A tight 5: December 15

DOM JOLY is to appear on University Challenge. The Trigger Happy comedians will be on the team of graduates from SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies) when the special alumni editions of the highbrow quiz air this Christmas.

ANDY ZALTZMAN has released his first DVD. Satirist For Hire has been put out on the independent Go Faster Stripe label, two years after it was recorded in Cardiff. Buy here.

CAROLINE QUENTIN has joined the cast of a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard Bean’s new play The Hypocrite, alongside Trollied and Game Of Thrones star Mark Addy. The play starts at Hull Truck Theatre, which co-produced the play, on February 24 as part of Hull’s City Of Culture offering, before transferring to Stratford-upon-Avon on March 31.

BBC comedy commissioner Kristian Smith is leaving the corporation to become chief creative officer of independent production company Leopard. At the BBC his commissions included Detectorists, Boy Meets Girl and Uncle. Leopard’s slate includes Missing, Cash In The Attic and Is Oral Sex Safe? 

ROSS NOBLE is to co-host Metro Radio’s late-night talk show Night Owls show tonight after his gig at Newcastle City Hall. The programme is something of a Newcastle institution, with  Alan Robson, who has hosted the show since 1983 winning 72 awards for broadcasting, including an MBE.

Published: 15 Dec 2016