A tight 5: June 18

A DOCUMENTARY about Russell Brand has found a US distributor. A Second Coming charts his conversion from comedian to political polemist, and hit the headlines in March when Brand pulled out of a screening in Texas's SXSW festival at the last minute, saying he felt the film was too raw for him to watch. Director Ondi Timoner has said making the documentary was 'a tug-of-war' for creative control. It has now been picked up by Ignite Channel for cinema release, but no date has been given.

STAN LAUREL's childhood home is being put up for sale in a peculiar crowdfunding deal. Property Moose wants small-scale investors to put as little as £500 into buying a share of the £58,000 house in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, which will be rented for two years then sold. The proceeds, minus fees, will be then shared among the stakeholders.

THE COMEDY line-up for the Kendal Calling festival, which takes place in the Loather Deer Park in the Lake District over the weekend of July 31 has been announced. Programmed by Manchester-based agency Gag Reflex, the line-up includes Carl Donnelly, Glenn Wool, Gary Delaney, Brendon Burns and Vikki Stone. Elbow, Snoop Dogg and Kaiser Chiefs are the musical headliners.

'STONER' comic Tommy Chong has revealed he has rectal cancer, tweeting: 'I have good news and bad news. First the bad news, the cancer came back and it's a real pain in the butt. The good news is I now have to use more marijuana to treat the cancer.' He was previously diagnosed with prostate cancer but in 2013 said he had beaten it. A Cheech and Chong tour of Australia planned to start tonight has been cancelled.

ONLINE comedy duo and Radio 1 regulars Jack and Dean have released a short film they made under a commission from Hollywood. Ghost Fighting Corporation was funded by New Form Digital, a production company backed by Hollywood director Ron Howard, and also stars Doc Brown and Sophie Wu. New Form funded ten shorts and will make a full series from the best.

Published: 18 Jun 2015