The comedy week ahead...

The comedy week ahead…

Monday February 25

LIVE IN LONDON: With raised profile thanks to playing Alan Patrtidge's sidekick, Tim Key is back with another hour of elegantly awkward, hesitantly delivered, and distinctively entertaining poetry, Single White Slut. Soho Theatre, 9.45pm, Until March 8

LIVE IN LONDON: The Last Laugh's Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker join Jon Culshaw, Nick Helm, Mark Watson and Joe Lycett at the Palace Theatre tonight for a benefit for Centrepoint.

LIVE IN NEWCASTLE: In Laughing For A Change, loveable housewife Mrs Barbara Nice comperes an eclectic, feelgood night including upbeat musical comic Rob Deering, delightful weirdo Seymour Mace, and more straightforward stand-up from Karen Bayley. The Stand, 8pm

Tuesday February 25

LIVE IN LONDON: Daniel Kitson's back. His new show at the National Theatre Analog.Ue is something to do with the joys of old-fashioned audio technology… though that's all you could hope to fathom from the description. It'll probably be good, though. Until March 20, variously at 11.30am, 2.30pm, or 8pm

LIVE IN DUBLIN Described as 'like The Expendables but for jokes', Dara O Briain reunites the team from RTE show The Panel for one last job. The show was cancelled in 2011 after five years, but some of the regulars – still unnamed – will be making a return.

Wednesday February 26

RADIO: With Inside No 9 currently being just about the best thing on telly, Radio 4 Extra goes back to where it all started for Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith - not to mention Mark Gatiss and writer Jeremy Dyson - with a welcome rerun of the first series of On The Town With The League Of Gentlemen, set not in Royston Vasey, but the fictional town of Spent. And if you want to feel old, this was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1997. Radio 4 Extra, 11pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Hard to believe, given how current his style seems, that it is 20 years to the day since Bill Hicks died. This celebration of his life and work includes stand-up from Brendon Burns and Robin Ince, some rare clips from the Hicks archive, and a Q&A with brother Steve. It's at Highlight Camden from 7pm.

Thursday February 27

TV: Afghanistan-based Army comedy Bluestone 42 returns to BBC Three tonight. It can't match M*A*S*H, with which it shares a spirit, but it's certainly got its merits. BBC Three. 10pm

LIVE IN LONDON: Ivo Graham's assured solo debut Binoculars, celebrating his modest goals, gets a three-night run at the Soho Theatre. Review.

Friday February 28

LIVE IN BOURNEMOUTH: Miranda Hart is boldly - recklessly? - embarking on an arena tour in Dorset tonight. She's a huge hit on TV, though live she has yet to prove herself, with only a couple of Edinburgh Finge shows back in the day to her name. A successful transfer of her screen persona… or an over-ambitious venture? Only time, and the reviews, will tell. Dates

RADIO: Somewhat incredibly, this is the first time Chris Morris's legendary Blue Jam has been heard on radio since it first aired in 1997, late at night on BBC Radio 1. Expect ambient music, deadpan sketches and offbeat monologues. But it you haven't heard it before, it's impossible to tell you what to expect…Radio 4 Extra, 11pm

LIVE IN LEAMINGTON SPA: It would be remiss of us to omit the second heat of this year's Chortle Student Comedy Award (with ALCATEL ONETOUCH and Universal Pictures (UK), we're contractually obliged to mention). See the possible stars of the future at LAMP, compered by the ever-playful Ray Peacock.

Saturday March 1

LIVE IN LONDON: Live At The Chapel is back at the Union Chapel in Islington, with a diverse line-up of stand-up comprising Ardal O'Hanlon, Nina Conti, Bridget Christie and Mike Wozniak, with MC Jarred Christmas.

Published: 23 Feb 2014