A tight 5: June 14

Chris Rock is to embark on his first stand-up tour in nearly six years. Appearing on The Tonight Show, he announced that he will start his Black Plague Tour in October, and although no dates have yet been announced, he said it would be ‘spreading the black plague all over the world.’ Rock also said that Kanye West had suggested the title.

BBC TWO is to pay tribute to Rik Mayall tomorrow night, by airing an 1991 episode of Bottom, entitled Gas, and a repeat of the Comedy Connections show looking at the legacy of The Young Ones. The programmes will be broadcast from 10.30pm.

STEVE FURST, the comedian best known for his alter-ego Lenny Beige, has joined the cast of the West End musical Made In Dagenham. He will play American Ford executive Mr Tooley opposite Gemma Arterton and Adrian Der Gregorian in the adaptation of the hit movie when it opens at the Adelphi Theatre on November 5. Furst has previously appeared in Matilda The Musical.

SPORTS broadcaster Jim Rosenthal is to appear alongside his son Tom in the new series of Plebs. The veteran reporter is seen commentating on a chariot race in a teaser clip for the second series just released by ITV2. Rosenthal Jr plays Marcus, one of the lead characters in the ancient Roman sitcom.

STEVE COOGAN has become a patron of free speech pressure group Index on Censorship. He said: ‘Creative and artistic freedom of expression is something to be cherished where it exists and fought for where it doesn’t. I am pleased to lend my support and patronage to such an important cause.’ It follows his campaigning against elements of the British press as a leading spokesman for the Hacked Off movement.

Published: 14 Jun 2014