A tight 5: August 10

SEAN HUGHES has won a Herald Angel award for his Edinburgh Fringe show Penguins, the only comedy award the newspaper has given so far this festival. In its five-star review, The Herald praised Hughes for ‘the almost Beckett-like insight he pours into a show that has depth as well as surface humour’; while Hughes himself said: 'Penguins is a small fragile show that looks for truth and to be given this reassurance is extremely humbling.’ 

BARRY CRYER is to release his first live DVD. Independent label Go Faster Stripe will next month record a ‘best of’ collection of Cryer’s jokes and anecdotes, accompanied by his frequent touring partner Ronnie Golden. Taped at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre, the show will also include a Q&A session about Cryer’s six decades in the business. Cryer previously released a VHS of Two Old Farts in the Night, the live show he performed with the late Willie Rushton, in 1996.

THE NEW YORK Comedy festival has announced its 2013 line-up. Highlights of the 10th annual event, which will run form November 6 to 10, includes Larry David in conversation, Jim Jefferies playing the Carniege Hall and appearances from Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Kathy Griffin, Bill Maher and Wanda Sykes. In total around 175 comics will play in more than 50 shows over the five days. Details.

IRISH stand-up Kevin McGahern has been announced as the new presenter of RTE Two series Republic of Telly, taking over from Dermot Whelan. The satirical show has previously helped the careers of The Rubberbandits, Neil Delamere and Bernard O’Shea.

Richard Herring’s Talking Cock: The Second Coming was released on DVD yesterday, via the indie label Go Faster Stripe. Buy

Published: 10 Aug 2013