Shalaka Kurup and from Shetland Islander Marjolein Robertson. BBC World Service, 8pm

Published: 22 Dec 2024