A tight 5: February 24

AN ACADEMIC is to earn a PhD in Norman Wisdom studies. Funding has been secured for research using memorabilia donated by the comedian's biographer to the Cinema and Television History research centre in the Leicester Media School. The doctoral student will catalogue the collection then write a thesis based on that work. Steve Chibnall, professor of British cinema, called it ‘a wonderful opportunity to be the first to explore an archive of international significance’.

Andrew Ryan, Alex Edelman, Jim Smallman, Pippa Evans and Romesh Ranganathan have all been nominated for best new show at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. And up for best festival debut are Colin Leggo, Dan Nicholas, Elliott Steel, Mark Stephenson and Phil Jerrod. Winners of these, plus venues, promoter and contribution categories, will be announced on March 16.

THE BBC has commissioned a ninth series of Would I Lie To You? to air later this year. Guests in the ten-part series will include Sir Roger Moore, Clare Balding, Greg Davies and Richard Hammond.

EDINBURGH Classics student Joe Hollingsworth has become the second Chortle Student Comedy Award semi-finalist after triumphing at the heat in Durham last night. The 20-year-old’s father, Andy, is a celebrated photographer of comedians. Tonight’s heat of the competition will be held in the International Bar in Dublin.

SIMON AMSTELL, Jimmy Carr and the Comedy Store Players will be performing at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre this summer, it has been announced. They will perform on June 28, July 26 and August 2 respectively.

Published: 24 Feb 2015