As the Fringe moves closer to its final week, a few of this year's most sought-after acts have squeezed in extra shows.  Joan Rivers, Michael McIntyre and Paul Merton have all added extra dates, while a host of comedians playing at the massive Pleasance have also tucked in a new performance or two.

The hottest of the new tickets are likely to be for Joan Rivers, the nearest thing to a super-star gracing this year's Fringe.  She's now performing at 12:30pm (just to confirm, that's lunchtime, not late-night) at the Cow Barn at the Udderbelly Pasture.  Her main run has long sold out, but on Friday morning, there were tickets available for all the extra performances - priced at an eye-watering £25.  Book through the Underbelly >>

Over at the Assembly chain, Michael McIntyre, the slightly-posh stand-up who's allegedly the fastest-selling comedian at this year's Fringe, has slipped in two new midnight appearances on Sunday 17 and Friday 22 August.  Book through the Assembly for 17 August >> or for 22 August >>

Meanwhile at the Pleasance, a new show's been announced for Paul Merton (yes, the one off the telly) and his Impro Chums, for 12 noon on Saturday 23 August.  Book through the Pleasance >>

The Pleasance have also slipped in a number of extra dates for comedians whose main run hasn't sold out yet - so if a scheduling clash meant you couldn't see Nina Conti, Ivan Brackenbury, Lucy Porter, Jon Richardson, Stephen K Amos, Rhod Gilbert, Andrew Maxwell or Stefan Golaszewski, now's the time to check again.  (Note that, confusingly, some of the extra shows are listed separately on the Pleasance website while others are shown as part of the main run; to find all the shows a particular comedian is doing, use the Pleasance website to search for their name.)

It goes without saying that the new shows will sell fast - so if there's a name here you like, don't delay.