A tight 5: October 23

Sharon Horgan won two Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin last night: for best female performance and for best writer in the oddly combined ‘soap or comedy’ category for her work on Channel 4’s Catastrophe. Fair City’s Enda Oates won best actor in the same category; while Mrs Brown’s Boys won the Comedy Award. Creator Brendan O ‘Carroll got a standing ovation when he received the lifetime achievement award, and said afterwards that he was ‘choked up’ by the honour.

STEPHEN MERCHANT is to guest star on The Big Bang Theory. It’s reported that he will play a love interest for Amy, played by Mayim Bialik, who recently split from Sheldon (Jim Parsons), in a single episode of the hit sitcom’s ninth season.

ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG is to play music porter Max Detweiler in a high-profile live broadcast of the Sound Of Music to air on ITV on Christmas Day. Kara Tointon will play the lead of Maria, in a production directed by Mel Giedroyc’s sister Coky.

CHRIS ROCK is returning to host next year’s Oscars ceremony, its producers have confirmed following reports earlier in the week. He’ll host the 88th awards on Sunday February 28 – 11 years after his previous time behind the podium attracted wildly mixed reactions.

DAVE’s sponsorship of the Leicester Comedy Festival has won a bronze in the Field Marketing & Brand Experience awards; while the partnership, created by Sparkle Productions, has also been nominated for a European Sponsorship Association Excellence Award, which is announced in February. The dates for next year’s festival are February 3-21.

Published: 23 Oct 2015