A hilarious North London dinner with Terry Jones and a chance meeting with Robert Wynne-Simmons – the scriptwriter for the seminal ‘Blood on Satan’s Claw’.

The first meeting for next year’s Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund comedy lunch to be held on 3rd March. The usual fun, laughter and wine flowed as regular committee members Don Ward and Gareth Owen joined Robert and the CTBF gang. Later that day Robert popped over to the Bloomsbury theatre to see Mitch Benn and the Distractions for the second time this tour. ‘I’m Proud of the BBC’ has now been available as a download for two days and the T-Shirts are selling like the proverbial hot cakes. The concert was as hilarious, thought-provoking and musically inspired as always, while the BBC song got a huge reaction and a standing ovation. Buy it immediately!

The Goodies mark their 40th anniversary this month with a swathe of events and public appearances. They enjoyed some comic banter with Alice Cooper, of all people, on Richard Bacon’s Radio 5 Live show. Network DVD are issuing a further eight-episode collection of the very best of their BBC work. Andrew Pixley’s book ‘Super Chaps Three’ is published by Kaleidoscope. On 6th November Tim Brooke-Taylor will be the guest of honour at this event in Manchester http://goodiesparty.wordpress.com/ and on Sunday 7th Tim, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie will reunite to talk to Sir Christopher Frayling at the Bristol Watershed theatre. This event has now sold out but you can join the waiting list for tickets here: http://www.watershed.co.uk/exhibits/2541/

The month of October has been owned by the multi-talented Mark Gatiss. With his wonderfully evocative ‘History of Horror’ on BBC4: being repeated over the next three evenings on BBC2, starring in his own adaptation of H.G. Wells’s ‘The First Men in the Moon’, scripting the new ‘Poriot’ for David Suchet: ‘Hallowe’en Party’ and re-joining his fellow members of the League of Gentlemen for a Radio 4 ghost-chase. However, Hallowe’en evening was enriched by those other Gents Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. The Hallowe’en special of ‘Psychoville’ was a masterpiece of black humour, shocks, outrageous behavior and film-heavy references. Mr Jelly stands tall as one of the best television creations of the last decade. Looking forward to series two in the Spring.

More Hammer Films antics as Robert makes his way to Cine Lumiere in South Kensington for Donald Fearney’s celebration day. Wayne Kinsey launched his new Hammer book: ‘The Unsung Heroes’ with a foreword and signing by Barbara Shelley and Don previewed his new anthology horror film ‘Grave Tales’. Brian Murphy, as a reflective grave-digger, links the stories. The majority are written by film historian John Hamilton and the very best features Hammer alumni Damien Thomas and Edward de Souza. Worth the price of admission alone. Robert started the proceedings with a hilarious interview with Hammer babe Vera Day and enjoyed hanging out with Caroline Munro, horror director Norman J. Warren and historian par excellence Jonathan Rigby.

To the Frame Store, Wells Street for a preview screening of the eagerly-awaited Hammer Films production of ‘Let Me In’. Many thanks to the sainted Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund for the invite. The film, a faithful yet staggeringly refreshed take on ‘Let the Right One In’ is highly recommended: haunting, beautiful, poignant and emotive. Wonderful performances from the two junior leads: Chloe G Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee, lyrical direction from Matt Reeves and a brand new Hammer logo that will have admirers of their classic film output swelling with pride! The film goes on general release on Friday the 5th November.

Fun and games in Brighton culminate with a slap-up fish supper in Bardsleys: now delighting in a huge collection of Max Miller material including an original stage suit from the 1940s. Well worth the long jaunt up from the station. Lovely grub in the Cheeky Chippie!

Before taking his seat in the theatre Robert was told of the death of that fine actor Simon MacCorkindale. Fondly remembered from ‘Quatermass’, ‘Death on the Nile’ and the ‘Baby’ episode of Nigel Kneale’s ‘Beasts’. It is a particular favourite of Robert’s and, poignantly, mentioned by Jeremy Dyson as one of his top ten ghost stories in the lavish programme. The episode got another airing today. Friday saw the launch of Mitch Benn’s ‘Proud of the BBC’ video on youtube. You can see it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3q2iZuU5WM and it is attached in the links section under www.mitchbenn.com. You can spot Robert in the ‘Horrible Histories’ gear. Proud of the BBC indeed! The song will be available to down-load from iTunes from 1st November. The T-Shirt is available now from Mitch’s website. Finally, BBC2 broadcast ‘Norman Wisdom: His Story’ last night from 9pm. A fitting tribute to a much missed comedian Robert joined such luminaries as Leslie Phillips, Dame Vera Lynn, Ricky Tomlinson and the late David Lodge in filmed tribute. Fittingly, it was Norman’s children who made the most touching contribution. It’s available to watch on the BBC iplayer here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vhmqq/Norman_Wisdom_His_Story/ Did we mention Robert was proud of the BBC? 😉

A fond ‘bon voyage’ to Martine Beswick, Vera Day and Caroline Munro as their departed from King’s Cross for Whitby’s Bram Stoker Festival. A sort of ‘Brief Encounter’ – with Kensington Gore! It’s not too late to join other guests such as Shane Briant, Ingrid Pitt, Hammer historian Marcus Hearn and ‘The Wicker Man’ director Robin Hardy: www.bramstokerfilmfestival.com Robert then journeyed to Turkey Street to attend the funeral service for Brenda Cowling. A brisk afternoon in the company of marvellous old pros Philip Latham, Derek Smee and Frank Williams and a fond farewell to a lovely lady. The evening was rounded off with a trip to the Duke of York’s to see Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s chilling ‘Ghost Stories’: an experience heightened even more for Robert by having Ant McPartlin sat directly behind!

A hilarious lunch with Christopher and Lesley Strauli packed with stories of Max Wall, Leonard Rossiter, Anthony Valentine and Henry McGee. A joy. Please read more about Christopher’s career at www.strauli.co.uk. A very impressive website.