A tight 5: April 27

FOUR comedy gigs are to be held in Hyde Park this summer. Stand-ups will be taking part in events as part of the Barclaycard-sponsored British Summer Time festival, on a stage that will also see performances by Kylie, The Stroke and Blur on other dates. Tickets for the comedy shows, priced £27.50 to £35, go on sale on May 1. The line-ups are: June 22: Rich Hall and His Band, Marcus Brigstocke, Shappi Khorsandi, Romesh Ranganathan, MC Russell Kane. June 23: Jim Jefferies, Katherine Ryan, Glenn Wool, Jamali Maddix, MC Andrew Maxwell. June 24: Ed Byrne, Gina Yashere, Jimeoin, Daniel Sloss, MC Stephen K Amos. June 25: Ardal O'Hanlon, Nina Conti, The Boy With Tape On His Face, Joe Lycett, Jarred Christmas.

THE full recording of the funeral of alternative comedy pioneer Malcolm Hardee has been released online. The ceremony, in 2005, included tribes from Arthur Smith, Jo Brand and Jools Holland. Listen here.

JOHN MOLONEY's first ever Radio 4 series is finally making it to air. Back in 2013,Chortle reported how the veteran stand-up was recording four 15-minute shows at The Stand in Edinburgh. Now The John Moloney Show is to air from May 12 at 11pm. It also features performances from Julia Sutherland, Fred MacAulay, Gareth Waugh and producer Richard Melvin, of Daystar Productions, playing a 'feckless youth'. 

JIM DAVIDSON is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe. He performed the full month last year, but this time is doing just one night, saying: 'I don't think I could do the whole run again.It's far too hectic.' He'll be at the Playhouse on August 14.

ENTRIES have opened for the English Comedian of the Year competition 2015. Stand-ups of any level can enter, and the top prize is £1,500 and a month-long trip to Australia to perform at the Adelaide and Perth Fringe Festivals. To enter, visit englishcomedy.wordpress.com/ by May 1.

Published: 27 Apr 2015