The comedy week ahead

The comedy week ahead...

Today

LIVE IN SADDLEWORTH: An excellent, and bargain-priced, local bill at Off The Rails Comedy Club in the Royal George bar tonight features Andre Vincent, Mrs Barbara Nice and Alun Cochrane.

Monday April 28

LIVE IN LONDON: There was some debate last week over the impact of free clubs on those promoters who believe people should pay for good comedy. But for the punter, the Angel Comedy Club at the Camden Head in Islington is offering a week of excellent names for free in its comedy festival, starting with improvised musical Showstoppers! tonight and featuring Richard Herring, Simon Munnery, Abandoman, Lucy Porter and more over the coming days. Listings.

LIVE IN GLASGOW: Frankie Boyle supports Glenn Wool as his ‘greatest hits’ tour his the Glasgow Stand. Although Boyle is the bigger draw, his fans who are unaware of Wool will be introduced to an excellent storytelling comedian. The pair are at the Edinburgh Stand on Wednesday, too

Tuesday April 29

TV: John Oliver’s HBO series comes to Sky Atlantic, a couple of nights after it airs in the US. Last Week Tonight is set to be a flavour of topical comedy familiar to viewers who enjoyed him on the Daily Show. And in something of a coup, this opening episode features the first interview with General Keith Alexander since he retired as director of the National Security Agency in October, in the wake of Edward Snowden’s revelations that his organisation had been spying on American citizens. Sky Atlantic, 11pm

TV: BBC One’s revived Comedy Playhouse strand stars with Over To Bill, about a fired TV weatherman, played by Hugh Dennis. The cast of the sitcom pilot, written by Red Dwarf’s Doug Naylor, also includes Neil Morrissey, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Helen George. BBC One, 10.35pm

Wednesday April 30

TV: Series 2 of Cardinal Burns, promoted from E4 to Channel 4, starts tonight with more quirky long-form sketches, featuring some old characters and plenty of new ones.Channel 4, 10.30pm

RADIO: Isy Suttie returns to Radio 4 with a new series of her award-winning Love Letters, telling whimsical love stories, partly through song. In first programme, Isy returns to her home town of Matlock and observes the unfolding romance between Eleanor, a dinner lady, and Mr Woodfield, a teacher. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Thursday May 1

LIVE IN LONDON: Pappy’s, Max & Ivan and Foils, Arms And Hog are among the acts confirmed for the second London Sketchfest, taking place at Backyard Comedy, Bethnal Green, for four days from tonight. Details.

LIVE IN LONDON: Meanwhile, the first of two benefits at the Bloomsbury Theatre this week is in aid of War on Want and features Marcus Brigstocke, Kevin Eldon, Stewart Lee and more.

TV: Comedy Central is airing Al Murray’s last live show, The Only Way is Epic, featuring his ‘ale-inspired acumen and bar-room buffoonery’ at 9pm. Here is our review of the DVD release

TV: Sky Living has bought the rights to Australian comedy The Moodys, a ‘riotous’ eight part about a dysfunctional family getting together over a series of events over the year. Episode one focusses on an Australia Day barbie. Sky Living, 9.30pm. Bonzer. .

Friday May 2

LIVE IN MACHYNLLETH AND ON RADIO: The boutique comedy festival on the outskirts of the Snowdonia National Park has been described as the, the friendliest festival on the circuit. It’s normally kept a low profile, but this Bank Holiday weekend has invited Radio 4 Extra to broadcast across all four nights of the event, including The Horne Section, Bridget Christie and a marathon nine performances from self-proclaimed ‘one man mega-myth’ Nick Helm. Also performing at the myriad of little venues in the small town (population 2,100) are Josh Widdicombe, Stewart Lee, Jonny And The Baptists and many, many more. The radio shows are on from 10pm and the website is here

LIVE IN LONDON: The second Bloomsbury benefit is a row is for Shelter and features a more variety feel, as it’s hosted by magician Jamie Povey, Comics include Lee Nelson, Hattie Hayridge and Kev Orkian. 7.30pm, £22.50

Saturday May 3

LIVE IN BRIGHTON: The Brighton Fringe kicks off tonight, with more than 200 comedy shows in its packed four-week programme.Many are works in progress towards Edinburgh, often in a very early stage, while bigger shows include The Horne Section, Kevin Eldon and Colin Hoult. But, like most fringe festivals. it’s really all about taking a punt on the unknown. Website.

RADIO: Of certain interest to comedy historians, Radio 4 Extra is repeating a four-year-old show to mark 100 years of the London Palladium, in which Bruce Forsyth tours the theatre that has played host to Dan Leno, Danny Kaye, Morecambe & Wise… and Pinky & Perky. Radio 4 Extra, 8am

Published: 27 Apr 2014