It is not an understatement to say that the British comedy world was rocked as well as shocked to hear yesterday that Addison Cresswell, one of the industry's most powerful agents, had suddenly died. He suffered a suspected heart attack in his sleep on Sunday night. He was 53. I think that the last time I saw him was at the British Comedy Awards earlier this month. I only caught a glimpse of him but he seemed to be his usual self, talking fifteen to the dozen to various comedy and media movers and shakers. 

Update 3/1/14. As we say below, 2014 looks like being a good year for Nick Helm. His BBC3 series Uncle starts later this month and he has just been nominated for The Times South Bank Breakthrough Award? You can vote for him here.

The Brighton Comedy Festival is the first really notable festival after Edinburgh and brings a number of Fringe hits to the south coast this year, such as Bridget Christie and Sara Pascoe, alongside innovative new shows. This year's fun started in familiar style with the big guns from management company Off The Kerb helping to raise funds for local HIV charity Sussex Beacon. 

5pm Update – Following publication of this piece Jason Byrne tweeted to explain that "Lee Evans begged me to close, he said he couldn't follow the byrne magic"...