The week's best live comedy

The best of the week's live comedy, picked from the 6,608 events Chortle currently has listed. Use our search panel to check our full listings by date and region.

Sunday January 25

LONDON: Pauline Eyre was a Wimbledon line judge for 20 years – a job now made redundant thanks to AI. But that does mean she can now share a career’s worth of stories without fear of repercussions in a stand-up hour that's part memoir, part love letter to the game. She performs Anyone For Tennis at the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick a couple of times today ahead of a 2026 tour. Pauline Eyre tour dates

Monday January 26

LONDON: Toussaint Douglas held off making his Edinburgh Fringe debut longer than most – and the result was last year's very impressive Accessible Pigeon Material, with lots of avian-based silliness, with a little bit of a point, too. But not too much – ridiculousness is definitely the name of the game of this show, which is at Soho Theatre all week. Review

Tuesday January 27

GUILDFORD: In his debut hour, Norwegian comedian Thor Stenhaug tells his story of growing up as the result of a one-night, with his mum and dad choosing not to stay together, but still bring him up together. It got good reviews at last year's Edinburgh Fringe (including Chortle's) and kicks off a UK tour at G Live. Thor Stenhaug tour dates.

LONDON: Launching today, Cut Price Comedy is a new bargain monthly night at Pleasance Islington, with five of the best acts on the circuit, plus an MC, for only £5 per ticket. We open with Edinburgh's 2025 best show and best newcomer winners Sam Nicoresti and Ayoade Bamgboye – and the one man who won both in successive years, John Kearns. They are joined by Garrett Millerick, Jazz Emu and Maia Tassalini.

BRISTOL: Showstopper! The Olivier-award-winning improvised musical that's so good you won't believe it's improvised, comes to the Old Vic for the week.

Wednesday January 28

ST ALBANS: Mo Gilligan kicks off his new tour, The Mo You Know, which will eventually take him to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, UAE, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Germany and Portugal – as well as 28 dates around the UK. But for starters, the comic – who's just announced a Netflix documentary – is at the Alban Arena, St Albans. Mo Gilligan tour dates.

BIRMINGHAM: Matt Forde starts a tour of Defying Calamity – a show about finding positivity in life despite all the evidence to the contrary in politics and his own health – at the Glee. After enduring what he thought was sciatica during the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe, Forde was diagnosed with cancer. A few weeks later he had the base of his spine removed – and since had to learn how to walk again. Yet for all that, this show is an upbeat one. Matt Forde tour dates.

LONDON: The Comedy Store hosts a gala for Get Off Live Comedy, the campaign to drive sexual harassment out of the industry. On the impressive bill are Nish Kumar, Sara Pascoe, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Nina Gilligan and Sikisa.Tickets

Thursday January 29

COVENTRY:Russell Howard's just started his latest tour with its title – Don't Tell The Algorithm – an indication this is a phone-free performance, keeping it all in the room. Russell Howard tour dates

LONDON: Jayde Adams, Josh Berry and Sam Campbell help the Clapham Grand celebrate its 125th birthday with a packed variety show.

LONDON: Francisco de Nata performs as a giraffe in a G-string in a late-night, non-verbal clown show featuring audience interaction and puppetry at the Soho Theatre tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.

Friday January 30

SALISBURY: Judi Love is heading out on tour with a show promising 'home truths about the hustle of juggling parenting, work and everyday life. All About The Love is her second tour, and kicks off at the Salisbury Playhouse tonight. Judi Love tour dates.

Saturday January 31

LONDON: Soho Theatre Walthamstow hosts Comedy Sans Frontieres, a charity night in aid of the international humanitarian charity Médecins Sans Frontières‎ (Doctors Without Borders) featuring Dylan Moran, Ardal O'Hanlon, Anuvab Pal, Elf Lyons, Grace Campbell, Christopher Hall, and Shabaz Ali.

MELKSHAM: Much fun in Wiltshire with the A-grade line-up of Andrew Maxwell, Felicity Ward and Sara Pascoe playing Melksham Assembly Hall. Tickets

Published: 25 Jan 2026