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

The week’s best comedy on TV and radio.

Sunday January 3

THE GREAT: Elle Fanning stars as Catherine The Great, Empress of All Russia, in this US period comedy-drama with a very casual relationship with historical accuracy. Channel 4, 9pm

JOZ NORRIS: A SMALL TALK ON SMALL TALK: Radio 4 begins a new series of Radio 4 stand-up specials with this exploration of what goes on in his head while ‘wading through the quicksand that is polite chit chat’. Lucy Pearman also stars. Radio 4, 7.15pm

Monday January 4

STAGED: David Tennant and Michael Sheen are back, stuck at home with their increasingly exasperated families while trying to tackle the world of ‘virtual Hollywood’ and their fragile egos. Shot remotely, the new series features some surprise guest stars and introduces Parks and Recreations Ben Schwartz as the assistant to Michael and David’s American agent. Click here for an interview with the two stars. BBC One, 9.45pm

COMEDY CLUB EXTRA: In a new series, comic Harriet Kemsley invites her peers to celebrate the ‘comedy catalysts,’ who inspired them to pick up the mic. Today it’s Jessica Fostekew on Rik Mayall, followed by Jen Brister on French and Saunders, Josie Long on David O’Doherty and Shazia Mirza on Richard Pryor on subsequent days. Radio 4 Extra, 10.30pm

Thursday January 7

SCOT SQUAD: The cops are back, under the guiding hand of Cameron Miekelson (Jack Docherty) for a new five-part series, policing everything from the drugs trade to vegetable competitions. BBC Scotland, 10pm

BIG FAT QUIZ OF EVERYTHING: Rob Beckett, Roisin Conaty, Nish Kumar, Katherine Ryan, Oti Mabuse and Rob Brydon tackle the questions posed by Jimmy Carr. Channel 4, 9pm

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Sarah Millican's panel show returns with Susan Calman, Shazia Mirza, Kirsten O'Brien and Nick Mohammed unpicking the results of various surveys on the likes of childhood, daily rituals and favourite cheeses. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Saturday January 9

PAUL SINHA’S TV SHOWDOWN: The comedian and Chaser hosts this new series, a Telly Addicts for our times, with team captains Fay Ripley and Rob Beckett. ITV, 10pm

Published: 3 Jan 2021