© BBC/King Bert/Ray Burmiston Whose David Walliams's friend?
The comedy week ahead
The comedy week ahead.
Sunday November 20
RADIO: John Shuttleworth returns to Radio 4 for a second series of John Shuttleworth’s Lounge Music, in which Chris Difford, Clare Grogan, Nick Heywood and Mari Wilson find themselves in the lounge of Sheffield's favourite Bahama-Based singer-songwriter. 7.15pm
LIVE IN LONDON: Ever-delightful Joe Lycett heads up a benefit night for Disability Challenger at the Carousel restaurant in Marylebone. Lou Sanders, Naz Osmanoglu and Alice Marshall complete the bill.
LIVE IN DUBLIN: Adam Buxton pays homage to David Bowie in the only way he knows… by playing some of his videos, reading the comments beneath, and making a few tributes of his own. The Bug show is at Vicar Street tonight.
Monday November 21
TV:The residents of Latimer Crescent are back for more domestic disasters, in a new six-part series of Scottish comedy Two Doors Down. Alex Norton, Arabella Weir,Doon Mackichan, Jonathan Watson Elaine C Smith and Sharon Rooney are among the returning cast as the characters boast about their sun-drenched holidays and PPI payoffs .BBC Two, 10pm
LIVE IN LONDON: A gig at the Comedy Store to mark the 80th birthday of Arnold Brown has long sold out. And no wonder when you consider the line-up: Stewart Lee, Bridget Christie, Clive Anderson, John Hegley, Nick Revell, Norman Lovett, Paul Merton, Sara Pascoe and Adam Bloom. Former accountant Brown made his stand-up debut on the opening night of the Comedy Store in 1979… but was gonged off. Fortunately, it didn’t put him off.
Tuesday November 22
LIVE IN LONDON: Kieran Hodgson starts another run of his masterful character show Maestro, about his youthful attempts to write a symphony, at the Soho Theatre. It runs until December 3 and here is our review.
Wednesday November 23
LIVE IN LONDON: A big signing for the newly opened Angel 2.0 in Islington, as mucho-acclaimed James Acaster headlines at the Bill Murray pub, with fine support from Holly Walsh. Tomorrow’s line-up is strong too, with poet Tim Key leading Jordan Brookes, Mae Martin and Sunil Patel at the Green Milk night.
Thursday November 24
LIVE IN CHELMSFORD: A strong bill at the Red Lion pub features decades of experience from the pin-sharp Carey Marx, Jeff Innocent and Stephen Grant, one of the best comperes in the business.
Friday November 25
TV: Walliams & Friend returns for a full six-part series, featuring a different guest each week, following the success of a pilot with Joanna Lumley. In this series opener, it’s Jack Whitehall. Sketches include a take on Sherlock and Watson, the world’s worst dating show contestant and Celebrity Slammer, in which David finds himself locked up with the likes of The Chuckle Brothers and Bob Carolgees. The support cast includes Morgana Robinson, Mike Wozniak and Jason Lewis. BBC One, 9.30pm
TV: Series seven of Steptoe And Son, the first to survive completely in colour, starts on the Drama channel. In this 1972 episode, Harold jumps at the chance of supplying an article for the parish magazine on the history of the rag-and-bone trade in Shepherd's Bush. Could it be the start of a wonderful new career? 6pm
TV: Alan Carr launches Happy Hour, his pre-watershed follow-up to Chatty Man. Channel 4, 10pm
RADIO: Radio 4 Extra marks the 20th anniversary of the death of comic Michael Bentine tomorrow with a rerun of the 1989 show The Tingle Factor, in which the original Goon tells Robin Ray why certain tracks have the power to send tingles down his spine. 6.30pm
LIVE IN LONDON: Can’t go wrong at the Boat Show comedy night on the Tattershall Castle this weekend. The paddle steamer moored next to Embankment tube station features Joe Lycett, Pippa Evans, Ian Smith and MC Iain Stirling.
LIVE IN GLASGOW: The Barrowlands Ballroom has played host to some of the biggest names in rock… but tonight it’s time for the Scottish Comedian Of The Year competition. Hosted by Des Clarke, those vying for the title (and a trip to the Aussie comedy festivals) are: Ally Houston, Andrew McBurne, Christopher MacArthur Boyd, Leo Kearse, Marc Jennings, Martin Bearne, Michael Hollingworth, Rosco McLelland, Sam Lennox, Stuart McPherson, Stephen Buchanan. Entry is free, but audience members need to bring a kids’ Christmas toy or food bank parcel.
LIVE IN OXFORD: Music satire and silliness combine for a night of comedy to raise money for the Old Fire Station’s work supporting artists and homeless people. Political comic Andy Zaltzman, absurdist Ben Target, jaunty protests singers Jonny And The Baptists, intelligent stand-up Nick Doody, affable Tiernan Douieb and talented musician Kirtsy Newton are on the iron-clad bill.
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Published: 20 Nov 2016
