A tight 5: November 12

John Bishop'S Christmas Show is to return to BBC One this year, after last year's music and comedy variety show, featuring the likes of Nina Conti and Tim Vine, won 4.75 million viewers. The 2014 show is being taped at The Dominion Theatre, Central London on December 8. See our Free tickets page for details of to be in the audience.

BIG BANG THEORY actress Carol Ann Susi – who plays the unseen role of Howard Wolowitz's mother – has died in Los Angeles at the age of 62. She had been suffering from cancer.

TIG NOTARO's weekend health scare was down to a burst cyst causing massive internal bleeding, the American comedian has told her fans. Notaro, a cancer survivor, cancelled a run of gigs after being rushed to hospital days after a headline-grabbing New York show in which she performed topless to bare her mastectomy scars. In a Facebook message she revealed she collapsed after a subsequent performance in Philadelphia and 'after a couple of horribly uncomfortable days of pain' surgeons operated to stop the haemorrhaging.

RADIO 4 Extra has commissioned two more episodes of its stand-up show Sabotage. The new shows will be recorded at The Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, East London and hosted by Mark Talbot. Lined up to appear are Mat Ewins, Pat Cahill, Natasia Demetriou, Kieran Hodgson, Pete Johansson, Sheeps, Mae Martin, Ivo Graham, Dan Clark and Colin Hoult. See our Free tickets page for details of to be in the audience.

THE LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL has launched an £8,500 crowdfunding drive to publish a book celebrating its 21st birthday next year. If the target is reached by December 8, the book will be published in time for Christmas Details

Published: 12 Nov 2014