Kevin Bridges

For those who couldn't make it to Edinburgh for the feast of comedy served at the recent Fringe festival, here's the next best thing. Kevin Bridges, no mean comic himself, playing host to the first of two stand-up selections. Russell Kane, Seann Walsh and Jason Byrne are the biggest names but don't miss the chance to catch the deliciously downbeat Andrew Lawrence, an underrated talent who's been known to squeeze laughs out of euthanasia. You'll die laughing.

TV commissioners must breathe a sigh of relief when the Edinburgh Festival comes around, offering as it does an opportunity for cheap programming with mass appeal. This week offers two such easy wins. On Friday at 10pm, the ubiquitous Seann Walsh introduces the slightly edgier end of popular stand-up at in BBC Three's Late Night Comedy Spectacular, which showcases Tom Rosenthal and The Rubberbandits.

But two-parter Comedy Festival Live 2013 is a more mainstream affair, packed to the gills with familar faces from Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo et al: Jason Byrne, Russell Kane, Andrew Lawrence, Seann Walsh (again)... And all hosted by Kevin Bridges. At some point this televised stand-up bubble will burst. But not for a good while yet, it seems.

Dance sensation Diversity puts a spring in the steps of Chatty Man Alan Carr, national charmer Miranda Hart and Idiot Abroad Warwick Davis, who've rashly decided to shake a leg - Ashley Banjo-style - as their contribution to this evening of fundraising action for Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity for children. Other funny faces putting their happy feet forward for the cause include comedian Kevin Bridges, who takes a pop at the more furtive pursuits of his fellow Scots, and TV regulars Russell Brand, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Rich Hall and Paddy McGuinness. Among those putting in an appearance on VT are surreal loon Noel Fielding and Jack Whitehall.

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Kevin Bridges interview

People's favourite Kevin Bridges on going from stacking shelves to signing DVDs... and getting heckled in prison.

The recession is preying on the minds of tonight's stand-up comedians. Sara Pascoe has a solution to credit card debt: make chip and pin machines talk like disapproving parents ("But you've already got a coat!"). Host Kevin Bridges is on flying form, dissecting the financial crisis: "Europe's skint, America's skint," he notes sadly. "I hope Africa have got some good rock bands, because we need a concert."

But the surprise of the show is Phill Jupitus, who comes on with the moody confidence of a man with nothing to prove. He doesn't bother with gags; he just does one long, taboo-torturing routine about dealing with his daughter's boyfriend. It's like a whole sitcom boiled down to one routine, and it's brilliant.