A tight 5: June 17

Tracy Morgan’s condition has been upgraded to ‘fair’ after he was severely injured a major road accident. ‘Happy to pass along that Tracy has been upgraded to fair condition, which is a great improvement,’ a representative for the 30 Rock star said. ‘His personality is certainly starting to come back as well.’ His injuries include multiple broken bones. Truck driver Kevin Roper has been charged over the accident, and pleaded not guilty.

A MAN has been charged over the death of Glasgow comedian Hugh Ferris 17 years ago. The entertainer, who played the city’s pub circuit, was found tied up at home in 1997 with telephone cable, dead from a heart attack. Police believe it was a robbery gone wrong. Now Graham Fraser, 51, will appear at the High Court in Glasgow later this month charged in connection with the death.

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY has launched a free online course on the birth of comedy. The iTunes course features video, audio and notes about comic drama in Ancient Greece via interviews, discussions, filmed performances of excepts from Aristophanes' plays and an interactive quiz. The course, which is best viewed on an iPad, is here.

JULIAN CLARY and Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson will receive honorary degrees from the University of East Anglia this summer. Clary, who studied English and drama at Goldsmiths in London but has family roots in Norfolk, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law. He said: ‘A doctor at last!’ And Higson, who studied at UEA, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. He said: ‘It’s a real honour for a former blue-haired punk and layabout to be given this doctorate.’

ADAM HILLS has been inducted into the South Australian music hall of fame, despite not being a musician – or from South Australia. The Sydney-born comic, and former host of pop quiz Spicks And Specks, was surprised to be awarded the honour when he hosted a charity quiz night for music industry benevolent fund Support Act in Adelaide:

Published: 17 Jun 2014