A tight 5: January 30

THE 20th anniversary of Bill Hicks' death is to be marked with a gig on February 26 where some of his best – and least – known material will be screened, along with stand-up from Brendon Burns and Robin Ince. Hicks's mother Mary, brother Steve and sister Lynn will be at the even, which will include an on-stage interview with Steve. The event takes place at Camden Highlight on February 26, with proceeds going to the Bill Hicks Wildlife Foundation and cancer charity No Surrender.

Jo Brand has been awarded with an honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, for her work in mental health nursing. The comic, who was a psychiatric nurse for ten years before taking up comedy, said: 'I'm very flattered and honoured to receive this honorary doctorate and very pleased to come here and accept it, rather than doing what I would normally be doing during this time of the day, which is banging my head on a computer and saying, "Write a funny joke".

JASON MANFORD is to host this year's Teenage Cancer Trust comedy benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall. The gig on March 25 also features Micky Flanagan, Hal Cruttenden, John Bishop and Patrick Kielty.

THE UDDERBELLY and the London Wonderground will be returning to London's South Bank from April 10 to September 28 between them, it was announced today. Omid Djalili, Al Murray and Susan Calman are among the acts already lined up.

BEN AFFLECK and Matt Damon are to produce a new US sitcom starring stand-up Tom Papa, who scales down his life. More Time With Family is being piloted for the CBS network.

Published: 30 Jan 2014