Seven days, six comedy festivals | The comedy week ahead

Seven days, six comedy festivals

The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Today

LIVE IN GLASGOW: It’s the culmination of the Scottish Comedian Of The Year competition at the O2 Academy, hosted by Des Clarke and featuring the cream of the nation’s undiscovered comedians.

LIVE IN LONDON: It sold out instantly, but the Mighty Boosh Band are back with a work-in-progress gig at the Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow. Exciting for those who have tickets!

Monday September 30

LIVE IN LONDON: The Amused Moose starts three nights at the Soho Theatre showcasing its award nominees with a compilation of extracts some of the best shows at Edinburgh; while Danny Ward, Al Lubel perform their full shows on Tuesday; and John-Luke Roberts and Jonny & The Baptists do the same on Wednesday

LIVE IN LONDON: Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast returns, with guest Shappi Khorsandi. Over the coming weeks Miranda Hart, Dara O Briain, Ross Noble and Simon Pegg will also be popping in for a chat.

RADIO: The Museum Of Curiosity returns to Radio 4, with comedian Mark Watson, Egyptologist Professor Joann Fletcher and explorer Col John Blashford-Snell explaining their passions to host John Lloyd and new sidekick Humphrey Ker. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Tuesday October 1

LIVE IN WINDSOR: Stephen K Amos kicks off his latest tour, The Spokesman, in Windsor Firestation. And it’s a long old tour, going right through to the end of February. Dates

LIVE IN MANCHESTER: The first Women In Comedy festival launches with a showcase and debate at the Frog And Bucket featuring Janey Godley, Allyson Smith, Annette Fagon and Kerry Leigh. Other comics appearing over the month-long event include Ava Vidal, Mrs Barbara Nice, Luisa Omeilan and Susan Murray. Website.

Wednesday October 2

LIVE IN READING: Another day, another festival. This time it’s Reading’s turn with acts including Jimmy Carr, Bill Bailey, Sarah Millican, Russell Kane, Stewart Lee, Adam Hills, Paul Merton, Jason Manford, Milton Jones, Ed Byrne, Reginald D Hunter and Alexei Sayle appearing until November 8.

COMEDY IN LONDON: Mencap is hosting a Big Comedy Special benefit at the Hammersmith Apollo, with confirmed acts including  Omid Djalili, Jo Brand, Richard Herring, Tim Vine and Jessica Hynes. Tickets

 RADIO: Mark Watson hosts a showcase of comedy acts who appeared at Edinburgh, in Fresh From The Fringe – which was actually recorded at a gig in London three weeks after the festival ended. Those appearing include Phil Wang, Tim Renkow, Romesh Ranganathan and Aisling Bea. Meanwhile, a filmed programme of edited highlights will be playing out on the Red Button service on TV and on the Fresh From The Fringe website. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Thursday October 3

LIVE IN SHEFFIELD: Third festival of the week is the Last Laugh’s, with 90 events taking place across the city, kicking off with Phill Jupitus in the Memorial Hall.

LIVE IN WINCHESTER: Guess what? Another comedy festival. This weekeneder is a little more modest, but has chosen its acts well with the likes of Doc Brown, Nina Conti, Simon Evans and Tony Law

Friday October 4

LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM: Another one! It’s been hit by the loss of a couple of major venues, but the Birmingham festival features 60 events over its 10 nights, including the first UK dates of Russell Brand’s Messiah Complex tour.

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: And last of the week’s festivals – but far from the least – the first of 70 events in the Brighton Comedy Festival is a hugely star-studded gala, hosted by Alan Carr and featuring the likes of Jack Dee, Jon Richardson, Angela Barnes, Kevin Bridges, Seann Walsh, Adam Hills, Simon Evans and Suzi Ruffell.

LIVE IN SALISBURY: Reginald D Hunter kicks off the autumn leg of his tour In The Midst Of Crackers at the Salisbury City Hall. It ends at the Hammersmith Apollo on November 30... Click here for all the dates in between.

Saturday October 5

LIVE IN LONDON: At the Bloomsbury Theatre, uber-producer John Lloyd talks QI, Blackadder, Not The Nine O’Clock News and Douglas Adams – as well as sharing other showbiz anecdotes and trivia in his Liff Of QI show that was such a hit in Edinburgh.

Published: 29 Sep 2013

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