London's comedy scene has decamped to Edinburgh, but there are still good gigs on
Sunday: See the legendary Comedy Store Players: Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson, Andy Smart and Phelim McDermott are tonight's improvisers (7.30pm, £17 / £12).
Monday: Andy Zaltzman's Political Animal is back at the Soho Theatre, with guests Nick Revell and Tiernan Douieb (7.45pm, £10). We imagine there'll be some Olympics material.
Tuesday: The fantastic, sarcastic Ava Vidal headlines So Comedy at the Soho Theatre (8.15pm, £15 / £12.50), with Tom Rosenthal (from Friday Night Dinner), Joe Bor and Rayguns Look Real Enough.
Wednesday: We really enjoyed James W Smith at last year's Camden Fringe. The likeable comic is at the Camden Head tonight and tomorrow, contemplating what would happen if he made another human being (8pm, £6 / £5).
Thursday: Catch Holly Walsh (pictured), Robert White and Sol Bernstein at the 99 Club in Leicester Square (8.30pm, £9 / £12).
Friday: Soho Comedy is at the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square with Shazia Mirza, Matt Rudge and Sol Bernstein again. John Mann comperes (7.30pm, £10 / £15).
Saturday: Chris Neill is one of those 'where have I seen this guy' comedians. (Answer: possibly Just a Minute, 15 Storeys High or Robin Ince's Book Club.) He's reliving the worst year of his life at the Camden Fringe (Etcetera Theatre, 6pm, £6).
Tip us off to friendly, intelligent, alternative comedy around town [email protected] and read our guide to watching live comedy in London.
