Philomena Cunk returns... to look at the whole of human civilisation | The week's best comedy on TV and radio © BBC/Broke & Bones

Philomena Cunk returns... to look at the whole of human civilisation

The week's best comedy on TV and radio

The best of the week’s comedy on TV, radio and on demand - with the schedules hopefully now settled following the death of the Queen…

Monday September 19

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES: Comedian Charlie Baker takes on crime writer Val McDermid, rugby star Martin Offiah and Rebecca Lucy Taylor - the singer best known as Self Esteem - in this week’s trivia-based games. BBC Two, 6pm

Tuesday September 20

CUNK ON EARTH: The latest outing for Diane Morgan’s witless presenter aims to do no less than tell the entire story of human civilisation from prehistoric times to the present day, covering all the main bits of history, science, culture and religion. In the first of five episodes she travels the world in her search for mankind’s first societies ‘from the easier ones to spell like Rome and Greece, to the ones that are harder to spell, like Egypt and Mesopotamia’. Writers include Charlie Brooker, Michael Odewale, Eli Goldstone, Ben Caudel, Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris. BBC Two, 10pm

PATTON OSWALT: WE ALL SCREAM: Filmed at Paramount Theatre in Denver, the comic’s fourth Netflix comedy special is out today. In it he discusses what happens to our bodies as we get older, who he could have been had he just followed the list he created during the lockdown, the Baby Boomer’s last temper tantrum and more.

ROSIE JONES' TRIP HAZARD: In the final episode of the series, Rosie takes Cold Feet star Fay Ripley to Pembrokeshire. Channel 4,10.35pm

Wednesday September 21

MARK STEEL’S IN TOWN: Mark Steel visits Newport in Wales and performs a bespoke stand-up show for a local audience. BBC Radio 4, 6.30pm

Friday September 23

GHOSTS: The much awaited fourth series of the delightful comedy sees Mike and Alison welcome the first guests to their haunted B&B. Meanwhile, in the spirit world Mary reveals she has never had a holiday, so Pat teaches her the joys and pitfalls of a week on the Costa Del Sol. And the Plague vitims have taken to idolising Thomas, since spotting Alison’s fetching portrait of him in the basement…BBC One, 8.50pm

HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU: The topical comedy show is back after the mourning period with Richard Ayoade in the host’s chair with guests Roisin Conaty and Mick Lynch,  the Secretary-General of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. BBC One, 9.20pm

AM I BEING UNREASONABLE? Delayed from last week, his new twisted comedy thriller about obsessive friendship, maternal paranoia and a dead cat has been written by This Country’s Daisy May Cooper and her real-life best friend Selin Hizli - both of whom star. Nic (Cooper) is grieving a loss that she can’t share with anyone and is unfulfilled in her marriage. Only her son Ollie (Lenny Rush), who she adores, keeps her going. But when Jen (Hizli) arrives in town her life is lit up with laughter and through this kindred soul her dark secret starts to bubble up. The creators talk about the show hereBBC One, 9.50pm

MOCK THE WEEK: Also making its return - and for a final run of episodes after 17 years - is the Dara O Briain fronted panel show. This week’s show features debutant Josh Pugh plus Angela Barnes, Rhys James, Alasdair Beckett-King,  Ria Lin  and series regular Hugh Dennis . BBC Two, 10pm

THE LAST LEG: Guests include Munya Chawawa Channel 4, 11.05pm

GEMMA ARROWSMITH’S SKETCHED OUT: A new comedy sketch series… with the writer-performer battling to front her own work against the wishes of executive producers who would much rather have  Paterson Joseph. BBC Radio 4, 6.30pm

Published: 18 Sep 2022

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