The best of the week's live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 7,265  events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.   

Sunday September 28

CHELTENHAM: Pun meister Gary Delaney heads a strong line-up at the Chukl club at the Everyman today, along with cheerfully cynical Aussie Felicity Ward, circuit favourite  Paul McCaffrey and sassy Irish comic Aideen McQueen.

Monday September 29

DUBLIN: High-energy Aussie sketch trio Aunty Donna – as seen in their own Netflix series – kick off their latest UK and Ireland tour at the 3Olympia Theatre. Aunty Donna tour dates.

Tuesday September 30

BROMLEY: It's already been on TV following its West End run, and now John Cleese's Fawlty Towers play embarks on its UK tour at the Churchill Theatre. This 90-minute show seamlessly combines three of the original episodes, The Hotel Inspectors, Communication Problems and – of course – The Germans. Fawlty Towers tour dates 

Wednesday October 1

LONDON: Hackney's Moth Club attracts top comics like a lightbulb attracts, well, moths. Tonight the starry line-up comprises  Ian Smith, Lou Sanders, Nish Kumar, Ray Badran and Sophie Duker.

Thursday October 2

PLYMOUTH: John Bishop is celebrating 25 years in the business – after walking on stage at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester to perform his first gig while not quite sure what to do with himself after splitting from his wife Melanie. That night is the basis for the new film Is This Thing On? directed by Bradley Cooper, who co-stars with Will Arnett. Bishop – who since reconciled with Melanie – starts his silver anniversary tour at the Pavilions tonight.   John Bishop tour dates

DUBLIN: Fresh from the Riyadh comedy festival, the mischievous Jimeoin starts a new tour, Pandemonium, at Vicar Street. He's also here on Sunday before kicking off UK dates next week. Jimeoin tour dates.

LONDON: Dulwich Hamlet FC hosts the ever-creative Jordan Brookes tonight, heading a robust line-up that also boasts Chloe Petts,  Rachel Fairburn, Alexandra Haddow, Blake AJ and Louis Mcclean.

Friday October 3

OXFORD: 'Gleefully irascible,' storyteller and comedian Desiree Burch addresses mid-life crisis and the menopause in her new stand-up hour The Golden Wrath, covering the experiences of losing sleep, relevance, knee cartilage, oestrogen, youth, and illusions… It starts at the Glee tonight.  Desiree Burch tour dates.

BIRMINGHAM: The city's comedy festival kicks off with  its Breaking Talent Award at the Glee Club, with Bab, Abbie Edwards, Abbie Hale, Harry Jenkins and Ryan S Lewis competing for the title. The festival runs to October 12 and  comprises more than 90 shows including Babatunde Aléshé, Kane Brown, Dom Joly and more…  Website.

SOUTHPORT: Another town, another comedy festival, with 17 days of laughter kicking off with Brendan Riley, Dan Nightingale, Jenny Collier and Jonny Awsum on a mixed-bill line-up in Victoria Park. Website.

LEAMINGTON SPA: Comedian and mathematician Matt Parker nerds out on his latest tour, Getting Triggy With It, kicking off at the Royal Spa Centre tonight. Matt Parker tour dates

Saturday October 4

HOVE: Jason Byrne's latest tour Head In The Clouds, promises more of the joyously insane and wildly unpredictable audience participation he's become known for. The UK tour starts at The Old Market tonight, with dates through to April next year. Jason Byrne tour dates.

LONDON: Another big gig at the Union Chapel in Islington features  Bridget Christie, Esther Manito, Nish Kumar and Tim Key.

Published: 28 Sep 2025