A tight 5: May 23

THE rest of the finalists in the Chortle Student Comedy Award have been named following the second semi-final in London last night, in which judges decided to award five places instead of the expected four because of the quality of the acts. Through to the big event are James Ball, Jamali, Jack Gillespie, Alex Oliver and Pierre Pierre. The final, hosted by Mark Watson, takes place at the Pleasance in Edinburgh on August 17 (Tickets). The competition is sponsored by Alcatel One Touch and Universal Pictures (UK).

BBC One has commissioned a third film based on David Walliams’s children's books. Boy In The Dress, about a cross-dressing 12-year-old, will air at Christmas, following previous adaptations of Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink, both of which attracted more than 7million viewers.

THE Big Bang Theory is the top-rated American TV show outside of Sunday Night Football, according to the results of the May sweeps. The CBS sitcom attracted 20million viewers, just short of the 21.5million who watched the sports show on rival NBC. The two shows were also top of the key 18-49-year-old age group, followed by The Voice, Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy.

FREE audience tickets have been released for the recording of Nick Helm's BBC Three series Heavy Entertainment. Six episodes are being taped at The Laundry, Hackney, East London, on June 10, 13, 17, 20 and July 1 and 4. See our free tickets page to apply.

Milton Jones, Phill Jupitus, Tim Vine and Marcus Brigstocke are among the acts to be performing at the Balham Comedy Festival in South London, announced today. The event takes place at The Bedford pub – home of the Banana Cabaret – from July 11 to 19. Full listings.

Published: 23 May 2014