Ben Williams (I)

Rhod Gilbert interview

The gruff-voiced comic has realised his onstage persona is the real him.

London comedy clubs: false advertising flyer alarms

As summer tourists begin flocking to the capital, central London comedy clubs are competing for their business. But are they all they claim?

Russell Kane introduces the stars

Russell Kane introduces the stars of BBC Three's sketch and character gangshow.

The second episode of sketch duo Cardinal Burns' E4 series is just as good as the first: odd, awkward, stylishly shot and frequently hysterical. This week, 'Real Banksy' tries to get his stepson excited about street art, Rachel and her friends visit the countryside in a well-observed spoof of Made in Chelsea and spoken-word poet Switch rhymes about being denied access to his parents' house while they're on holiday. Many sketches focus on the often-bizarre characters and monotonous conversations of the working day - including a sleazy office flirt and a colleague who laughs at absolutely anything - and Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns's subtle performances give the characters an absurd believability. Finally, a modern TV sketch show that's actually funny.

Following on from last week's droll, awkward tension, the second episode of Simon Amstell's gentle meta-sitcom continues in the same vein. This week, the 'Simon Amstell' character begins to seek (and beg) for alternative living arrangements and is desperate for the part of Ariel in a producer friend's new production of The Tempest ("Who's playing Prospero, June Sarpong?" snaps Auntie Liz). Once again, Rebecca Front steals the show as Simon's mum, Tanya, with a horde of smutty outbursts - "Clive is a generous, kind man. Let him have a wank in the loft" - and an outburst at Liz's husband Barry in the episode's finale. So far, the second series feels like more of the same. But the witty, understated dialogue make half an hour in Grandma's House strangely entertaining.

Nick Helm: interview

The gruff-voiced Nick Helm talks to Time Out about terrifying audiences into hysterics.

Fans of Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt's The Mighty Boosh will be familiar with the ideas on offer here: cartoonish characters, dream-like scenarios, quirky phrases. Fielding virgins, however, will be utterly confused by this solo sketch outing. The cult comedian takes surrealism to extreme lengths, with costumes, creatures and characters mostly unexplained, but there are some nice ideas: a recurring segment playing up the pretentiousness of art is a particular highlight. Fielding's an impressive character actor too, with a knack for amusing accents. Essentially, though, Luxury Comedy is made for Boosh fans and Boosh fans alone. If the phrase 'I slice bits of rainbow and put them in pitta breads' tickles you, give it a whirl. If not, probably best to stay away from this psychedelic sketch show.

Tony Law interview

From relative obscurity to a rapidly swelling fanbase, the rise of Tony Law has been long overdue...