London comedy guide: January 2013

From big hitters like Micky Flanagan and Paul Merton to improv marathons, here's who will be banishing your January blues
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3 January 2013

The star of this year's Edinburgh Festival, Sam Wills' routine is, as you might have guessed, silent. A modern-day, less-erratic Mr Bean, his five star smash hit show is only in town until January 5. Prepare yourselves for large doses of audience participation.

The Duchess, 3-5 Catherine St, WC2B 5LA. Tickets from £21. (theboywithtapeonhisface.com)

Britain's foul-mouthed comedian-cum-wizard is back at the Leicester Square Theatre with his Return of the Bawbag tour. This year he promises to slag off the iPhone 6 and prove Jimmy Saville's innocence using crayons. Warning: there will be magic.

Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX. Tickets from £17.50 (leicestersquaretheatre.com)

Dead pan Have I Got News For You comic and Comedy Store veteran, Paul Merton joins forces with Whose Line Is It Anyway's Josie Lawrence for a night of improv at the Comedy Store. Also in the mix will be Lee Simpson and Richard Vranch.

1a Oxenden Street, SW17 4EE. Tickets from £17. (thecomedystore.co.uk)

This Aussie comedienne gives her gig a caveat: 'this show will not be funny'. However, rave reviews would suggest that O'Doherty's Telescope show - a piece of upsetting, confronting theatre, is quite the opposite. Very refreshing.

21 Dean Street, W1D 3ME. Tickets from £10. (sohotheatre.com)

The London Improvathon 2013 @ Hoxton Hall on January 11-13

Get ready for 50 hours of improvised comedy on the trot at the 2013 improvathon. Set in 1926 Cairo, this 25-episode soap opera brings together the best improv comedians from around the world for a rollercoaster performance at Hoxton Hall in Shoreditch.

Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, N1 6SH. Tickets from £7 per episode or £55 for a 50-hr pass (improvathon.com)

Self-proclaimed feminist and rising comic star James Mullinger brings together a star-studded line-up in aid of anti-violence against women charity, Eaves. The stellar bill includes Holly Walsh, Peep Show's Isy Suttie and Live At The Apollo's Shappi Khosandi. Line-up subject to change. Get your ribs tickled for a good cause.

Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH. Tickets from £12.50 (thebloomsbury.com)

Everyone's favourite Cockney geezer is back with his tour preview at the Leicester Square Theatre along with his easy charm and gags about his journey from working to middle class. Come see for yourselves why Flanagan has enjoyed such a meteoric rise (lucrative book and DVD deal included).

Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX. Tickets from £18 (leicestersquaretheatre.com)

Alexei Sayle @ Soho Theatre on January 19-Feb 9

A true legend and arguably the founding father of alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle makes his stand-up comeback after 16 years. The first ever compère of the UK's original comedy club, The Comedy Store, Sayle is delivering a series of low-key gigs at the Soho Theatre.

21 Dean Street, W1D 3ME (sohotheatre.com)

Voodoo Nights @ Lyric Hammersmith on January 27

James Acaster, Nick Helm and Josh Widdicombe are in charge of Voodoo Nights this month, and will be joined on this Sunday evening, by Simon Munnery, Tony Law and Lloyd Langford.

Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL. Tickets from £15 (lyric.co.uk)

New kid on the block Daniel Simonsen won last year's Foster Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer and is fresh off the back of tours with Russell Howard and Simon Amstell. He's won the critics and audience alike over with his unique brand of nonchalant, observational humour and very quirky take on life.

21 Dean Street, W1D 3ME (sohotheatre.com)

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