Christmas 2017 comedy picks: The best shows to see this season
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Festive Tim Key
Comedy fans will recognise Key from screen appearances, most notably as Alan Partridge’s chum Sidekick Simon, but he comes into his own onstage, combining oblique poetry with shaggy dog stories and offbeat jokes. This special gig also features candid Canadian Mae Martin and 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Award joint winner John Robins.
December 20, Bush Hall, W12 (020 8222 6955, bushhallmusic.co.uk)
9 Lessons & Carols For Godless People
Robin Ince’s epic December gatherings are postmodern variety nights combining comedy, music and science. This year’s guests include Josie Long, Matt Parker and John-Luke Roberts. The line-up changes nightly and there will be surprises too. The only certainties are that with the garrulous Ince as host the evenings will be funny, fascinating and long.
December 16, 19, 20, 22, Conway Hall, WC1 (020 7405 1818, cosmicshambles/ninelessons)
Bailey will be touring the UK with his latest show, Larks In Transit, in 2018, but first there is this seasonal sneak preview. Expect a mix of greatest hits and new routines marking 20 years of stardom. Fans are promised symphonies created with ringtones and hymns too.
December 23, 27-30, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, W12 (0844 844 0444, ticketmaster.co.uk)
Amusical
This comedy/music hybrid is one of the circuit’s top cult nights, with stand-ups — past guests have included Sara Pascoe and Nish Kumar — unleashing their inner Michael Ball and singing show tunes. This year-ending spectacular, hosted by Jayde Adams and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, will have a tinsel-tinged theme, with the audience voting for the winner.
December 20, Backyard, E2 (backyardbar.co.uk)