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

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

Monday February 27

THE NIGHTLY SHOW: ITV starts a major push to become the home of comedy entertainment this week, built around the high-stakes move of shifting the main news from 10pm to 10.30pm to make way for this topical daily show. Featuring sketches, monologues and special guests, there’s a different host each week - with David Walliams in the driving seat to kick things off. ITV, 10pm

Tuesday February 28

INSIDE NO 9:Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith lead us into another No.9, entitled Riddle Of The Sphinx. When Nina (Alexandra Roach) breaks into the college rooms of crossword compiler Professor Squires (Pemberton), they engage in a discussion about cryptic clues. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that - but we’d hate to give away any spoilers… BBC Two, 10pm.

CATASTROPHE: Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney’s excellent comedy is back, to resolve the Series two cliffhanger. If you recall  Sharon had a drunken shagging with a young stranger – then husband Rob discovered a receipt for her morning after pill… And in this season unemployment and alcoholism are among the trials heaped on the struggling couple. Here is an interview with the pair.Channel 4, 10pm

SARAH KENDALL: AUSTRALIAN TRILOGY: Comedian Sarah Kendall brings her last three solo live shows to radio. They are all about teenage life in small-town Australia in the early 1990s, John Hughes-style. Episode one, A Day in October, is about Sarah’s secret relationship with bullied classmate, George Peach. Radio 4, 11pm

PLAY TO THE WHISTLE: Sports-based comedy panel show Play To The Whistle is back for a third series. Hosted by Holly Willoughby with the help of Seann Walsh, the show features team captains Frank Lampard and Bradley Walsh and regular Romesh Ranganathan.ITV, 9pm

BLACK-ISH: The US comedy about Dre and Rainbow Johnson and their four children - praised for the way it has incorporated hot social issues into a mainstream comedy (it airs on ABC in the States) –returns for a third series. E4. 8.30pm

Wednesday March 1


BENIDORM: ITV’s award-winning Costa-based comedy returns for its ninth series – so you really should know what it’s all about by now… The new season kicks off with the return of Liam (Adam Gillen) and Sam (Shelley Longworth), while guest stars over the run will include  Nigel Havers, John Challis, Jason Manford, Uri Geller, Madness and Dame Joan Collins. Now there’s an eclectic bunch. ITV, 9pm. And here’s a preview:

UNSPUN WITH Matt Forde: Dave’s political comedy show returns with Forde joined by Andy Zaltzman and Phil Wang as reporters and MP4, the house band made up of past and current members of Parliament.

Thursday March 2

HARRY HILL’S ALIEN FUN CAPSULE: In his new panel show, Harry Hill asks two teams to find clips, people, or anything else joyful to put into a time capsule which can be presented to aliens to convince them that humans are worth saving. A reverse Room 101 by the sounds of it, though surely more chaotic. Guests on episode one include  Sara Pascoe and Josh Widdicombe. ITV, 8.30pm

Saturday March 4

LET’S SING AND DANCE FOR COMIC RELIEF:  Sara Pascoe’s back, this time strutting her stuff… The celeb showcase kicks off with Paul O’Grady, Jo Brand and Frank Skinner on the judging panel and Mel & Sue hosting . BBC One, 6.45pm.

Published: 26 Feb 2017