A tight 5: February 8

FAST SHOW director Sid Roberson has died at the age of 79. He was a former bodybuilder who taught Reggie Kray how to fight before moving into advertising, where he directed the famed Hamlet cigar ads. He died just before Christmas, although his passing has only today been made public via an obituary in the The Times.

ITV has commissioned a third series of sporting panel show Play To The Whistle. Romesh Ranganathan and Seann Walsh will return as regulars alongside host Holly Willoughby and team captains Bradley Walsh and Frank Lampard. The shows will go out from later this month, and guests over the series will include Jimmy Carr, Kevin Bridges and Rob Beckett. Here’s a trailer:

THE comedy line-up has been announced for this year’s Henley Festival, a black-tie event on the banks of the Thames. Andy Parsons, Seann Walsh, Russell Kane and the Radio Active team led by Angus Deayton are among the 25 acts taking part in the festival from July 5 to 9. Music headliners include the Pet Shop Boys, Chaka Khan and All Saints. Tim Vine and Adam Hills were among the comics on the bill of the show for The Children's Trust, alongside Charlie Baker, Angela Barnes, Tom Lucy, Elliot Steel and Birthday Girls.

ENTRIES have opened for the new British Podcast Awards, which includes categories for comedy and entertainment. To enter, go to britishpodcastawards.com before March 6 – but it will cost you £15.

Published: 8 Feb 2017