A tight 5: July 24

THE on-off story of the Inbetweeners movie sequel has been revived, after star Simon Bird revealed that a script is being written. ‘Yes we are doing another movie, but writing it takes a lot longer than people assume,’ he said at the launch of his Sky comedy Chickens. ‘ When the last movie was such a success, people think you can just go ahead and do another just like it straight away. But the writers have to have time to work on the script and come up with ideas. I also think us actors wanted just a little bit of a break.’

BARRY CRYER has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Leeds Metropolitan University. The 78-year-old comic, who was born and educated in Leeds, said: ‘Coming back to Leeds is like a warm bath and today is a wonderful day. It means a hell of a lot to me to get an honorary degree.’ Here is Cryer being interviewed on the day:

MEANWHILE, Alan Partridge is being honoured in Norwich - with a sculpture of a gorilla made out to look like him. It was unveiled outside the Hollywood Cinema in Anglia Square today, ahead of a premiere of the Alpha Papa film. There are 53 other fibre-glass gorillas in the city, forming a charity art trail.

MARC MARON’s self-titled American TV series has been recommissioned for a second season. Broadcaster IFC has announced another 13 episodes – three more than in series one – to air sometime next year.

JAMES WREN and Leon Fleury are to step down as hosts of the Edinburgh Fringe’s late-night Spank! show after ten years – and have launched a competition to find a duo to replace thems. Here Wren explains how to enter, or read this:

Published: 24 Jul 2013