New Christmas Comedy on TV 2011
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Here's some new TV comedy to look out for this festive period...
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Little Crackers From Sunday 18th, Sky One, from 9pm Following the success of last year's series, over the next six days Sky will air eleven new short comic dramas starring and based on the lives of some of Britain's top comedians. Harry Hill, Alan Davies, John Bishop, Sheridan Smith, Johnny Vegas and Carry On legend Barbara Windsor are amongst the names. Guide |
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The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff Monday 19th, BBC Two, 8:30pm Much anticipated new all-star Dickensian comic adventure, loosely based on the hit Radio 4 show Bleak Expectations. Robert Webb, Katherine Parkinson, Pauline McLynn, Johnny Vegas, Stephen Fry, David Mitchell and many more: Guide & Clips |
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The Rob Brydon Show Monday 19th, BBC Two, 9:30pm Festive special of Rob Brydon's chat show. Noel Fielding, Sarah Harding, Rhys Darby and Angelos Epithemiou join Rob for some egg nog and festive cheer. Guide & Clips |
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Never Mind The Buzzcocks Monday 19th, BBC Two, 10pm Guest host John Barrowman is joined by Jason Derulo, Joe Wilkinson, Jason Manford, Helen Skelton, and team captains Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding for this festive special. There's also a series highlights special on Thursday 29th. Guide & Clips |
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Mongrels Monday 19th, BBC Three, 10:30pm The puppet sitcom concludes. With a police dog hot on their trail, Nelson and the gang must solve the mystery of what happened to them on New Year's Eve before the law catches up with them. A 'Making Of' special, featuring new sketches, follows. Guide & Clips |
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Imagine: The Art Of Stand-Up Monday 19th, BBC One, 10:35pm A two-part special in the Imagine arts strand investigating the world of stand-up comedy. Alan Yentob speaks to some of the biggest stars in the business. The second part is at the same time the following night (Tuesday 20th). Guide |
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Mock The Week Tuesday 20th, BBC Two, 9pm Dara O'Briain and the regulars present the now traditional 'heartwarming' festive special, featuring all new material and some funny outtakes. Guide & Clips |
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The Comedy Annual Tuesday 20th, ITV1, 9pm Back for a second year, Phillip Schofield is joined by Jason Manford, Alistair McGowan, Jason Byrne and Patrick Monahan to look back at some of the key moments from 2011. Guide |
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Rev Tuesday 20th, BBC Two, 9:30pm Christmas special which is likely to cause much debate. Exhausted, with a permanent hangover and Midnight Mass looming, Adam is in no mood for a house guest - least of all Alex's cantankerous father (Geoffrey Palmer). Guide |
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Life's Too Short Tuesday 20th, BBC Two, 10pm In the series finale, Warwick attends a charity event in the hope of hanging out with celebrities. However, in trying to impress Sting he ends up spending more than he can afford. Guide |
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The Cafe Wednesday 21st, Sky One, 9:30pm The final episode of the low-key sitcom. Will it be renewed? Probably - as Sky are giving most shows a second series. It's Carol's birthday and she's got a very difficult decision to make. Guide |
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Ruth Jones Wednesday 21st, BBC Two, 10pm Festive edition of Ruth Jones chat show. James Corden, singing legend Lulu and Micky Flanagan join Ruth on a special Christmas show with music from Manic Street Preachers. Guide & Clips |
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This Is Jinsy Thursday 22nd, Sky One, 7:30pm A second series has just been ordered, and on Thursday there's a chance to re-live the best songs from the surreal comedy as a highlights package of back-to-back music is broadcast. Notably, this is on Sky One rather than Sky Atlantic. Guide |
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Argumental Thursday 22nd, Dave, 9pm A Christmas edition of the comedy panel game with Sean Lock, Robert Webb and Seann Walsh joined by guests Jason Manford and Micky Flanagan. Guide |
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How Not To Live Your Life Thursday 22nd, BBC Three, 9pm A final Christmas special to bring an end to the popular BBC Three sitcom - this is the last ever episode. It's Christmas time in the Danbury household and Don is making a final attempt to lead a normal life. Guide & Clip |
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Celebrity Juice Thursday 22nd, ITV2, 10pm A festive edition of the ITV2 panel show, with guests Amy Childs, Paddy McGuinness and Michelle Keegan. There's a highlights special set in the year 2041 on Thursday 29th. Guide |
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Simon Amstell: Do Nothing Live Thursday 22nd, BBC Three, 10:30pm A TV broadcast of the acclaimed 2010 live stand-up show from TV personality and comedian Simon Amstell. Guide |
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Have I Got News For You Friday 23rd, BBC One, 9pm Christmas special of the popular news quiz, hosted by Martin Clunes. Paul Merton and Ian Hislop will be joined by two guests. There's also a series highlights special on Friday 30th. Guide |
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The Jonathan Ross Show Friday 23rd, ITV1, 9pm Tom Cruise talks about his new movie; the Downtown Abbey cast discuss their Christmas special; The Inbetweeners drop by, and there's music from Tim Minchin and Il Volo. Guide |
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8 Out Of 10 Cats Friday 23rd, Channel 4, 9pm Christmas special. Comedians Sean Lock and Jon Richardson head up the teams. They're joined by Jedward, Micky Flanagan, Liza Tarbuck and The Inbetweeners star Greg Davies. Guide |
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QI Friday 23rd, BBC Two, 10pm A second collection of highlights from QI Series 9 - aka the letter 'I' series. The Christmas special with Ross Noble, Sean Lock and Brian Blessed is on Thursday 29th. Guide |
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The Graham Norton Show Friday 23rd, BBC One, 10:35pm Christmas special. Graham's guests include Russell Kane; Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey, and the Time Lord himself, Matt Smith, who is looking forward to the Doctor Who Christmas special. A series highlights show is on Friday 29th. Guide |
