Weekly Trivia File

• In the Shooting Stars Christmas special, Jack Dee tries to keep a stuffed blue tit on his head while an opera singer tries to blast it off by singing full pelt an inch away.

• Steve Coogan has been trying to excuse the bad reception he got in Liverpool early in his tour, by claiming: ‘Scousers hate Mancunians and the feeling’s mutual… People in Britain – apart from Liverpudlians – can laugh at themselves.’ Is this the same Steve Coogan who said BEFORE the gig: ‘I like playing Liverpool. Coming from Manchester I have affection by proxy for Scousers. I always get the best response in Liverpool and Manchester.’

• Alan Davies said his greatest regret was appearing in the series of ads for Abbey National. 'I was paid £1.3million but you lose half in tax and commission,' he said. 'It was a mistake I regret. It tarnished me, and spoiled my stand-up.'

• Porn-makers are to film an X-rated version of wholesome Eighties sitcom The Cosby Show, called Not The Cosbys XXX.

• While most celebs swept into last weekend's British Comedy Awards by chauffeur-driven limo, Alan Carr had to take the Tube after his car didn't show up. 'A Tube ride dressed up like a dog’s dinner with a hen party is not really how I expected to make my entrance,’ he said. ‘Although Pam, the bride-to-be's mum, helped me pick the chewing gum off the hem of my slacks.’

• Talking of the British Comedy Awards, Holy Moly claims that Angus Deayton specifically requested that the women presenters stand next to him, as he’s worried about his height and thought this would make him appear taller.

• I’m not racist but...
  

• Meera Syal is a keen netball player.

• Frank Skinner has a Scrooge-like approach to Christmas. ‘I’ve already done the ring round to my family and mates to tell them I won’t be getting them any presents and that they shouldn’t bother getting me anything. I’ve even asked my girlfriend not to bother,’ he said. ‘One year I worked out that I probably buy other people better presents than they get me, so I’m quite happy to stop with the gifts.’

• Alistair Darling got a cuddle from David Walliams, dragged up as rubbish transvestite, Emily Howard, during the Chancellor's annual Christmas party.

• Rory Bremner doesn't like the current batch of political headliners, saying they’re hard to mimic because they lack personality. ‘I don't know about the credit crunch - we are in a character crunch at the moment', he said. 'How am I going to do people like John Denham, Andrew Lansley and Nick Clegg? David Cameron, very hard to do. He’s got a very plain voice.’

• The Office meets Downfall:

SOURCES: The Sun, Metro/Liverpool Echo, Radio Times, New York Post, AlanCarr.com, Holy Moly, YouTube, The Independent, The Sun, The Sun, Daily Mail, YouTube

Published: 12 Dec 2008