The best of the week's comedy on TV and radio

A quiet week on the comedy front this week, but here are a few TV and radio highlights...

Sunday November 26

THE CHASE CELEBRITY SPECIAL: Kevin Eldon is among the team pitching his general knowledge against The Chaser’s in this special edition. The comic is joined by actor Patrick Baladi, cyclist Vicky Williamson, and Countryfile’s John Craven. ITV, 6.30pm

Tuesday November 28

MOTHERLAND: The grandparents step in to help with childcare in the latest episode in this painfully true-to-life comedy about the travails of bringing up children. BBC Two, 10pm

WHAT A WHOPPER! Another comedy curio on the Talking Pictures TV channel. This 1961 film was based on an idea by aspiring comedy writer Jeremy Lloyd, yet to co-write the likes of Are You Being Served? and 'Allo 'Allo! But the final script was penned by Terry Nation, who had started out writing for Spike Milligan and who would go on to be so instrumental in making Doctor Who a success. The story involves a writer - played by pop singer Adam Faith - who fakes a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. A load of comedy icons pop up in roles of varying significance, including Sid James, Wilfred Brambell, Charles Hawtrey, Terry Scott, Clive Dunn, Lance Percival and Milligan himself… which has to be some compensation for the mixed reviews.2pm

Thursday November 30

WELCOME TO WHEREVER YOU ARE: A stand-up show that refuses to be constrained by geography, using technology to connect a studio audience in the BBC Radio Theatre, London, with comedians across the globe. This week, host Andrew Maxwell, pictured, talks cricket and colonialism with Alice Fraser in Sydney; dating with Storm Xu in Shanghai; and about being an Egyptian expat with Bassem Youssef in Los Angeles. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Friday December 1

THE INTERVIEWS: It’s a Freeview premiere for this celebration of Barry Humphries, presented by Dawn French. The programme is a revealing look at the man behind Dame Edna’s frocks and glasses and shows what it takes to lead such a double life. Yesterday 10pm

Published: 26 Nov 2017