A tight 5: January 29

TICKETS have gone on sale for the first events at the Edinburgh Fringe. Just six of the hundreds of comedy shows have opened for business, including Daniel Sloss – who has also announced six 'extra' performances before a single ticket has been sold to his new hour, Dark, which will be performed at the EICC. The other shows are from Gyles Brandreth at the Pleasance, Jimeoin also at the EICC, Best Of The Fest at Assembly Hall and Absolute Improv! at Space On The Mile.

CHANNEL 4's much-lauded comedy Catastrophe has been snapped up by Amazon, to air on its Instant Prime on-demand service. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney's comedy will be exclusively available on the service in the States this spring, and for British subscribers later in the year. Amazon Studios exec Roy Price called it an 'engaging, contemporary, funny and moving story'.

PATRICK MONAHAN has been named 'act of the year' out of all the comedians who perform in the nationwide Stand Up For Labour fundraisers. Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan presented him with a trophy from at the Commons last night. Monahan triumphed over runners-up Mary Bourke, Sir Ian Bowler (Nat Tapley) and Paul Ricketts in a poll of audience members.

DAVID WALLIAMS has filmed a Comic Relief sketch with Professor Stephen Hawking. The comic was spotted in Cambridge in the guise of Lou, the well-meaning carer who usually accompanies Matt Lucas’s wheelchair-using Andy. The scene will also feature Catherine Tate as a nun.

HENNING WEHN, Shappi Khorsandi and Rich Hall will be performing at this year's Salisbury International Arts Festival, it was announced today. The upmarket event is hoping the extra stand-up offerings will widen its appeal to appeal to a younger audience.

Published: 29 Jan 2015