A tight 5: March 29

MATT LUCAS's memoirs, Little Me, are to be published on October 3, it has been announced. Little Me: My Life From A-Z, promises to cover his story 'from youth to Shooting Stars, Little Britain, Doctor Who and beyond'. Preorder here.

JONATHAN PIE’s first stand-up show has been released as a video special. The creation of Tom Walker, who co-writes with stand-up Andrew Doyle, news reporter-gone-rogue Pie has become a viral star. He debuted his live show at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and has since toured the UK.  This show, recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London, is available as a £6.99 download here, and racked up 2,000 advance sales before this week’s release.

AUSTRALIAN comedians Nath Valvo, Penny Greenhalgh and Josh Ladgrove are among the recipients of AU$15,000 (£9,000) grants from ABC and Screen Australia to make three short online films. Valvo’s project involves asking couples in the street crucial questions about each other; Greenhalgh and Ladgrove - who often performs as Dr. Professor Neal Portenza – are making fake ‘forgotten archival footage’.

THE COMEDY line-up has been revealed for the Deer Shed Festival, which takes place in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, from July 21 to 23. Playing there are: John Shuttleworth, Hal Cruttenden, Justin Moorhouse, Ivo Graham, Josh Howie, Bec Hill, Tom Parry, Sarah Bennetto, The Scummy Mummies, The Noise Next Door, Nick Doody, Patrick Monahan and more.

WOLVERHAMPTON is to get its own comedy festival this autumn – designed as an antidote to report that it is the most miserable place in the UK. Organisers of the Funny Things event, Creative Black Country, are looking for people from the region to get involved and are holding an open event on April 6 at 6pm at the city’s art gallery.

Published: 29 Mar 2017