A very Happy Two Thousand and Seventeen, and it’s a year that promises to be exciting, productive and full of laughter! The New Year honours list certainly gave 2017 a tattifelarius start, when a knighthood was bestowed on relentless giggle juggernaut Ken Dodd. One of still only a handful of comedians to get the nod – George Robey, Charlie Chaplin, Bruce Forsyth (“I’m an entertainer…”) – Sir Ken has been making the nation laugh since the 1950s and now, in his 90th. year, he is still on the road. “Absolutely delighted and highly tickled to have been given the honour”, it is a well-deserved salute to a towering behemoth of variety comedy.

Very sad to hear that Andrew Sachs died last month, at the age of 86. It was a thrill to get to know Andrew through the official BBC celebration ‘Fawlty Towers: Fully Booked’, and later work with him more informally on the 2003 ‘Monkey’ dubbing sessions, and the outrageous comedy lunches for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. His comedy masterwork is, of course, Manuel; with four pop singles, public appearances and knowing resurrections of the role – notably as the hotel manager in the ‘Are You Being Served?’ film – keeping the joy flowing beyond those six perfect hours of television situation comedy. As an actor his work ranged from Brian Rix’s Whitehall farces and the Pink Panther series to an understated Doctor Watson on BBC radio; while his immigrant childhood gave an added weigh to his astonishing performance in Silent Witness: ‘The World Cruise’. His autobiography ‘I Know Nothing’ is an immensely readable record of an extraordinary, long and prolific life and talent to amuse. A talent that will keep him at the top table of actors for a long time to come.

Delighted to be a guest ‘expert’ on the pilot recording of the BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz ‘Gaby’s Talking Pictures’. Many thanks to the charming and very welcoming producers Gaby Roslin and Gordon Kennedy for inviting me to take part at the BBC’s RADA Studios. It was glorious fun, both on-air and off, with the rest of the panel. Transmission details to follow, just as soon as I know them. And no prizes for guessing my specialist subject!

I’m delighted to announce that the second date of Forever Carrying On with Valerie Leon has now sold out. Following our appearance at the Leicester Square Theatre it is with great pleasure that I once again present Valerie’s celebration of six leading stars of the series, followed by an informal chat about her work with the team and their unique, lasting appeal. The show starts at 5pm. on Sunday, 13th. November. For returns please try ringing the Box Office on 0207 287 2875. If you are lucky I’ll see you there. Carry On!

Jimmy Perry O.B.E. has died at the ripe old age of 93. A long, full life of cheering people up is quite the legacy, and Jimmy’s work as a writer (Dad’s Army, Hi-De-Hi, You Rang M’Lord and, mine and his own personal favourite, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum) has cheered up more than most. With a community warmth and skill for celebrating the absurd character of the British, the world Jimmy created with David Croft will stand as a winking, self-deprecating salute to the nation. However, for me, it is his presenting of the series Turns that left an even more indelible mark. With genuine affection and enthused knowledge, Jimmy Perry introduced and celebrated ancient clips of the greats of variety, and it was the first time that I witnessed such legends of Music Hall as George Robey, Lily Morris, Teddy Brown, and Wilson, Keppel & Betty. It’s almost unthinkable that the BBC would screen such remnants in prime time now but that series, starting back when I wore a schoolboy’s clothes, ignited a passion that has never gone out. Thanks, Jimmy, and Stand Easy.

A thrill to join series favourites Dame Barbara Windsor, Valerie Leon and Hugh Futcher at the Comic Store unveiling of Nick McCann’s brilliant Carry On painting ‘And When Did You Last See Your Feet?’, a brilliant send-up of William Frederick Yeames’ English Civil War masterpiece. Fittingly, the work will be hung, next to the original, at the Walker Gallery, Liverpool, on 23rd. November. What A Carry On!

I’m thrilled to be in conversation with that pioneer of British rock ‘n’ roll and ageless matinee idol Jess Conrad. Awarded the O.B.E. for services to entertainment and charity in 2011, and made King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats in 2013, Jess will reveal outrageous tales from his varied ShowBiz career, spanning hit records for Decca Records to a long-standing self-mockery opposite Jim Davidson. On stage Jess has starred in ‘Godspell’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Television credits include ‘Armchair Theatre’, ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ and ‘Miss Marple’, while he scored big screen success in ‘The Boys’, ‘Konga’, ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle’, and as pop impresario Larry Parnes in ‘Telstar’. The legendary Jess Conrad will also be signing photographs and CDs after our show, which is at the Leicester Square Theatre, Sunday, 23rd. October, from 4pm. You can book at: www.leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com or call the Box Office on: 020 7734 2222.

My Leicester Square Theatre guest this month is the exquisite and inimitable Fenella Fielding, 50 years since the release of British film classic ‘Carry On Screaming!’. Join us from 4pm. on Sunday, 25th. September, for a choice clip from the Carry On favourite, Fenella’s reading from her up-coming memoirs, an exclusive conversation about her life and work, questions from the audience, and an informal signing and photograph session. Tickets are still available from leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com, or by calling the Box Office: 020 77342222. See you there!

It was Liz Fraser’s birthday yesterday, and I was delighted to take part in the lengthy celebrations over at Talking Pictures TV. Fast becoming the most essential telly channel out there, you can find them on Freeview 81; pumping out classic film and television 24 hours a day! Liz’s birthday was marked with over twelve hours of programming, including a brand new exclusive interview, introductions, and screenings of such classics as ‘Double Bunk’, ‘I’m All Right Jack’ and ‘Two-Way Stretch’, alongside rarer gems like the Children’s Film Foundation release ‘Hide and Seek’. If you want to meet Liz in person, she’s my guest at the Leicester Square Theatre, from 4pm. on Sunday, 28th. August. Tickets can be booked by telephoning: 020 7734 2222 or visiting: leicestersquaretheatre.com. It’s going to be a popular one, so book now. See you there!

My next Leicester Square Theatre show is a ‘Strangeness in Space’ special. Just who, what, or why is ‘Strangeness in Space’? You may well ask! Well, it’s a hilarious crowd-funded radio series written by and starring Saturday morning legends Trevor & Simon, and featuring ’80s ‘Doctor Who’ girl Sophie Aldred. The trio will be joined on stage by producer Clare Eden and, hopefully, a handful of the show’s guest stars. The cast reads like a Who’s Who of comedy, including Rufus Hound, Doon Mackichan, Alexei Sayle, and Monty Python’s Carol Cleveland, so this is not to be missed.

I’ll be interviewing the team, and there will also be an opportunity for an informal meet & greet, autographs, selfies, and even script-reading fun. In addition each ticket holder will receive a free 8×10 glossy photo of Team Strange. The show starts from 4pm. on Sunday, 31st. July; and this one is going to be epic! A handful of tickets are still available by ‘phoning the Box Office: 0207 7342222, or visiting the website www.leicestersquaretheatre.com See you there!