Sad news to hear of the death of Henry McGee.  Nick named ‘SS’ or ‘Super Stooge’ by Benny Hill, Henry’s impeccable straight man performances on The Benny Hill Show over twenty years made him an international comic hero.  Closer to home he will always be beloved as the pedantic Mr Pugh in the Charlie Drake situation comedy The Worker and for his Sugar Puffs adverts with the Honey Monster.  Film appearances ranged from The Italian Job to Carry On Emmannuelle and, having met him several times over the years, Robert remembers a charming, totally unassuming actor.  Rest in Peace.

Robert enjoyed his Dr Who signing session at Tenth Planet…even signing a vintage copy of The Carry On Companion!  As usual when ever Robert and Doug Bradley get together the actual signing took second place to a heated discussion about 1930s horror films!  Robert extends his grateful thanks to Derek Hambly and the gang for a fun afternoon.  The play, Pier Pressure, received a double page spread in the February edition of Doctor Who Magazine which included an extenstive interview with Robert about the writing of the play and his passion for Brighton.

A Happy New Year!  Rick Blackman’s excellent preview of Robert’s Dr Who adventure, Pier Pressure, has been added to the Dr Who page.  The double CD is released on 20 January and Robert will be joining guest baddie, Doug Bradley, at a signing session at Tenth Planet, Barking on Saturday 28 January.  Further information and up-dates can be found at http://www.tenthplanet.co.uk/.

Robert enjoyed his BBC radio-athon as usual, happily chatting to stations across the country from the several self-contained studios within BBC Broadcasting House.  Briefly chatting to fellow interviewee Lance Ellington, Robert had a chance to congratulate him on his brilliant performance as his father, Ray, in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.  Lance’s album of standards, Lessons in Love, is available now on the Vocalion label and is well worth checking out.

Well panto season is almost upon us and, as usual, Robert is planning a bit of a panto crawl this year.  He won’t make all of these but the following are the pick of the local crop: Richard O’Brien in Snow White at Milton Keynes, Richard Wilson and John Barrowman in Cinderella at Wimbledon, Colin Baker (in a dress!) in Snow White at Truro, Sylvester McCoy in Dick Whittington at the London Zoo, Lynda Baron and Geoffrey Davies in Cinderella at Reading, the legend that is Keith Harris in Goldilocks at Fareham and Christopher Beeny in Beauty and the Beast at Windsor.  The tickets are all ready booked for that last one!

On Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December Robert will be decamped deep in Broadcasting House recording interviews and broadcasting live.  It’s part of his regular committment to advertise the latest comedy releases from the BBC.  This time he’ll be chatting about such classics as Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Blackadder, Little Britain and the legacy of Ronnie Barker.  So tune in to your local BBC stations, Robert may be coming in yer eyes over the next week!

Robert will be signing books and joining Carry On Abroad and Bless This House movie babes Sally Geeson and Carol Hawkins at the NEC in Birmingham for Memorabilia on 26 and 27 November.  Other guests close to Robert’s heart include the delectable Jenny Hanley, Mr Cool Peter Wyngarde, Pier Pressure guest star Doug Bradley, the stunning Caroline Munro, the dream maker Ray Harryhausen, Huggy Bear himself Antonio Fargas, American Werewolf David Naughton and Sid Haig, Lon Chaney Jnr’s bizarre ward in Spider Baby.  Further details at http://www.memorabilia.co.uk/.

Granada Ventures release The Greatest tv Trivia Quiz dvd.  Robert worked on this release specially compiled to celebrate 50 years of ITV.  Neil Fox hosts the fun and clips span the entire history of commercial television with such favourites as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Rising Damp, Inspector Morse, The Prisoner and The Darling Buds of May featured.  It’s the perfect family game for Christmas!

Like most eager Dr Who fans Robert relished the early part of BBC’s Children in Need appeal with a brilliant pre-Christmas teaser from David Tennant’s new Doctor.  He’s nailed it! Still, the comedy highlight was Catherine Tate and Barbara Windsor staging a verbal battle in the Queen Vic.  Bothered?

The Big Finish website unveil the final design for Robert’s up-coming Dr Who adventure, Pier Pressure. A link to the page, complete with down-loadable trailer and an opportunity to pre-order the January release, has been added to the ‘Doctor Who’ page here.