Stout novelist and comedian (5)
I believe the answer is:
hardy
This clue is a triple definition!
'stout' is the first definition.
(I know that stout can be written as hardy)
'novelist' is the second definition.
(Hardy is a novelist)
'and' is a link.
'comedian' is the third definition.
(I know that Hardy is a comedian)
(Other definitions for hardy that I've seen before include "Rugged; author" , "Strong and resilient" , "able to last through the winter" , "Jude, Tess author" , "standing the test of time?" .)