Our selection of London’s alternative, clever and offbeat comedy gigs this week and booking ahead.
Simply The Jest And Guests
Simply The Jest hosts a sketch night at the Canal Cafe Theatre with some smashing acts: In Cahoots, Mixed Doubles, ZazU, Ben Mepsted and Tim McNiven. 12 April, £6.50-£9, 7pm
Lolitics
Lolitics is a political show where everyone respects each other, OK? Apart from the Tories. They are likely to be dissed. Chris Coltrane hosts at Camden's Black Heart on 15 April with guests David Trent, Tiernan Douieb, Grainne Maguire, Caroline Mabey and Will Seaward. £3, 8.30pm
Eddie Izzard
If you speak French you should quickly bag a ticket to see Eddie Izzard to perform a show entirely in French at the Soho Theatre's small-ish downstairs bar. Like, now. 16 and 18 April, £15, various times
Easter Egg Hunt
Part stand up, part frantic search party, Mike Wozniak and guests Mat Ewins, Phil Wang, Twins and others are hiding eggs around the Invisible Dot venue — which, given it's basically a small, square room, should be interesting to see how they find more than two hiding places — on 17 April. £12.50, 7.30pm
Festival of the Spoken Nerd
The Nerd trio of Helen Arney, Matt Parker and Steve Mould preview their BBC Radio 4 pilot show at the Canal Cafe Theatre on 22 April. We usually end up seeing these guys several times a year; we've lost count of how many times we've heard Statistically I Love You (below) but the stagecraft around it still makes us laugh like drains. £4.50 / £3, 7.30pm. You can also see them for more money at Udderbelly on 16 April and three more dates until 18 June. £15.50, 9pm
Susan Calman
Also hitting the upside-down purple cow on the South Bank is Susan Calman with a show that may or may not contain elements of the new show she's doing in Edinburgh this summer. Go: your face will physically hurt from laughing. 19 April, £12.50, 7.45pm
Tip us off to friendly, intelligent, alternative comedy around town on hello@londonist.com, read our guide to watching live comedy in London and our top 10 themed comedy nights.