Starry night

Big fundraiser to close festival

17/04/2002 … Jo Brand is to headline a star-studded charity gala to bring the London Comedy Festival to a close.

Golden couple

Honour for French & Saunders

17/04/2002 … Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are to become the first women to receive an honorary Golden Rose at the Montreux Television Festival.

Send in the clones

Skinner to host impressions show

17/04/2002 … Frank Skinner is to host a new TV show featuring amateur impersonations.

Comedy? Don't make us laugh

Watchdog slates ITV output

16/04/2002 … Television watchdogs have slammed the state of comedy on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Britcoms lead the way

UK shows dominate awards

16/04/2002 … British comedy shows have been acknowledged as the best in the world.

Stand-up documentary ready

16/04/2002 … Jerry Seinfeld has completed a behind-the-scenes documentary about his stand-up show.

Vegas dishes out health tips

Johnny is face of food hygiene

15/04/2002 … He may not be the first person that springs to mind when it comes to health issues, but Johnny Vegas is fronting a new campaign to promote food hygiene.

Benny the thief

Hill 'despised' for stealing gags

15/04/2002 … Benny Hill was a prolific thief of jokes, a new biography has revealed.