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The Many Faces Of... Christmas Eve, BBC Two, 9pm A new run of the documentary series, starting with Les Dawson - one of Britain's all time great comedy talents. Guide |
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Outnumbered Christmas Eve, BBC One, 9:20pm The Brockman family have decided to escape the festivities and head for the sun, but fate seems determined to intervene: Guide & Clip |
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Lapland Christmas Eve, BBC One, 10pm A one-off family comedy about the Lewis family, lead by mother Eileen, who decide to spend Christmas in Lapland and see Father Christmas in person. Guide |
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Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind Christmas Eve, Channel 4, 10:55pm Bill Bailey takes centre stage in this TV broadcast of hit stand-up show Dandelion Mind, which is based loosely on the theme of doubt. Guide |
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Alan Carr: Chatty Man Christmas Day, Channel 4, 9pm Alan Carr is in the heart of Channel 4's Christmas schedule. He's joined by Ruth Jones, David Walliams, Jedward and newly reformed pop band Steps. Guide |
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Absolutely Fabulous Christmas Day, BBC One, 10pm The hit sitcom returns after a gap of a number of years. There's a homecoming for one of the women, who's been 'away' for quite some time. The second episode is on New Year's Day. Clip |
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Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow Christmas Day, BBC One, 10:30pm Joining Michael McIntyre on stage for this new festive viewing extravaganza are Jack Dee, Miranda Hart, Sean Lock, James Corden, Rob Brydon, David Mitchell and Rhod Gilbert, with music from Kylie Minogue. Guide |
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So This Is Christmas Christmas Day, Channel 4, 11:05pm A nostalgic romp through the fleeting joy and protracted horror that is Christmas as we know it, with various comedians providing their thoughts. Mark Dolan hosts. Guide |
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The Royal Bodyguard Boxing Day, BBC One, 9:30pm Sir David Jason stars in a brand new sitcom. He's newly promoted Royal Protection Officer Captain Guy Hubble, a man unquestionably totally out of his depth. Guide |
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Mrs. Brown's Boys Boxing Day, BBC One, 10pm A festive special of the hit sitcom. It's Christmas and all across Ireland Mothers are looking forward to their loved ones returning home. Agnes Brown is determined to make this Christmas a truly special celebration. Guide & Clips |
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You Have Been Watching... David Croft Tuesday 27th, BBC Two, 8pm A celebration of the life and work of comedy writer, director and producer David Croft, who died earlier this year. Including clips from his hit shows like Dad's Army and Are You Being Served?. Guide |
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The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year Tuesday 27th, Channel 4, 9pm Jimmy Carr is joined by Miranda Hart, Eddie Izzard, Jamie Oliver, Jonathan Ross, David Walliams and David Mitchell to look back over the events of 2011. There's celebrity guests too. Guide |
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The Greatest Carry On Films Tuesday 27th, Channel 5, 10:05pm Something from Channel 5 (yes, really). A new celebration of the greatest of British comedy cinema: the Carry On films. Guide |
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John Bishop's Britain Tuesday 27th, BBC One, 10:15pm John Bishop presents viewers with a mix of stand-up and short sketches based around the topic of Christmas. This special episode includes Noddy Holder talking about Christmas songs. Guide & Clip |
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I've Never Seen Star Wars Tuesday 27th, BBC Two, 10:30pm A new one-off episode of the show which encourages its guests to try things they really should have attempted by now. Jo Brand gets Stephen Fry to try various things. Guide |
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The Untold Tommy Cooper Wednesday 28th, Channel 4, 9pm A Tommy Cooper documentary offering brand new insight into the personal and professional life of the Welsh star. Guide |
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Dara O'Briain: This Is The Show Wednesday 28th, BBC Two, 10:30pm Recorded for DVD, Dara O'Briain presents his stand-up show in front of a live audience. Guide |
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Felix & Murdo Wednesday 28th, Channel 4, 10:35pm A new studio based sitcom pilot starring Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller set in 1908, the year the Olympics first came to London. It's silly fun, and likely to be turned into a series. Guide |
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Ben Elton: Laughing At The 80s Wednesday 28th, Channel 4, 11:40pm Ben Elton takes viewers on a romp through the decade in which he first found fame: the 1980s. Guests include Rik Mayall. Guide |
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The Angelos Neil Epithemiou Show Friday 30th, Channel 4, 9pm Pilot for a studio-based comedy entertainment show written by and starring Dan Skinner as his comic character Angelos Epithemiou. It's already been commissioned for a 2012 series, so don't miss this first taster. Guide |
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Charlie Brooker's 2011 Wipe Friday 30th, BBC Four, 10:30pm Charlie Brooker takes a comedic look back at the hectic events of 2011 - a mad year of royal weddings, Gypsy Weddings, riots, phone-hacking and Desperate Scousewives. With contributions from Doug Stanhope, Adam Curtis and Brian Limond. Guide |
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Alan Carr: Chatty Man New Year's Eve, Channel 4, 9pm Alan Carr has been left in charge of Channel 4 HQ on New Year's Eve and he'll be taking over the basement and throwing a New Year Eve's party to remember. Expect lots of guests, sketches and other such things. Guide |
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Lee Mack Live - Going Out New Year's Day, BBC One, 0:15am Just after midnight on New Year's Day, there's the first TV broadcast of Lee Mack's very funny 2010 'Not Going Out' stand-up tour. Guide |
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Hacks New Year's Day, Channel 4, 10pm A one-off satire on the phone-hacking scandal set at a fictional newspaper where 'any means necessary' doesn't begin to cover it. It's written by Drop The Dead Donkey and Outnumbered's Guy Jenkin. Guide |
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