Michael Quinlyn-Nixon has unveiled the designs for his up-coming 2008 calendar Carry On Bear. Utilising his imaginative and charming images of teddy bears, this year’s effort is devoted to the Carry On films.

The start of a fun weekend in Manchester at the Fantasy Film Festival with close friends Vera Day, Caroline Munro and Martine Beswick, and new friends Edward de Sousa and Mark Redfield.

Robert attended the second unveiling of the statue to Max Miller on New Road, Brighton, just outside the Theatre Royal. The event, attended by such luminaries as Denis Norden, Micheal Aspel and Judy Cornwell, was sub-titled a ‘Re-Dodd-ication’ because the legend that is Ken Dodd was also in attendance to say a few words about his comic hero and pull the reluctant cord. Now moved to a more central position, Max is pointing his finger at the old music hall he played on many occasions. A wonderful, sunny day of laughter, was topped by several jars in the Collanade bar: Robert’s drinking hole of choice when in Brighton!

Sad to hear the news that film and television director Peter Graham Scott died on Sunday at the age of 83. He helmed such classics as Hammer’s Captain Clegg, the Charlie Drake comedy The Cracksman and episodes of The Avengers, Redcap, The Prisoner and Children of the Stones. His death was even more poignant owning to the fact that Robert had only been chatting with this affable elder statesman on Saturday afternoon at the Bray Studios day.

Happy 70th birthday to Barbara Windsor. Robert had recorded a brief tribute piece with regards Barbara’s unique contribution to the Carry On series which was syndicated throughout all of the regional BBC radio stations.

A fun open day at the historical Bray Studios celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hammer Films’ first Gothic horror, The Curse of Frankenstein. The guest list included Vera Day, Paul Cole, Caroline Munro, John Cater, Douglas Wilmer, John Hough, Madeline Smith, Valerie Leon and Damian Thomas. The weather was glorious. And the laughs went on from 10 in the morning until well after the event ended…Robert joined a few friends at the near-by Oakley Court Hotel. Here’s to next year’s salute to 50 years of Dracula!

The final committee meeting for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund’s ‘Best of British Comedy’ lunch. It will be held at BAFTA on 26th September. The guest list is looking very good!

Robert faced the floods to tackle an epic journey to Birmingham to attend the Dr Who and Torchwood convention, ‘Bad Wolf’. He signed a few things and interviewed the stunning Yasmin Bannerman (Jabe in ‘The End of the World’), voice of the Daleks and Big Finish boss, Nick Briggs, and Liz Fost: an Auton of no fixed abode! Much fun was had at the bar with the delightful actor Owen Teale. And all in all it was a rather pleasant way to spend the weekend.

Robert is still hard at work on various exciting DVD releases for ITVDVD. Infact, a bumper crop of titles have been released just recently. The Huggetts Collection includes Holiday Camp and the three Huggett family spin-offs, with a booklet and stills gallery compiled by Robert. The special editions of Terry Jones’s Personal Services and Michael Winner’s The Big Sleep are also currently available. As is the Stewart Granger Collection, the first box set in a series of classic British cinema showcase collections. The BBC’s 2entertain have released series one of Sorry! which features all six episodes, three of which also includes audio commentaries with Ronnie Corbett and Robert.

Sad to hear of the death of legendary jazz singer and historian George Melly. A lifelong fan of the ‘cheeky chappie’, Max Miller, George happily gave his services free to the statue appeal variety concert held at Brighton’s Theatre Royal. A cause very dear to Robert’s heart. And talking of Max, the statue will be returned to Brighton with a new unveiling ceremony on Sunday 12th August. To reserve your place please email josephine.blake@btopenworld.com.