A tight 5: December 10

THE NEW film version of Dad’s Army has been given a release date of February 6, 2016. The new cast includes Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring and Michael Gambon as Private Godfrey. Catherine Zeta Jones plays new character Rose.

STAND-UP Kitty Flanagan has upset parents in Australia after claiming that Santa Claus doesn’t exist when she appeared on a 6.30pm TV show. Broadcaster Channel 10 apologised for ‘upsetting our family viewers’ during The Project after a raft of complaints. One parent posted online: ‘I witnessed the loss of childhood dreams in an instance.’

PAUL MERTON is to present a tribute to Buster Keaton at next year’s Glasgow Film Festival. The comic, accompanied by silent film pianist Neil Brand, will share insights and facts about the peerless physical comedian at the Old Fruitmarket on February 23.

SIMON DAY and Rhys Thomas’s music parody Brian Pern: A Life In Rock attracted a relatively modest 700,000 when it aired on BBC Two at 10pm last night, moving from its former home on BBC Four.

COMEDY CENTRAL UK has appointed Joe McVey as head of development. He was previously a freelance producer and has worked on the British adaptation of Drunk History, set to air in the new year. He said: ‘I’m really excited to enter the world of commissioning. I will be investing in a smart jacket and a copy of the commissioner phrase book. So expect me to start saying things like ‘does this cut through?” “Does it land with our demo?” and a thousand versions of “I’ll get back to you.”’

Published: 10 Dec 2014