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

Our pick of the comedy on TV, radio and streaming this week.

Monday January 5

THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH: David Mitchell invites Frankie Boyle, Miles Jupp, Michelle Wolf and Celya AB to talk about time, Paris, bees and dictators. Radio 4, 6.30pm

Tuesday  January 6

LIVE AT THE APOLLO: Dara O Briain, Jack Skipper and Felicity Ward are on this week's stand-up showcase. BBC Two, 9.45pm

Wednesday  January 7

WHY IN THE NAME OF Pierre Novellie: In what's described as a homage to Radio 4's big ideas show In Our Time, recently vacated by Melvyn Bragg, the comedian talks about why we can't stop eating, the misuse of soap, weaponised crisps, Saint Aetholwold, and George Orwell. Radio 4, 6.30pm

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?: In this new comedy-drama Dawn French plays Debbie Fendon, a ‘tinpot dictator’ who maintains the illusion that her husband William (Mark Heap) is dead, hiding him away in the loft for a few months until the life insurance pays out. Read an interview with French here, and writer Paul Mayhew-Archer here. BBC One 9.30pm

THE SKEWER: Jon Holmes's innovative and satirical audio mash-up of the week's events returns for a 15th series. Radio 4, 11.15pm

Thursday January 8

WHAT'S THE STORY, ​ASHLEY STORRIE? The autistic Scottish comic returns for a third series of her stand-up show. Radio 4, 6.30pm

BLACK OPS: Gbemisola Ikumelo and Hammed Animashaun return as Dom and Kay, starting new roles at MI5 following their success in busting a drug gang in series one. But each of them struggles to find their place in the agency – until Dom takes a big gamble to impress a senior colleague, sparking a dangerous chain of events. BBC One, 9.30pm

Friday January 9

WOULD I LIE TO YOU? Bob Mortimer's back! Joining Dianne Buswell, Jamelia and Mark Chapman as well as host Rob Brydon and regulars Lee Mack and David Mitchell. BBC One, 7.30pm

THE BIG FAT QUIZ OF EVERYTHING:  Harry Hill, Judi Love, Tom Allen, Joanne McNally, Sam Campbell and Susan Wokoma take part in the last instalment of the comedy quiz, with  Jimmy Carr to asking the big fat questions. Channel 4, 9pm

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW:Rob Beckett talks about his stand-up tour and Dawn French about Can You Keep a Secret?  – along with Chris Pratt, Cynthia Erivo  and music from singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti.  BBC One 10.40pm    

Published: 4 Jan 2026