Reg Varney was born 100 years ago today. Best-loved as the star of classic situation comedies ‘On the Buses’ and ‘The Rag Trade’, Reg’s career ranged from a fledgling double act with Benny Hill to a bushel of piano recital recordings. To mark his centenary, Fairlynch Museum & Arts Centre in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, are presenting an exhibition of his life and work. In association with the British Heart Foundation, entrance is free; running every day save Mondays until 30th September. Ding! Ding!

For twenty Golden years, Jimmy Gilbert was a very safe pair of hands at the BBC, producing such classic shows as ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, ‘Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?’, and ‘The Two Ronnies’. Indeed, as one of the chief architects of ‘The Frost Report’, Gilbert was instrumental in bringing together the Rons, as well as most of Monty Python. He was appointed the Head of Comedy from 1973 until 1977, during which time he commissioned, among many others, ‘Fawlty Towers’; and subsequently held the post of Head of Light Entertainment, before leaving the BBC in 1982. As a freelance producer he steered such evergreen ITV successes as ‘Fresh Fields’ and ‘The Benny Hill Show’ to even more success. Jimmy Gilbert died on 7th. June, at the age of 93.

It’s official! The Carry Ons are back! The 32rd. film in the series, ‘Carry On Doctors’, will go into production later this year, with a release date early next year. Produced by Jonathan Sothcott, and written by ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’ scribes Susan Nickson and Tim Dawson, the film will refresh the franchise that has made the world laugh since the late 1950s. I’m more than chuffed to be involved and have been extensively quoted from the press release: “The saucy world of bedpans and thermometers has been an integral part of the Carry Ons for well over 50 years. Now, as the series carries on into the 21st Century, ‘Carry On Doctors’ returns to hospital with a cast crammed full of beloved comedy actors and a hilarious script that will have you in stitches! With a kiss to the past and a firm finger on the pulse, it’s time to Carry On. Again”. See you at the pictures!

Ben Elton’s ‘Upstart Crow’, the eagerly-awaited new sitcom starring David Mitchell as William Shakespeare, started at 10pm. on BBC2 last night. With a supporting cast including Harry Enfield, Paula Wilcox, Mark Heap, Dominic Coleman, and Gemma Whelan, the first episode attracted audience figures just shy of 1.3 million and is perfect engaging and irreverent fare to complement the marking of the Bard’s death 400 years ago this year.

Gareth Gwenlan OBE, who as Head of BBC Comedy from 1983 to 1990 commissioned ‘Blackadder II’, ‘One Foot in the Grave’, and ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, has died at the age of 79. A skilled producer and director, his most endearing successes include ‘Red Dwarf’, ‘Only Fools and Horses’, and ‘To the Manor Born’; returning for the 25th. anniversary special from 2007 as pictured above.

I spent the morning on the Wren Davis diary farm, Great Missenden, filming a brief interview for an up-coming feature on ‘The One Show’. The piece should be broadcast later this year, and I’ll give you a heads up just as soon as I know!

I’m delighted that my Leicester Square Theatre guest this month is that fine actor and lovely chap Peter Egan. The show, on Sunday, 24th. April, starts at 4pm. and will include a whistle-stop tour through Peter’s life and work, from Big Breadwinner Hog to Downtown Abbey, via his much-loved turn as Paul Ryman in the classic BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles. Tickets are available at leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com or by ‘phoning the box office on: 020 7734 2222.

What a terrible year of lose for the great, good, and gracious of the business. Ronnie Corbett’s death, at the age of 85, really does feel like the end of an era. An evergreen force of positive energy, twinkly laughter, and dogged determination, Ron C. is quite simply one of the pillars of British Light Entertainment. Such happy memories of working with him, and seeing him skilfully flex his stand-up muscles live on stage. Irreplaceable.

I’m delighted to be welcoming my good friend and that brilliant actor Neil Pearson to the Leicester Square Theatre for an intimate chat on Sunday, 20th. March, from 7pm. Please note the later than usual starting time for this ‘In Conversation…’ show; an evening that promises to be amusing and enlightening. Expect anecdotes and analysis of ‘Drop the Dead Donkey’, ‘Trevor’s World of Sport’, ‘The Missing Hancocks’, and so much more, including ‘Hand to God’, in which Neil is currently appearing at the Vaudeville theatre. Tickets for our chat are available from the Leicester Square Box Office: leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com

Very sad to hear that film and theatre producer Michael White died on Monday, at the age of 80. Award-winning stage productions of ‘Sleuth’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ led to filmed work with the Comic Strip Presents… and Monty Python teams. Terry Gilliam, who co-directed Michael White’s ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, said: “‘Chalky’ White is gone, leaving years of indelible graffiti scrawled across the cultural walls of the world”. The following day, legendary record producer Sir George Martin died at the age of 90. His legacy with the Beatles re-shaped music, but his comedy credentials should never be under-estimated; from ‘Right Said Fred’ with Bernard Cribbins to Charlie Drake’s ‘My Boomerang Won’t Come Back’, Sir George’s comic and tragic cuts for laughter-makers such as Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Peter Sellers, Peter Ustinov, and Spike Milligan, remain seminal. And he even cut his rock ‘n’ roll team with a youthful Jim Dale. What a back catalogue. Thank you, gentlemen.