A tight 5: March 13

LENNY HENRY is to receive an award for outstanding contribution to broadcasting today, for his campaign to increase diversity in the industry. ‘No one has done more in recent years to speak out against what he calls the “appalling” lack of diversity in broadcasting,’ said Broadcasting Press Guild chairman Gideon Spanier. It has also been announced that Henry will host the Olivier Awards honouring West End talent next month.

MEANWHILE, it has also been announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg will host the Emmy Awards in September – his first major awards-hosting job.

JERRY SEINFELD’s first gig in Mumbai has been cancelled at the last minute – because of problems with parking. He had been due to play the 5,000-capacity Sardar Vallabhai Patel Stadium this weekend, but organisers issued a statement blaming ‘circumstances beyond the artist's and our control’.

A RARE Joan Rivers show is to be re-released on CD next month. The Next To Last Joan Rivers Album was taped in June 1968 at the Upstairs At The Downstairs club in New York City, and long been out of print. The April 18 release on Stand Up! Records will include new liner notes by comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff and a new essay from comedian Sarah Silverman.

STUART McPHERSON, a fourth year Dundee University English student, won the Glasgow heat of the Chortle Student Comedy Award last night. Our penultimate heat is at the Stokey Stop, Stoke Newington, North London, next Thursday (19).

Published: 13 Mar 2015