CHAPELLE: 'I'M NOT CRAZY'

LATEST: American comic DAVE CHAPELLE has hit back at reports he's crazy after reportedly checking into a mental facility in South Africa, insisting he's just "stressed out".

The funnyman entered the facility last week (ends13MAY05) leading fans to worry about the future of his hit comedy programme, CHAPELLE'S SHOW, which US cable network Comedy Central recently paid $50 million (GBP26.3 million) for.

But Chapelle has contacted America's TIME magazine to explain why he jetted to South Africa, effectively stalling the new season of his show.

He tells the magazine that he needed to take a break from the show because he was unhappy with the direction it was going in.