The week's comedy on TV, radio and on demand

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

Monday January 19

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES: Comic Steen Raskopoulos is on the team this week alongside Young Ones star Nigel Planer, 1Xtra’s Nadia Jae and actress Tamzin Outhwaite. BBC Two, 6pm.

THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH: David Mitchell asks Holly Walsh, Henning Wehn, Tony Hawks and Zoe Lyons to talk about sugar, saints, spiders and heavy metal. BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm.

OUT OF ORDER: Rosie Jones hosts with captains Katherine Ryan and Judi Love and joined by Josh Pugh and Layton Williams. Comedy Central, 9pm.

Tuesday January 20

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: Chris McCausland’s guests are Frank Skinner, Dianne Buswell, Ivo Graham and Bella Hull. BBC Radio 4, 6:30pm.

QI: Sandi and Alan are joined by Josh Widdicombe, Catherine Bohart and Russell Kane going willy-nilly through the letter W. BBC Two, 9pm.

LIVE AT THE APOLLO: Ivo Graham introduces comedians Catherine Bohart and Nabil Abdulrashid. BBC Two, 9:45pm.

THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE: The second series of Lucia Keskin’s delightfully off-kilter sitcom features Bridget Christie as unhinged grief counsellor Ruth – which is only the comic’s third real acting role after creating Channel 4’s The Change for herself and guesting in Ghosts. The character ‘brings an equally mad yet authoritative role to the group,’ Keskin says. It starts with a triple bill – and another three episodes the same time next week – although all episodes have been on iPlayer since New Year’s Eve. Other guest stars over the series include Marc Wootten, Alistair Green, Juliet Cowan, Sarah Kendall and Nathan Foad. BBC Two, 9.30pm.

Wednesday January 21

POLITE SOCIETY: A heist caper movie focused on two British-Pakistani sisters, written and directed by Nida Manzoor. The film follows teenage martial arts enthusiast and aspiring stuntwoman Ria Khan, who wants to save her older sister, Lena, after she decides to give up on her dreams and get married. No less a figure than  Barack Obama named Polite Society one of his favourite movies of 2023. BBC Two, 9pm.

THE CHIEF: In the second series of the police-based sitcom starting tonight, Chief Cameron Miekelson (Jack Docherty) enlists the million-dollar larynx of Hollywood acting legend Dougray Scott to narrate his colourful autobiography. BBC Scotland, 10pm.

Thursday January 22

ROB AND ROMESH VS: Rob and Rom close out the series with the second part of their Winter Olympics special, heading to the World Curling Championships in Fredericton, Canada. Sky Max, 9pm.

Friday January 23

WOULD I LIE TO YOU?: Rob Brydon, Lee Mack and David Mitchell are joined by guest panellists Beverley Knight, Alasdair Beckett-King, Josie Gibson and Jo Brand. BBC One, 8pm.

OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN: Jon Richardson and Roisin Conaty take on new team captain Rob Beckett and Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Channel 4, 9pm.

Published: 18 Jan 2026