John Diamond, the Times journalist who chronicled his fight against cancer of the throat in his regular column and whose story is to be dramatised for the stage, has died of the disease. He was taken into the Royal Marsden Hospital on 28th February.
He was married to Nigella Lawson, daughter of former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson.
There are to be a number of new venues at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Brighton-based Komedia has added St Stephen's Church to its Southside and Roman Eagle Lodge homes, whilst Shakti has taken over the Citrus Club, opposite the Royal Lyceum Theatre and just round the corner from her Garage Theatre. C also has a new venue, CO2, to add to the main venue (at the Famous Grouse House) and C Too (at St Columba's by the Castle).
Two "lost" venues will return this year. The Famous Spiegeltent, primarily a music venue, and the George Square Theatre (which was closed for refurbishment last year) both return this year.
However it is unlikely that there will be any performances at Dynamic Earth this year, as no promoters have shown an interest in the venue after last year's promoter Scottish International, which formerly ran the Famous Grouse House, went into liquidation after last year's Fringe with debts of £345,000.