Kate & Koji and Bloods both return : News 2022

The best of the week's comedy on TV and radio

Here’s our pick of the best comedy programmes on TV, radio and on-demand this week:

Sunday March 13

PRIVATE PASSIONS: Katy Brand talks to host Michael Berkeley about obsession, opera, brass bands, and juggling her career as a comedian, actor, novelist and screenwriter. BBC Radio 3, midday

ONE AND SIX ZEROS: Dara Ó Briain hosts this new high-stakes quiz show, with a £1million top prize. Channel 4, 6pm

Monday March 14

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES: Representing comedy this week are Jen Brister and Ian Moore, who are appearing alongside former Strictly champ Kelvin Fletcher and Dr Zoe Williams. BBC Two, 6pm. It’s followed by he return of Lightning, the quiz hosted by comic Zoe Lyons.

THE STAND-UP SKETCH SHOW: This week featuring Russell Kane, Travis Jay, Chloe Petts, Olga Koch, Michael Stranney, Sikisa and Seann Walsh. ITV2, 10pm.

Tuesday March 15

MEL GIEDROYC: UNFORGIVABLE: Sara Cox, Keith Lemon and Nabil Abdulrashid are this week’s guests. Dave, 10pm

Wednesday March 16

KATE & KOJI: Brenda Blethyn returns for the second series of the sitcom about a cafe owner in a seaside town and an asylum-seeking African doctor, with Okorie Chukwu taking over the role of Koji from Jimmy Akingbola. ITV, 9pm

BLOODS: Sky returns to the South Hill Ambulance Depot for a second series of the paramedic comedy revolving around the mismatched colleagues, Wendy and Maleek, played by Jane Horrocks and Samson Kayo. Co-stars include Adrian Scarborough, Lucy Punch, Sam Campbell and Julian Barratt. Sky Comedy, 10pm

Thursday March 17

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPES WITH Sandi Toksvig: This week she’s joined by Sara Pascoe on a trip to the wilds of Scotland's east coat. Channel 4, 9pm.

Friday March 18

COMIC RELIEF: BBC One hands over its schedule to the Red Nose Day telethon from 7pm. Highlights include David Walliams and Matt Lucas bringing back Rock Profile, Kylie Minogue appearing with the cast of Ghosts, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders popping into The Repair Shop; Rosie Jones and other celebrities learning to sing opera in just 24 hours; Stephen Fry and other celebrities reading a one-off Bedtime Story, strictly for adults; a special edition of QI themed around Comic Relief with Sandi Toksvig and Alan Davies joined by Jo Brand, Sally Phillips and Guz Khan; and Mischief Theatre introducing TV viewers to The Mind Mangler from their West End show Magic Goes Wrong.

Updated: March 14, 2022 to cover the fact Okorie Chukwu had taken over in Kate & Koji

Published: 13 Mar 2022