The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 5,777 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check out our full listings by date and region.

Wednesday January 26

BRISTOL: Celebrating vintage comedy, the Slapstick Festival kicks off in Bristol, with a handful of movie screenings. Stars fronting events over the next few days include David Mitchell, Sally Phillips, Stephen Mangan, Richard Herring and Armando Iannucci. Website.

LONDON: Jeremy Hardy is remembered at a long-delayed tribute gig at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith. Featuring friends such as  Eddie Izzard Mark Steel, Miles Jupp, Rich Hall and Angela Barnes. Also including a version of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, hosted by Jack Dee. Tickets.

LONDON: Alfie Brown is back at the Soho Theatre for a a four-night run of his new Sensitive Man before it heads out on tour, offering a wealth of sarcastic insights on ageing, privilege, the commodification of mental health, virtue hierarchies and easily-triggered offence – all while sharing aspects of his personal relationship. Alfie Brown tour dates and review.

MANCHESTER: Simon Day revives some of his Fast Show characters in a special show with friends at the Frog & Bucket.

Thursday January 27

NEWBURY: Spike, a new comedy play about the Goon Show genius written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman begins at the Watermill Theatre. It's the booming fifties, and Britain is in the clutches of Goon mania. While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, chief writer Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC…

LONDON: Paul Taylor is a British comedian based in Paris, returning to home soil for two performances of his stand-up show, So British Ou Presque, at the Shepherds Bush Empire tonight and tomorrow. The twist? It's a bilingual show….

Friday January 28

KINGSTON Death in Paradise star Ardal O'Hanlon headlines an impressive line-up at the Rose Theatre that also feature Mock The Week regular Rhys James, increasingly ubiquitous TV regular Rosie Jones, much-tipped Esther Manito and Radio 5 Live's John Robins

LONDON: A strong bill at the Clapham Grand tonight boasts Ed Gamble, David O'Doherty, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Michelle De Swarte and Tadiwa Mahlunge

HARROGATE: Another Mock regular, Maisie Adam, headlines the Hyena Lounge at the Manhattan club, appearing alongside cheeky provocateur Tez Ilyas and Jason Cook, the writer of all Gold's comedy murder-mysteries starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson.

Published: 23 Jan 2022