Welcome to The Velvet Onion – the central hub for an interconnected range of alternative comedy and more.  Click through for the LATEST NEWS, and see what’s so hot right now below.

CATASTROPHE FOR SHARON HORGAN

Monday 19th sees the launch of Catastrophe – the brand new comedy from Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, in which an American man and an Irish woman fall in love in London whilst navigating the choppy waters of their increasingly complicated lives.

With the pair embarking on a wild affair, Rob is forced to abandon plans to return to the US when Sharon falls pregnant and he vows to stick around and provide the support she so desperately needs.

First developed after a hugely popular web short, Kinky Sex, the show is hilarious and very, very rude, and sees Horgan’s welcome return to writing tv comedy of her own, following Dead Boss and Pulling.

With Ashley Jensen (Extras) and Mark Bonnar (Psychoville) in supporting roles, Catastrophe is full of promise and well worth your attention.  You can see a trailer for the show below, and catch the first episode on Monday 19th January at 10pm on Channel 4.  It will, of course, be available on 4oD after transmission, and we hope to bring you some catastrophic exclusive very soon, so stay peeled.

TELLY CONTINUATIONS

Catastrophe isn’t the only TVO related show on telly this week, as Drunk History, Cockroaches, Count Arthur Strong and Crims all continue their runs on Comedy Central, ITV2, BBC One and BBC Three, respectively.

Drunk History – airing Monday evening at 10pm, with repeats throughout the week – features top UK comedians getting bladdered, then talking their way through key moments in history… which are then re-enacted by a team of top notch comedy talent.

Based on the hit US show, Episode One featured Tony Way, Rebecca Front, Dustin Demri-Burns, Matt Horne, Marek Larewood and many more – most of whom should be appearing in later episodes, too.  Sadly, as we went to press, information on Episode Two is thin on the ground, but we’ll update this page with more info after transmission.

If you’re worried about the clash with Catastrophe, the show gets repeated on Tuesday evening at 11pm, and it will be available on demand via SkyGo and Now TV after transmission. For more info, and some preview clips to savour, visit the Comedy Central UK website.

Cockroaches – ITV2’s new post-apocalyptic comedy starring Daniel Lawrence Taylor (How Not to Live Your Life, Hunderby, The IT Crowd), Esher Smith, Jack Whitehall and Tom Davis continues on Tuesday evening at 10pm.

The show is set following a nuclear holocaust, as the remnants of the British population do their best to get on with life.  The first episode was shot by acclaimed cinematographer Laurie Rose (Sightseers, High Rise, Kill List), and guest stars across the rest of the run include Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller), Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) and Dan Skinner.

In Episode Two, newly appointed leader Tom struggles with people fighting, a broken water supply system, and the ever-present threat from cannibals. Elsewhere, Suze attempts to set up a school, and daughter Laura is forced to answer questions about her mum and Oscar. Caroline Quentin guests in this episode, and you can catch up via ITV Player now.

Directly after Cockroaches, hop on over to BBC One to catch the third episode of Count Arthur Strong‘s second series at 10:35pm.  Unless you’re in Wales, in which case, it’s on at 11:05pm.  And if you’re in Scotland, it’s on at 11:35pm!

In case you’re new to the show, it’s the brainchild of Steve Delaney, who plays the titular character, and is written by Delaney with Graham Linehan of The IT Crowd, Big Train and Father Ted fame.  Bond star Rory Kinnear co-stars as the son of Arthur’s former variety partner, turned biographer and generally put-upon collaborator.

This week, Arthur plans to tackle noise pollution by running for the local election.  He gathers together a crack team which cannot be ignored… or can they?

Lastly, but by no means least, Crims returns on Thursday evening at 10pm on BBC Three.  The sitcom starring Ellis George, Kadiff Kirwan, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Ricky Champ and Cariad Lloyd is written by former Mongrels writer Adam Kay alongside Grandma’s House writer Dan Swimer, and is set in a young offenders institute.

This week, put upon accidental criminal Luke decides to propose to his girlfriend Gemma, in an attempt to send a clear message to her new flatmate Roger.  However, first he must try and get her parent’s permission, and her brother Jason isn’t helping.  Meanwhile, Isaac struggles to give up snitching, and Dawn continues to fend off the advances of hapless Creg.

It’s another great episode from a sitcom that just gets better and better, and we sure hope you’ll be tuning in.  You can catch up on previous episodes, including Sylvester McCoy’s star guest turn in Episode Two, via iPlayer now.

RADIO LAYERS

Radio shows featuring TVO regulars also continue apace this week, starting with Love in Recovery, on Radio 4 starring Paul Kaye.

