A tight 5: August 22

FLEABAG star and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been snapped up by major US agent UTA after what trade website Deadline called a 'very competitive pursuit'. The career-boosting move comes just ahead of Fleabag's American debut on Amazon Prime on September 16. Her other credits have included Broadchurch and the Simon Pegg comedy movie Man Up.

THE Comedian's Guide To Survival, the movie starring James Buckley as a fictionalised version of stand-up James Mullinger has been given a UK release date. The film is based on Mullinger's time trying to make a name for himself on the circuit while meeting some of his comic heroes as photo editor on GQ magazine. It will be released in selected cinemason Friday October 28 following its premiere at Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival last month.

GUESTS on Harry Hill's Tea Time, his new Sky 1 'cooking' show, will include Paul Hollywood, who carves a doner kebab to look like George Michael, and Martin Kemp, who made a 'Spandau-sagne'. The show will also feature a segment called ‘Deep Fried What?’ in which celebrates have to guess what is beneath the batter.

THE BACKYARD comedy club in East London has slashed its weekend prices from up to £13 to £5. Owner Lee Hurst said: 'In the 1980s, ticket prices for comedy clubs were always less than cinemas which made them a cheap night out for everyone. Throughout the 1990s this started to change and comedy clubs became more expensive and started to price some people out. To be fair, my club was also party to this.' Similar clubs in London charge £12 to £16 for weekend gigs, with the Comedy Store at £23.50.

COMEDIANS including Carl Donnelly, Jim Park, Jimeoin, Jimmy McGhie, Wayne Deakin and Ari Shaffir will be taking part in the annual industry vs comics golf tournament in memory of stand-up Mackenzie Taylor, who died six years ago. Industry players at Edinburgh's Duddingston golf course tomorrow include promoter Richard Bucknall, who organises the event.

Published: 22 Aug 2016