To the O2 for the much-anticipated Tina Turner concert. A blast: all killer and no filler. And, at the age of 69, she was still strutting herself as powerfully as ever.

Bill Cotton’s Memorial Service at St. Martins-in-the-Field. At turns moving and hilarious contributions from Ronnie Corbett, David Attenborough and Michael Grade, were heightened by rousing performances from the ukulele orchestra of Great Britain. It was lovely for Robert to bump in to a delayed Mr and Mrs Joe McGrath and share typical moments of Goonish humour with them. Many thanks to John Gatenby and the British Comedy Society. Sadly, as soon as Robert’s phone was turned back on, he was informed of the death of Wendy Richard. He was subsequently interviewed on B.B.C. Radio Berkshire about her work in Are You Being Served? and the Carry Ons.

A rather raucous and joyfully elongated catch-up and drinking session with actor/producer/writer/director and all-round good egg, Paul Cole. Starting off at the Concert Artistes’ Association and ending up at the Lamb & Flag via St. Paul’s, the actors’ church, Robert and Paul must have taken all of thirty steps all day! Robert was later joined by another friend, actress Gemma Sinclair, and attended the DVD launch of Alan G. Parker’s Sid Vicious documentary Who Killed Nancy? at the Leicester Square Theatre.

Robert is interviewed for the Monty Python at 40 film documentary. A fun two-hour session in conversation with friend and director, Alan Parker, at the Arts Club on Frith Street is followed by a hasty post motem in the Spice of Life. Hasty, for Robert had to wing his way back to Buckinghamshire to join producer Ken Burns for the recording of a DVD audio commentary. Carry On Peter is the record of Carry On producer, Peter Rogers, and his 90th birthday party with Leslie Phillips, Jacki Piper, potential Carry On London cast members and loads of glamour models! Suitably the commentary was recorded on this, Peter’s 95th birthday.

Sad to hear of the death of Dilys Laye at the age of 74. She had been ill for some time. Robert always loved to keep in touch via her jolly phone-calls and pithy e-mails having recorded DVD audio commentaries with her for three of her four Carry On films.

To 18 Greek Street and memories of the old Establishment Club as a Westminster green plaque is unveiled to the mercurial Peter Cook. Friends and colleagues Eleanor Bron, Neil Innes, Barry Cryer, Nicholas Parsons, Anneke Wills, Francoise Pascal and Valerie Leon joined Peter’s first wife, Wendy, and his sister, Elizabeth, at the event. The plaque, inscribed to the ‘comedian and only twin’, marks the home of satire that Cook owned during the early 1960s. A slap-up luncheon at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, followed.

The first month of the New Year almost over and all ready we have lost some legendary figures from entertainment: Tony Hart’s death, coupled with that of Oliver Postgate late last year, has severed vital links with a lot of people’s childhood. They will remain heroes for a generation. John Mortimer brought vere, wit and passion to his television screenplays. And Patrick McGoohan, perhaps the most cherished Cult TV star of them all: from Hell Drivers and ‘Dangerman’ to those award-winning episodes of ‘Columbo’ and, naturally, ‘The Prisoner’, his body of work will stand tall for a very long time. R.I.P.

To the Novello theatre for a breathtaking performance from David Tennant in ‘Hamlet’. The evening is topped off by unexpectedly bumping in to Mr and Mrs Bernard Cribbins in the audience. David’s towering performance – ranging from Noel Coward mannerisms and outrageous mockery of Patrick Stewart to the depths of introspective bewilderment and despair – suitably won him the Critics Circle Award for Best Shakespearian performance of the year. The supporting cast, including Oliver Ford Davies as Polonius and John Woodvine as the Player King, were exemplary.

Another pantomime – this time Comedy Legend Bernie Clifton in ‘Cinderella’ at the Aylesbury Civic Centre – ended the yule-tide break on a high.

Pre-New Year fun at the High Wycombe pantomime with Linda Lusardi easily bagging the title of the fairest of them all…despite playing the Wicked Queen and not Snow White! Director Sam Kane also provided strong, tongue-in-cheek support to his wife while daughter, Lucy, excelled as the Forest Fairy.