The show following the lives of five very different recovering alcoholics, played by Sue Johnson, John Hannah, Eddie Marsan, Rebecca Front and Paul Kaye, as well as cleaner Marion (Julia Deakin), continues on Wednesday evening at 11:15pm on BBC Radio 4, with previous episodes available now on iPlayer.

Elsewhere, Colin Hoult brings us another edition of his Carnival of Monsters on Thursday evening.

The show features a combination of new material and vintage pieces from Colin’s seminal Edinburgh shows, and reunites the team behind those via supporting artists Stephen Evans, Dan Snelgrove and Zoe Gardner, produced by Sam Bryant (Alice’s Wunderland, I Regress).

You can hear the latest episode at 11:00pm on Thursday night – again on Radio 4, with previous episodes available now on iPlayer.

Elsewhere, Colin continues his five-weekly vlog posts from a range of characters trapped in his mind.  You can see all the latest videos below.

AND THE REST…

As always, here’s some of the news you may have missed during the last week, via our Twitter feed. We’ll see you again next Monday, and throughout the week for more news, reviews and interviews. Keep on peeling!

A new track from @RichardDGlover & @StephenEvans80 for all you feline friends out there… https://t.co/HukJbM6aYC

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 12, 2015

Speaking of @RichardDGlover, here’s a charming new sketch from the man himself. http://t.co/XBkY3hzzv2

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 12, 2015

The UK series of Drunk History coming to @ComedyCentralUK this week has an impressive cast, including @RebeccaFront! pic.twitter.com/s3sZ4dfUG1

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 12, 2015

Yesterday was lovely @RachelStubbings birthday. Here’s a classic Stubbing Out Problems feat Tom Meeten to celebrate: https://t.co/sSl4pDnMxN

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 13, 2015

Today is lovely @KatyFBrand‘s birthday. Here’s the lady herself with Rufus Jones & Dan Skinner in a bit of a Blur. https://t.co/9myh4AQtTI

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 13, 2015

Last year, Steve Coogan replaced the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman in Happyish. Now the pilot has gone to series: http://t.co/tgFeAgwwRx

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 13, 2015

Spotted in brighton 🍵 @noelfielding11 @thevelvetonion @TheMightyBoosh pic.twitter.com/u6XDjPFZMa

— Becky Champion (@whimsicalbawlux) January 13, 2015

“Crims genuinely made me laugh from beginning to end.” Stephen Fry https://t.co/C0GCR1dEpy

— BBC iPlayer (@BBCiPlayer) January 9, 2015

If you didn’t see it when it aired, catch up on Noel Fielding’s appearance on Backchat with Jack Whitehall: http://t.co/F0Ga1b1MY8

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 13, 2015

A new book of portraits available from @MrMattCrockett feat @ReeceShearsmith @mrTonyLaw @paulfoot @porksmith etc – http://t.co/A7AcHW4r5S

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 14, 2015

More details on Paul Kaye’s role in @bbcdoctorwho have been revealed. Being Human creator @hanniganspiteri writing: http://t.co/ziOwIvOp7b

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 14, 2015

Today is @HJ_Glitternips birthday. You may know her from Dead Dog In Black Bag or Circulus… or even The Mighty Boosh Series 3!

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 14, 2015

The God of Thunder battles Loki once more! https://t.co/9aBeIsODCf

— Colin Hoult (@colinhoult) January 15, 2015

The Boxtrolls, featuring @RichardAyoade‘s inimitable tones, has been nominated for an Oscar. Well done to the team behind it!

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 15, 2015

If you’re into interesting comedy acts, chances are Idil Sukan has shot them. We were lucky enough to chat with her: http://t.co/J2v3Ae7aPn

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 15, 2015

Given that we’re all in it, surely we should all pin it? The marvellous Maurice Moss fan club badge: http://t.co/867QcoDKvG

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 17, 2015

Excited to discover that Alice Lowe and Paul Kaye are amongst the star-studded cast for series 2 of Inside 9! http://t.co/k6c34n0qQE

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 17, 2015

Crimes with Penguins, you say?? It must be a new Noel Fielding interview (with Noctis Magazine): http://t.co/5RmatkuchI

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 18, 2015

…and then don’t forget to vote for all your favourite TVO-connected comedy shows at http://t.co/rpnSRUbZEn: http://t.co/Li5sQ1FV6A

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 18, 2015

The Bubonic Play premiers at BFI on Sat 24th Jan – plus a Q&A with the man himself, Cal McCrystal. Tickets & info: https://t.co/6WF9YZl8VR

— The Velvet Onion (@thevelvetonion) January 18, 2015