A tight 5: June 18

JAY LENO is to receive one of the top awards in American comedy. The newly retired talk-show host will receive the 17th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington in October. He follows in the footsteps of previous winners such as Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Tina Fey.

AN EXHIBITION of comedians’ portraits by photographer Steve Ullathorne – who has been dubbed the Annie Leibowitz of comedy – has opened at the Museum of Comedy in London. A total of 46 portraits are on display, featuring the likes of Bill Bailey, Stewart Lee, Tommy Tiernan, Barry Cryer and Lucy Porter, with prints on sale for £50 each. Ullathorne’s pictures have been used on posters for more than 500 Edinburgh shows, tours and West End runs.

JAMES CORDEN and Mathew Baynton’s action-comedy The Wrong Mans was named best British sitcom at the Freesat awards ahead of ITV’s recently revived Birds of a Feather, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Inside No 9 and Toast Of London.

THE CD of Miles Jupp's show Fibber in the Heat , about how he conned his way onto an England cricket tour under the guise of being a journalist, has been released by independent label Go Faster Stripe, priced £8. A DVD version is expected next month.

ROBIN INCE and Brian Cox’s Radio 4 science show Infinite Monkey Cage is to return on July 7. Guests this series include Stephen Fry, Ross Noble, Katy Brand, Ben Miller and Dave Gorman

Published: 18 Jun 2014