First of two showcases hosted by Jon Richardson, featuring stand-up acts at this year's Edinburgh Fringe festival. Comedians slated to appear include laconic Irishman Ed Byrne, whimsical Welshman Mark Watson, and razor-sharp, wide-eyed Shappi Khorsandi. This and The Culture Show have the festival pretty well covered but it would be nice to see more of the new, breaking comic talent on the fringe this year. Still, this makes you miss the half-lit caves crammed with damp tourists who've been drinking since midday.

BBC3's Edinburgh Fringe coverage peaks with this, their own live comedy show recorded two days ago at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, held in aid of a local charity that provides support to people with HIV and hepatitis C.

It's just about the closest you'll get on the TV to the cream of the Fringe. Dependably funny
big names are everywhere, starting with the two comperes: Jon Richardson, who's been bringing his diffident wit to Eight Out of Ten Cats this year, and the smart Andi Osho, who should be a bigger TV property than she is. On the bill are Ed Byrne, Mark Watson, Shappi Khorsandi and Seann Walsh, among others.

Mark Watson: improv show cancelled

So, the improv show didn't get commissioned for a series. Not enough people watched it, that was why.

I hope I'm not giving the impression that making TV shows is a well-paid but soul-destroying process of trying to impress people you don't necessarily respect, while your self-esteem is systematically worn away and your contribution to the world is brutally boiled down to a series of numbers over which you have no control but which are used as a stick to beat you with. That would be misleading. It's not THAT well-paid.

TV review: Improvisation My Dear Mark Watson

Comedy on a green screen is something which should never ever happen in this age of television and I would be very surprised if Dave awarded this mess a full series.

A quick chat with Mark Watson

Mark Watson hosts a new, high-tech comedy improv show. TV & Satellite Week magazine caught up with him for a totally unrehearsed chat to find out more...

Mark Watson's book is "actually quite dark"

The comedian's new book made an audience member cry.

Mark Watson interview

The Bristol-born comedian is the latest comic to take part in Dave's One Night Stand series...

The first series of this panel game went out late at night, but series two has won a place in the post-news chuckle slot. The premise is simple: host Charlie Brooker invites three panellists to share their experiences of life's low points (Modern Life Is Putrid is one discussion point) or dream up worst-case scenarios in topics ranging from soaps to boy bands, and off they go. It's pure Brooker territory, of course, but he's a master at highlighting the comedy of the dark side, and it's done in a warm, mutually-inclusive, sharing way that's curiously uplifting. And funny. This episode features Rufus Hound, Holly Walsh and Mark Watson and it's a cracker. The only downside is that you won't be able to see Hound's magnificently voluminous trousers.

Live on Radio 4 tomorrow - Mark Watson needs your help

Mark Watson is live on Radio 4 at 2300 on Monday evening with a brand new live pilot called Mark Watson's Live Address to the Nation. The theme of the pilot is 'ambition' and your role (apart from listening, of course) is to share your ambition story. What's the craziest (or noblest) thing you've ever done when driven by ambition? Tell us your story in a comment here on the blog or on Twitter with the hashtag #watsonlive and you may hear it live on-air on Monday night (oh, and did I mention that it's live?).