A tight 5: May 14

JACK DIAMOND, a North West club comedian who ran his own talent night in Blackpool for 25 years, has died at the age of 75. His widow Marie Ashton, a former member of comedy dance troupe the Roly Polys, told the Blackpool Gazette: 'The crowds loved him. He was always a big favourite at The Grand. I think he had a good life.'

AMERICA's CBS network has ordered a new sitcom from Kevin James, to air from later this year. In Kevin Can Wait, the star of King Of Queens and Paul Blart: Mall Cop plays a cop who retires to spend more time with his wife and three kids, but discovers 'he faces tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets'.

MEANWHILE, Marlon Wayans is to get his own sitcom on rival NBC. The show Marlon revolves a 'larger-than-life' father parenting his two kids with his ex-wife. The broadcaster's rather cheesy blurb says: 'For Marlon, family really always does come first — even if he's the biggest kid of all.' THE Deer Shed Festival in Thirsk has added a comedy tent for the first time in its seven-year history. Mark Watson, Justin Moorhouse and Mrs Barbara Nice are among the acts playing the family-friendly event from July 22 to 24.

THE remaining finalists in the Chortle Student Comedy Award have been named following the second semi-final in London. Josh Jones, Rahul Kohl, Roya Shamand and Eric Rushton now go on to the final, to be held at Pleasance One in Edinburgh, on August 16. Tickets are available here.

Published: 14 May 2016