A tight 5: November 5

THE FOX network has ordered two more seasons of The Simpsons, taking it through to its 30th series in 2019. By that time the animated series will have made 669 episodes, breaking the previous record for a scripted series, held by Western show Gunsmoke, which produced 635 installments from 1955 to 1975. Homer Simpson was quoted as saying: ‘Take that, Gunsmoke! You lost a race you didn't even know you were running!’

John Cleese is lending his voice to a new Christmas animation. The Fawlty Towers legend has joined the cast of Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer, which also features Samantha Bee and Martin Short, Hollywood industry website Deadline reports. The film, is about a miniature horse who tries to get onto Santa’s sleigh team after Blitzen suddenly announces his retirement.

Tracy Morgan says he has made peace with the Walmart truck driver involved in the 2014 crash that almost killed him. During an appearance on Conan O’Brien’s talk show, Morgan said: ‘I forgave him, and I'm not even mad at him no more.’ The crash, which was blamed on the fatigue of the driver that ploughed into the vehicle the 30 Rock star was travelling in on the New Jersey Turnpike, killed his friend Jimmy Mac.

DAVE CHAPELLE is to make his debut hosting Saturday Night Live next Saturday, NBC has revealed.

ASPIRING comedy writers Alison Scurfield, from Northallerton, and Kevin Wilkinson, from Morpeth have shared the second Philip Richardson Comedy Award in the North East. The competition is named after a young open mic comic who drowned in Whitley Bay in 2013, and the winning sketches will be performed at the next Sunday For Sammy benefit in Newcastle City Hall in 2018.

Published: 5 Nov 2016