Richard Briers, Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan were reunited by BBC DVD branch, 2entertain, for six audio commentaries on the classic 1980s situation comedy, Ever Decreasing Circles. Robert happily moderated this exhaustive recording session which will see every episode released as a box set later this year.

Congratulations to Leslie Phillips who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA for his role in Venus. Coincidentally Robert was filming with the great man for the BBC television series The Cinema Show. Interviewed at the imposing location of St. Pancras Hospital, Robert was placed on a hospital bed and chatted about the Doctor comedies, the medical Carry Ons, Britannia Hospital and other British film classics.

A Happy New Year. Robert was still recovering from fun and games in Liverpool, Christmas excess and a very busy 2006 when the New Year was rung in with his appearance in Channel 4’s documentary What the Pythons Did Next.

Sad to report the sudden death of Anthony Jackson, at the age of 62. Perhaps best-loved as Sid James’s neighbour, Trevor, in Bless this House, he was a hero for children of all ages as the recently departed Fred Mumford in Rent-a-Ghost. Robert remembers a lovely man and a telented actor who could regale friends and fans alike with joyful stories and tots of rum. Rest in Peace, Tony.

At the British Independent Film Awards, the legendary Leslie Phillips picked up a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor Award for his latest film, Venus. He was particularly pleased when Damian Lewis, annoucing the winner, opened the envelope and gave a note-perfect ‘Ding Dong’ before naming Leslie. Congratulations!!

Carry On: the Ultimate Collection is released by ITVDVD today. A bumper 30 disc set featuring every classic Carry On film from Carry On Sergeant (1958) to Carry On Emmannuelle (1978) this has been a labour of love for Robert. The definitive Special Edition presentation the set includes 30 feature-length audio commentaries. Moderated by Robert, these feature Amanda Barrie, Dora Bryan, Sandra Caron, John Clive, Paul Cole, Bernard Cribbins, Jim Dale, Larry Dann, Angela Douglas, Jack Douglas, Shirley Eaton, Fenella Fielding, Liz Fraser, Sally Geeson, Carol Hawkins, David Kernan, Dilys Laye, Valerie Leon, Terence Longdon, Patrick Mower, Richard O’Callaghan, Richard O’Sullivan, Lance Percival, Leslie Phillips, Jacki Piper, Patsy Rowlands, Julie Stevens, June Whitfield, scriptwriter Dave Freeman, director of photography Alan Hume and producer Peter Rogers. Also included are original theatrical trailers, lavish stills galleries, all 13 episodes of the 1975 ATV situation comedy series, Carry On Laughing, starring Sid James, Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Connor, Peter Butterworth, Joan Sims, Jack Douglas, Bernard Bresslaw, Hattie Jacques and David Lodge. Plus there are archive interviews with Sid James, Terry Scott, Kenneth Williams and Phil Silvers, an ‘On Location’ featurette hosted by June Whitfield, the official 40^th anniversary documentary, What’s A Carry On?, featuring interviews with Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor, Anita Harris, Norman Rossington and writer Norman Hudis, textless footage from Carry On Jack and Carry On Spying, an alternative, ‘director’s cut’, presentation of Carry On England and Robert’s extensive production notes for all 30 films. Priced at £199.99 this is the last word on Carry On and finally does justice to one of British cinema’s most cherished success stories.

Robert will be hanging out, chilling and signing a few things with comedy heroes Leslie Phillips, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden at Collectormania 2, the GMex centre, Manchester. Come along and say ‘hello’ and don’t forget your copies of The Carry On Story and The Goodies Rule OK.

Another sad loss from the world of British comedy: Ronnie Stevens has died in the actors’ home, Denville Hall, at the age of 82. On stage from 1948 and a favourite of west end revue, Ronnie’s film legacy includes Bob Monkhouse’s side-kick in both Dentist in the Chair and Dentist on the Job, the Yum Yum sweet man in I’m All Right Jack and the drunken cove in Carry On Cruising.

Robert danced the night away with Carry On, Hammer and Bond babe Valerie Leon at the Children with Leukemia charity event at the Grovesnor hotel. An amazing night for a very special cause, it attracted some high profile attendees and Robert enjoyed chatting with the likes of Billy Murray, Jess Conrad, Sandy Lyle, Chris Tarrant, Jeremy Beadle, Burt Kwouk, Anita Harris and the ‘living legend’, Pete Murray.

Another upsetting round-up of the recently departed. Distinguished actor William Franklyn who, for a generation, was the ‘voice’ of Schweppes, died at the age of 81. He memorably sparred with Morecambe and Wise in The Intelligence Men and was unforgettable as Dick Emery’s fellow con artiste in Ooh, You Are Awful. However, perhaps his finest moment was as the cynical and ill-fated detective in Hammer’s Satantic Rites of Dracula. Another Hammer staple, writer Nigel Kneale, died at the age of 84. Immortal as the creator of Professor Bernard Quatermass, his other work included The Abominable Snowman, Beasts, Kinvig and the film adaptation of John Osborne’s The Entertainer. Robert leaves it to his pals Marcus Hearn and Mark Gatiss to write the eulogizes but, suffice to say, any one who has attempted to write science-fiction owe him a debt of gratitude. And finally, it is with great sadness that Robert has been informed of the death of Diana Coupland. Best-loved as the caring wife of Sid James in the classic 1970s situation comedy Bless This House, Diana was a lovely lady. She was a delight at Robert’s Pinewood tribute to Sid James in 2001; sharing her fond memories of the show with co-star Anthony Jackson. Her many other credits included the Reg Varney film, The Best Pair of Legs in the Business, the vocals for Ursula Andress in the first James Bond film, Dr No, and such popular fare as EastEnders, Holby City and Triangle.