A tight 5: October 10

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer at to be given the Visual Comedy Award at the Slapstick vintage comedy festival in January. The pair will also look back over their career in an event at the Bristol-based festival, which also includes Victoria Wood paying tribute to Gloria Swanson, a tribute to Vivian Stanshall, and The Goodies introducing Laurel and Hardy films. Website

GLASGOW Stands Up For The Clutha benefit gig has taken home two gongs at the Scottish Event Awards. The comedy fundraiser, put together in two weeks after the Clutha helicopter disaster in November, won the Community Spirit category and the main Chairman's Award for the best event in Scotland. The benefit at the O2Academy featured Ford Keirnan, Fred MacAulay, Janey Godley and others. Combined with a comedians' football match and a raffle organised by a team of amateur comedians, the efforts raised more than £40,000.

BILL BAILEY is to be given an honorary doctorate by the University Of the Sunshine Coast in Australia on Tuesday. After picking up the degree for his 'outstanding contribution to the environment on a global scale', Bailey will give a free public lecture about naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, one of his heroes, who he previously made a documentary about.

JAN HOOKS, an actress and comedian Jan Hooks – who was a regular on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1991 alongside Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey – has died at the age of 57. She also voiced Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons and was a regular on 3rd Rock from the Sun, playing Vicki Dubcek.

ROB BRYDON is to host an 75-minute ITV special for Neil Diamond, to promote his new new album, Melody Road. For the show Brydon will also take the musician on a journey back to his Brooklyn roots.

Published: 10 Oct 2014