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

The week’s best comedy on TV and radio.

Sunday February 21

THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER: The third film in Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau series, from 1975, is being screened in tribute to Christopher Plummer, who died at the age of 91 earlier this month, and who here plays a jewel thief known as The Phantom. Film 4, 2.35pm and repeated at 4.50pm on Friday

THE RANGANATHAN: Rosie Jones and Guz Khan are Romesh’s guests on the topical discussion show tonight. BBC Two, 9pm

Monday February 22

THE STAND-UP SKETCH SHOW: Kojo Anim, Tessa Coates, Luke McQueen, Seann Walsh, Dane Baptiste, Janine Harouni, Larry Dean and Tom Parry  have their stand-up routines re-enacted in this week’s episode. ITV2, 10pm 

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES:Ronni Ancona, Nathan Caton, Colin Murray and Sally Phillips are the contestants all this week. BBC Two,  6pm

WOULD I LIE TO YOU:  Roisin Conatay makes an appearance this week, alongside broadcasters Maya Jama, Roman Kemp and Xand van Tulleken. BBC One, 8.30pm

JUST A MINUTE: Paul Merton is the first of the guest hosts as Radio 4’s longest running panel show returns without Nicholas Parsons. Playing tonight are Sheila Hancock, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks and Pippa Evans. Radio 4, 6.30pm

RADIO 2 BREAKFAST SHOW: Alan Carr sits in all week for Zoe Ball. Radio 2, 6.30am

Tuesday February 23

THE FALL AND RISE OF REGINALD PERRIN: A welcome rerun for David Nobbs’s classic comedy starring Leonard Rossiter as a man in the grip of a mid-life crisis. BBC Four, 8.30pm

MEL GEIDROYC: UNFORGIVABLE: Tom Allen, Gemma Collins and Darren Harriott  are this week’s guests sharing their shameful stories. Dave, 10pm

Wednesday February 24

HYPOTHETICAL: Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster this week challenge Richard Ayoade, Ivo Graham, Evelyn Mok and Roisin Conaty to deal with some absurd fictional situations.  Dave, 10pm

Thursday February 25

STAND UP AND DELIVER: Celebs try comedy in this charity format, which has attracted some criticism for giving airtime to famous amateurs when comedians can’t gig.  David Baddiel will coach presenter Reverend Richard Coles, Jason Manford will guide Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, Nick Helm will guide Baroness Warsi, Judi Love will be in charge of Love Island’s Curtis Pritchard and Zoe Lyons will champion former Coronation Street Katie McGlynn. Channel 4, 9pm

DATING NO FILTER: In this latest addition to the crowded market for dating shows, comedians will offer a play-by-play commentary on every moment of a first date. Daisy May Cooper, Joel Dommett, Josh Widdicombe, Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell, Susan Wokoma, Tom Lucy, Rosie Jones, Judi Love, Chunkz and Yung Filly  are those giving unfiltered observations on every awkward interaction and heart-warming moment.  Sky One, 10pm

THE FANTASTIC MR MURRAY: This French biography film explores the star’s elusive, playful character, taking its inspiration from Groundhog Day. It moves from Wilmette, the small town in Illinois where he grew up; to New York, where he established his fame in the Saturday Night Live; to Chicago, where he made his debut; Paris which fascinated him and Los Angeles which he hates. Sky Arts, 10pm

THE DIRECTORS - ROB REINER: Profile of the man behind the camera of This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride,  When Harry Met Sally and more. Sky Arts, 8pm

NEWSJACK:  Kiri Pritchard-McLean returns for a new series of the topical show, which invites sketches and one-lines from the public. Learn how to submit at the BBC website. Radio 4 Extra, 10.30pm

Saturday February 27

BBC TWO: There’s a night of comedy programming as  BBC’s Festival of Funny gets under way, with a run of repeats.  It kicks off at 7pm, with the latest episode in the ongoing series about writing legends Croft and Perry; then at 7.30pm Hugh Dennis explores the career of his comedy inspiration, Ronnie Barker. At 8.30pm there’s a Dad’s Army rerun, followed by both episodes of Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland, featuring intimate interviews with the comic. from 9pm .BBC Two, from 7pm

Published: 21 Feb 2021