Frankie Boyle in 'really nice' shocker

WTF: Weekly Trivia File

‘Everyone can say a funny thing, but not everyone can be funny over and over,’ Carlos Mencia on what sets comedians aside.

Julian Clary was ‘set on fire’ by school bullies for being gay. He told OK! magazine: ‘On one occasion, a boy set fire to me on a bus. I wasn’t burnt. I have no idea [why he did it]. It was completely unprovoked.’ He said he never told anyone of the attack for fear of losing his free place at the private St Benedict’s School in Ealing, West London.

Linda Robson threw up on stage in the Birds of A Feather show in Eastbourne last weekend. She carried on regardless and blamed it on a bug.

This could ruin his reputation... Frankie Boyle has shown his softer side after buying dinner for a bunch of students. The comic ordered around two dozen pizzas to be delivered to protesters occupying a building at the University of Sussex – where he studied English literature – in protest at the outsourcing of jobs. Student Michael Segelov said: ‘There were so many – it was really nice of him. It means a lot.’

Sean Lock used to milk goats for a French hippie – for which he got paid in wine and beer.

Stealing material is rightly frowned upon in comedy... but a new night is actively encouraging it. Joke Thieves is a show of two halves: in the first the acts perform their normal sets... but they’ve also been charged with ‘stealing’ the routine of another act on the bill, so they have to memorise it to perform themselves to the best of their ability in the second half. All sounds very intriguing, and as promoter Will Mars says, it’s all perfectly consensual. First night is June 10 at Downstairs at The Kings Head in London, before an Edinburgh run.

What’s this? Miranda Hart starring in her own film? That’s what you’d think from the cover of the new DVD release Twelve In A Box. But it’s not quite what it seems... the film was originally made in 2007 and, and Hart was 14th on the cast list. Now she’s hit the big time, her five minutes of screen time means it’s been dusted down for a cinema and retail release, with her fizzog prominently displayed on the poster. Prepare for disappointment from a film The Guardian calls ‘hopelessly flat’.

Alexei Sayle’s Soho Theatre run is being advertised with the slogan: ‘If Michael McIntyre and Jimmy Carr get right on your tits - then this might be for you.’

Tweets of the week
David Ingram (@mrdavidingram): "If you liked it you should have put a ring on it" - Solid advice given to Alexander Bell
Chris Hibble (@ChribHibble): "I'd say it's FAIRLY sinister, regardless of whether it's a gun or a throbbing erection in my pocket. Wouldn't you agree, madam?"
Perry Cox (@MoreSarcasm): Why is peter pan always flying? He neverlands. I love this joke because it never grows old.