The week's best comedy on TV, radio and streaming

Our pick of the comedy on TV, radio and on demand this week…:

Sunday October 1

DESERT ISLAND DISCS: Katherine Ryan is Lauren Laverne's castaway this week Radio 4. 11.15am

FUNNY WOMEN: Jo Brand presents highlights of the 20th Funny Women final, recorded live at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London last week (and which we reviewed here). It followed an Archive On 4 programme featuring highlights from the last 20 years which aired on Friday and is now on BBC Sounds

OLD DADS: Comedian Bill Burr makes his directorial debut in Old Dads, a movie about three best friends who become dads later in life. Burr's short-tempered character Jack struggles to fit in at his son’s progressive preschool and with the changing workplace culture he encounters after his company is sold to a millennial CEO. It's out on Netflix today.

Monday October 2

RICHARD OSMAN'S HOUSE OF GAMES: Comic Inel Tomlinson, impressionist Debra Stephenson, Love Island's Chris Hughes, and rock goddess Toyah Willcox take part this week. BBC Two, 6pm

BIG ZUU'S BIG EATS: Big Zuu and the boys welcome Roisin Conaty - and decide to combine her love of chocolate and potatoes in her welcome meal. Dave, 10pm

THE DETECTORISTS: The first series of Mackenzie Crook's charming comedy is being screened across the week, in which his character Andy and best mate Lance (Toby Jones) comb the fields of Danebury for hidden treasure and a change of fortune. Gold, 9pm.

RHOD GILBERT'S GROWING PAINS: This week's guests are Jayde Adams, Alex Brooker and Desiree Burch. Comedy Central, 9pm.

Tuesday October 3

BEST MEDICINE: Following a pilot last year, Kiri Pritchard-McLean presents a full series of this panel show in which guests argue the case for what they think is 'the best medicine' of all-time from obscure inventions, everyday treatments, uplifting worldviews, unsung heroes or futuristic cures. Examples include micro-robotic surgery, virtual reality syringes, Victorian clockwork surgical saws and ingenious cures for cancer. Tonight's repeat of the pilot, featuring Darren Harriott, is followed by new episodes from next week. BBC Radio 4, 6.30pm

Wednesday October 4

NIGEL NG'S EAST MODE: The comic's skits - also featuring fellow Asian talent such as Jemma Moore, Ria Lina and Andreas Vallis – have been dropping online over the past month and have now been compiled into a single 22-minute episode. Comedy Central. 10pm

Friday October 6

GHOSTS: The delightful comedy returns for a fifth and - sob - final series. In this episode Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) approaches Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) to discuss their finances following the loss of their B&B business. However, Alison is more preoccupied with plotting revenge on the Ghosts for April Fool’s Day and recruits a playful Humphrey to execute her plans. Meanwhile, Mike is shocked to find someone from their insurance company (Anna Crilly) on his doorstep to check the details of the gatehouse fire. Can Mike convince her that lightning really can strike thrice? BBC One, 8.30pm

HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU: Victoria Coren Mitchell will present episode 1 of the new 66th series - with Spanish-Welsh comedian Ignacio Lopez making his debut as a guest, opposite Carol Vorderman. Ian Hislop and Paul Merton talk about the show here BBC One, 9pm

Published: 1 Oct 2023