A tight 5: August 1

RASHIDA JONES and Bob Lowe are both quitting US sitcom Parks and Recreation. The pair, who play Ann Perkins and Chris Traeger, the supportive friends of Amy Poehler’s lead character Leslie Knope, are set to leave in February, midway through the sixth series. However the UK is several years behind the States, with BBC Four recently acquiring series three.

BBC ONE has announced the launch date of David Walliams’s new comedy Big School – 9pm on Friday August 16. The series also stars Philip Glenister, Catherine Tate, Frances de la Tour, Joanna Scanlan, Steve Speirs and Daniel Rigby.

LES DENNIS and Warwick Davis has been cast in Monty Python's Spamalot in the West End. Dennis takes over from Joe Pasquale as King Arthur from this Saturday until the start of November, while his fellow Extras guest star, Davis, has been cast in the role of Patsy in from September 23 until October 19.

MENCAP has announced a Big Comedy Special benefit at the Hammersmith Apollo. Acts so far confirmed for the October 2 fundraiser include  Omid Djalili, Jo Brand, Richard Herring, Tim Vine and Jessica Hynes,. Tickets

COMEDY actress Eileen Brennan, best known for playing the fierce Army captain Doreen Lewis in Goldie Hawn’s 1980 film Private Benjamin, has died at the age of 80 ‘Our world has lost a rare human,’ Hawn said in a statement. ‘Eileen was a brilliant comedian, a powerful dramatic actress and had the voice of an angel. I will miss my old friend.’

Published: 1 Aug 2013