Joe Lycett

TV review: Michael McIntyre's Big Show, BBC1

This is a show that wants to be everything for everyone. It even harked back to McIntyre's Live at the Apollo roots with a stand-up set from special guest Joe Lycett, who did a winning routine about scamming a scammer who was trying to get him to pay a deposit on a possibly non-existent flat. I'd heard him do that gag so long ago it harked back to those happy carefree days before Brexit. But then in that way this is a show all about nostalgia. Apart from Send To All there is nothing truly new in it. But do you know what the weirdest thing is about it? It all happened so fast I was too busy enjoying it at the time to notice.

A third run of McIntyre's amiable funfest introduces a benign nightmare called The Midnight Gameshow: the host bursts into a sleeping fan's bedroom and stages a quiz, complete with celebrity guests. Back at the theatre, Emeli Sandé and Joe Lycett are the turns, while Ed Balls plays Celebrity Send to All. Before sending an awkward text, McIntyre has a peek at the intimidatingly extravagant Balls/Cooper Ocado order.

Preview - QI: Oceans

This week the intellectual comedy plumbs the depths of the ocean to find some interesting facts.

The O-centric 15th series of the wilfully esoteric panel perennial continues, this week rolling in the deep with an instalment devoted entirely to oceans. Quizmaster and commander Sandi Toksvig is joined by salty first mate Alan Davies and the rather lubberly crew of Aisling Bea, Joe Lycett and David Mitchell, all hoping to reveal some unexpected depths to their maritime knowledge. But do they know their oars from their ice floes?

Huge acts and porn star cameo launches Hull Comedy Fest

Have you heard the one about the porn star and the unexpected pitch perfect rendition of Nessun Dorma? Well, they helped form an evening of riotous laughs at the Hull Comedy Festival launch.

100 of the best ever jokes & one-liners from the Fringe

For a taste of what to expect, we've put together a rather epic list of some of the best jokes and one-liners that have had audiences giggling in the Scottish capital over recent years.

Fringe 2017: Top acts choose their comedy picks

Comedy stars pick their favourites.