Limmy: Daft Wee Stories, On tour
It might not be the biggest mistake the BBC has made in recent years, but not giving Limmy’s Show a full nationwide transmission must go down as a bit of a howler. The most consistently inventive and hysterically funny sketch show to emerge on British TV in years – and it was only available to viewers in Scotland, the lucky so-and-sos. Readers south of the border are encouraged to check out highlights on YouTube – the Adventure Call sketches in particular are works of genius. Limmy – AKA Brian Limond – is reportedly working on new TV projects, but in the meantime he’s bringing out a book of short stories, all of which reflect the idiosyncratic workings of his mind. This short tour marks publication of the book, and is the precursor to a major stage show planned for 2016.
The Comedy Grotto All-Day Edinburgh Preview Special, London
At this point in the live comedy calendar, normal service has been almost completely suspended. Visit a comedy club this week and instead of the usual eclectic line-up of acts you’re more likely to see a couple of performers doing an hour each as they neurotically polish away at their forthcoming Edinburgh fringe shows. Despite the fact that each year the festival brings fame to very few comics (but financial hardship to plenty), these last few pre-fringe days will see hundreds of acts putting what they hope will be the finishing touches to their successful bids for comedy stardom. If you want to replicate the experience of an Edinburgh punter – seeing so much comedy in the space of a single day that you lose any sense of what’s funny any more – pop along to Kings Cross club The Comedy Grotto, where they’re running an eight-hour marathon of Fringe preview shows. Performers include the extremely dour and very cerebral Liam Williams, three-time Edinburgh comedy award nominee James Acaster and the always excellent Aussie autobiographer Sarah Kendall.
The Star Of Kings, N1, Sat
Josh Widdicombe: Work In Progress, London
We’re always very supportive of Josh Widdicombe, since he was, many years ago, a subeditor on the sports pages of the Guardian before jacking it in and trying to make something of his life. Since, his rise to the top of the comedy tree has been steady and impressive – he sells out big rooms, he’s got his own XFM show, he’s firmly established as a regular on Mock The Week and he’s part of Channel 4’s startlingly successful The Last Leg. With all this already in the bag, the next step is his own sitcom – and a first series of the eponymously-titled Josh is set to air on BBC3 this Autumn. Widdicombe’s built all this on the back of his hugely appealing stand-up, which marries a keen observational eye to a petulant anger at the apparent ludicrousness of the modern world. There’s a subtly intellectual quality to the material as well, elevating it above his more run-of-the-mill peers while never alienating a mass audience.
Soho Theatre, W1, Mon-Wed
