Laughing matters: Chortles guaranteed with the pick of this week’s comedy-Ashley Davies-Entertainment – Metro

Some of the faces that will be taking to the stage (Picture: Supplied/Metro)

Now we have passed hump-day, perhaps you’re stuck for something amusing to go see tonight or this weekend? If so, check out a few of these hand-picked comedy shows featuring some familiar faces. And no worries if you miss them this week, as many of them will be cracking their jokes on tour well into the spring.

Sara Pascoe, Success Story

Sara Pascoe’s new stand-up show explores what it means to be successful (Picture: Supplied)

I’m so excited about this tour. Sara is one of the smartest women working in comedy today and she’s incredibly skilled at weaving carefully developed ideas into her shows (and books).

In this one, she’ll be talking about how her ideas of ‘success’ have changed over the years: as a kid she desperately wanted to be famous, and more recently, as she and her husband underwent IVF, ‘success’ was measured in a different way by medical experts.

This will, of course, all be delivered with a steady stream of laughs and some beguiling honesty.

Tonight, Dorking Halls, Dorking; tomorrow, De la Warr Pavilion, Bexhill; Sat, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone; Sun, Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells; and touring until Apr 22, 2023. sarapascoe.com

Chris McCausland, Speaky Blinder

Chris McCausland makes regular appearances on panel comedy quiz shows (Picture: Supplied)

Ever wondered what it’s like being a father when you can’t see a darn thing? Chris can provide some light-hearted insight as part of an extensive tour that he’s doing in addition to his burgeoning broadcasting career.

You’ll soon see him on his own Channel 4 travel show, Wonders Of The World, in which he visits amazing places with other comics, and he’s a regular on panel shows such as Would I Lie to You? and Have I Got News For You?

Tonight, The Quad Theatre, Marjon University, Plymouth; tomorrow, Tivoli Theatre, Wimbourne; Sat, Playhouse, Nottingham; Wed, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa; and touring until May 13, 2023. chrismccausland.com

Harriet Kemsley, Honeysuckle Island

Harriet Kemsley takes a look at the pressures women are put under (Picture: Supplied)

This is a delightful show from this likeable young comic who you might have seen on shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Hypothetical, Roast Battle, As Yet Untitled and her own show with her husband, Bobby And Harriet Get Married.

Here, she’ll be talking about a dream holiday destination she designed when she was 11 (it included a cellulite machine, which says a lot), along the way looking at the beauty industry and the ridiculous pressures put upon women.

If you want to get more of an idea of what she’s about, have a listen to Why Is Harriet Crying?, the podcast she hosts with Sunil Patel.

Tonight, McMillan Theatre, Bridgewater; Wed, Glee, Cardiff; and touring until Dec 10. harrietkemsley.com

I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue

Jack Dee (centre) hosts the ‘hilariously rude’ show (Picture: Charlie Gray)

The self-styled ‘antidote to panel games’, which has been a crucial and beloved staple on BBC Radio 4 for 50 years and is sometimes so hilariously rude it makes me wheeze, begins its four-month tour this weekend.

It’s hosted by Jack Dee, with guest panellists including Pippa Evans, Marcus Brigstocke, Miles Jupp, Tony Hawks, Rory Bremner and Colin Sell.

Sun, Manchester Opera House; Mon, St George’s Hall, Bradford; and touring until Mar 27, 2023. isihac.net

Siblings: Siblage

Sisters Maddy and Marina Bye are ‘natural-born’ comedians (Picture: Supplied)

This was one of my favourite sketch shows at Edinburgh this year, and I laughed pretty much non-stop as sisters Maddy and Marina Bye inhabited a range of characters in a school show.

They’re daft and energetic – natural-born clowns – and not for nothing was Siblage shortlisted for best show at the British Comedy Guide Comedians’ Choice Awards. I promise you’ll love it (unless you hate laughing).

Thursday, Museum of Comedy, London. facebook.com/siblingscomedy

Book ahead

Pappy’s Flatshare Christmas Special

The outrageously funny sketch trio – Tom Parry, Matthew Crosby and Ben Clark – are adored by fans for their anarchic, high-energy approach to comedy.

They’re joined by Lou Sanders, James Acaster and Athena Kegblenu for live recordings of both their podcasts, Pappy’s Flatshare Slamdown and Beef Brothers Coldcuts. If you can’t get tickets, this will be live-streamed on the night and available to watch for a week afterwards.

Dec 11, 21 Soho, London. 21-soho.com

Angela Barnes, Hot Mess

Angela Barnes will be doing at least 25 shows on tour next year (Picture: Supplied)

The former host of BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, who comedy fans will also know from Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Hypothetical (and a great initiative, which helped female comics with late-night transport costs during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival a few years ago), is doing at least 25 dates with this show that earned her plenty of enthusiastic reviews in Scotland’s capital in August.

Feb 10-May 27. angelabarnescomedy.co.uk

Emmanuel Sonubi, Emancipated

Emmanuel Sonubi will use his experience as a bouncer as material (Picture: Supplied)

Emmanuel weaves some great stories about his previous job as a bouncer (not surprising when you see the size of him) into this show, which earned a best newcomer nomination at this summer’s Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

You may have caught him on BBC’s Live At The Apollo and you’ll definitely be seeing more of him in the future.

Jan 9-14, Soho Theatre, London, and touring April 11-May 23. emmanuelstandup.com

Entertainment – MetroRead More