The week's best comedy on TV and radio

The best of the week’s comedy on TV, radio and on demand…

Monday December 19

RICHARD OSMAN'S HOUSE OF GAMES:Ivo Graham takes part in what's billed as a special festive week of challenges alongside Hi-Di-Hi's Su Pollard, presenter Clare Balding and sports pundit Ugo Monye. Note the later-than-usual start time... and the show drifts around the schedules a bit this week. BBC Two, 7pm.

CHRISTMAS UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE: No offence to Richard Osman, but Ivo Graham faces some rather more difficult challenges immediately afterwards as he joins the University College, Oxford, team as they take on the University of Glasgow in a festive version of the Jeremy Paxman-fronted quiz. BBC Two, 7.30pm.

THE UNOFFICIAL SCIENCE OF HOME ALONE: Comedians James Acaster, Guz Khan and Alex Brooker are all fans of the classic 1990 comedy Home Alone, Now they set out to find out whether burglars Harry and Marv would have survived those traps set by Macaulay Culkin's Kevin McAllister. in real life? Sky Max, 9pm

Tuesday December 20

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE: Hosted by Lee Mack, the comics on the bill of the annual extravaganza are Al Murray , Maisie Adam, Omid Djalili and Britain’s Got Talent winner Axel Blake. Plus Baddiel & Skinner give a rendition of Three Lions... not that it went down well with the Earl and Countess of Wessex. ITV, 8pm 


CARRY ON CHRISTMAS: In this 1969 TV special the team very looses take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol with Sid James's Scrooge meeting Terry Scott's Dr Frank N Stein,Barbara Windsor's Cinderella and Frankie Howerd's Fairy Godmother. Talking Pictures TV, 6.55pm Other Carry On Christmas specials will air on Thursday, Friday and Christmas Day.

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Wednesday December 21

HENRY NORMAL: A NORMAL HOME: The tenth instalment of the comic poet's occasional series tackles the big issues. This one was recorded in Rye, East Sussex, where the former TV producer now calls home. Radio 4, 6.30pm

ROB & ROMESH VS CHRISTMAS ON ICE: The comics don their skates and see how they fare alongside Mickey, Goofy, Moana and the rest of the gang. Sky Max, 9pm

EMILY IN PARIS: Lily Collins returns for a third series of the much-derided but hugely popular Netflix series from Sex And The City showrunner Darren Star.

Thursday December 22

INSIDE No 9: Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith return with a special festive film from their award-winning anthology series.Dr. Jasper Parkway (Pemberton) has booked an overnight stay in a reputedly haunted church on Christmas Eve. However, much to his dismay, he is soon joined by unwanted guests Pierce (Shearsmith) and Posy Shobna Gulati), who have even brought their own sleeping bags. Together with the eccentric warden Dick (Simon Callow), it doesn’t look like Jasper is going to be lonely this Christmas. much as he may want to be. BBC Two, 9pm

LIVE AT THE MOTH CLUB: On stage at the East London club tonight are Michael Odewale, Katy Wix, Ele Mckenzie, Tim Renkow and host William Stone, with their sets interspersed with backstage shenanigans. Dave, 10pm

Friday December 23

THE CLEANER: Hunker down for a great evening of comedy on BBC One tonight, starting with this episode of Greg Davies' sitcom. It’s Christmas Day, and crime scene cleaner Wicky is looking forward to heading to the pub for Weasel’s Christmas raffle: first prize, an actual horse. All that stands in his way is a blood-soaked crime scene in an ice cream parlour, and a regular customer who isn’t going to let a little thing like a murder stop him from getting the perfect peach melba ice cream. Sian Gibson and James Bolan guest star. BBC One 9pm

MOTHERLAND: The acclaimed BBC Two comedy has been promoted to BBC One for this festive special. School’s out so the mums (played by Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Diane Morgan, Tanya Moodie and Philippa Dunne) and Kevin (Paul Ready), are busy prepping for the ultimate in blended Christmas celebrations.BBC One 9.40pm 

TWO DOORS DOWN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Also promoted to BBC One, the ensemble comedy tonight revolves around a big Christmas shop. Christine displays uncharacteristic generosity when she discovers she has more loyalty points on her card than she expected, while Michelle is annoyed that Alan has lost his wallet somewhere in town. Dismayed at the prospect of having to cancel her cards so close to Christmas, she sends him out to look for it again. BBC One 10.05pm

THE LAST LEG CHRISTMAS BASH James Acaster is among those joining Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. Channel 4, 10pm

Saturday December 24

YOU’RE DEAD TO ME: Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Mike Wozniak and historian Dr Emily Bell for an episode of the history show dedicated to Mr Christmas himself, Charles Dickens. Radio 4, 4.30pm

THE INFINITE MONKEY CAGE: WHY DOES WINE TASTE GOOD?: For this special Christmas episode, Brian Cox and Robin Ince visit the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide to find out what science can teach us about wine. They are joined by comedian Tim Minchin, Nobel Prize winner and vineyard owner Brian Schmidt, flavour chemist Mango Parker and sensory and consumer scientist Patricia Williamson. Radio 4, 7.15pm

MARK GATISS AND RICHARD COLES ARE ON A GHOST HUNT: The League Of Gentleman's Mark Gatiss has spent much of his career writing about ghosts, but he's never actually seen one. But Richard Coles believes he's had brushes with the supernatural, so invited the writer and actor to visit his former parish in Finedon, Northamptonshire, reputedly the most haunted in England to try to encounter a spirit. Radio 4, 10.15pm

Sunday December 25

GHOSTS: In this festive special the spirts of Button House try to return Alison’s thoughtful generosity with a Christmas present of their own. As always it stars Charlotte Ritchie,Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Lolly Adefope. BBC One, 7.25pm

ELIS AND JOHN'S MADE UP GAMES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: The comedians take their regular Friday feature and supersize it for Christmas, with this special recorded earlier this month with a live audience. BBC Radio 5 Live, 11am

TOMMY COOPER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Made in 1973, the comic is joined by musical guest stars Sacha Distel and Clodagh Rodgers, while he attempts carol singing, golfing on a snooker table and cooking a duck. Music is provided by Clodagh Rodgers and Sacha Distel.Talking Pictures TV, 4pm

Published: 18 Dec 2022