Peter Sellers would have celebrated his 90th birthday today. So, in association with Dick Fiddy of the British Film Institute and The Goon Show Preservation Society, I’m hosting a special celebration of his genius at the Lost Theatre, 208 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2JU. Peter’s daughter Sarah will be in attendance, as well as director Joe McGrath (‘The Magic Christian’, ‘The Great McGonagall’), co-stars Liz Fraser (‘I’m Alright Jack’, ‘Two-Way Stretch’) and Francoise Pascal (‘There’s A Girl in My Soup’, ‘Soft Beds, Hard Battles’), and Goon record producer Marcel Stellman. In addition, Julian Dutton, who’s book ‘Keeping Quiet: Visual Comedy in the Age of Sound’ was published recently, will discuss Peter’s physical clowning. There will also be copious rare clips of Peter in interview and in character. The fun kicks off at 7.30pm., and tickets can be bought by telephoning: 0207 720 6897, or on the door.

August is always a deliciously busy month; not least of all because it’s Edinburgh time! A fun wallow in networking and rubbernecking: and it’s not just comedy. Not by a long chalk! In fact, this year’s theatrical landmark isn’t even part of the Fringe. It’s the truly revolutionary Simon McBurney solo show The Encounter, from Complicite. An extraordinary experience. Other theatre ranges from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Shakespeare Musical Willy’s Bitches, to the powerful Simian parable Kafka’s Ape, starring Howard Rosenstein. There’s beautiful clowning in Eric the Fred, spirited stand-up from Suzy Bennett at the Counting House, and even balletic juggling in 4×4 Ephemeral Architectures. Hey, Edinburgh in August has *everything* you could possibly want. That includes celebrations of comedy’s past; notably this year Kevin McNally and most of The Missing Hancocks team taking the BBC recording experience North of the Border, Simon Cartwright’s uncanny Bob Monkhouse at the Assembly Hall, and Simon Schatzberger’s beautiful Woody Allen ’60s stand-up set at Frankenstein’s. Simply exquisite!

I saw the matinee of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Vaudeville theatre today. An outstanding production, directed by Adrian Noble, and with David Suchet’s performance as Lady Bracknell as its epicentre. Without an ounce of grotesque, his wonderfully mannered, precise, and fluid rendition of Oscar Wilde’s bon mot powerhouse was supported by a uniformly excellent cast. Old pros. Richard O’Callaghan and Michele Dotrice sparked off each other wonderfully; while Imogen Doel made for a particularly enchanting Cecily. Philip Cumbus as Algernon pretty much walked off with the show, with a performance straddling pioneering ‘Punch’ and cyber cheek. It’s a quite extraordinary turn. Booking until 7th November, I highly recommend you see it. You’ll thank me.

Very sad to hear that that peerless actor George Cole died yesterday at the ripe old age of 90. What a life. What a career! From Flash Harry to Arthur Daley, he effortlessly personified the cockney rogue, but there was a depth to his performances that mark him out as one of our truly great actors. Even before St. Trinian’s, he had sparred with his childhood benefactor Alastair Sim, notably in the 1941 propaganda thriller Cottage to Let. He would became an almost constant talisman for Sim; playing young Scrooge, doing anything for money in Laughter in Paradise, and even popping up unannounced in An Inspector Calls and The Happiest Days of Your Life. Later the two pitted wits in the wickedly dark comedy The Green Man. With the immense success of ‘Minder’ on television, his classic British films of the fifties were often over-looked, but treasures like Too Many Crooks, Will Any Gentlemen…?, and The Intruder are personal favourites that I can re-visit time and time again. Then there was the Hammer comedy Don’t Panic Chaps, and the subsequent horror outing in The Vampire Lovers. And so, so many telly highlights: ‘Comrade Dad’, ‘Blott on the Landscape’, a tail-ender reunion with Dennis Waterman for ‘New Tricks’, to name but a few. Still, perhaps the finest of all is as The Firebug in an episode of television crime series ‘Gideon’s Way’: a truly extraordinary picture of mental obsession that will leave you gasping. Rest well, sir, the world really was your lobster!

The inaugural Great Yorkshire Fringe finished today and what a glorious event it was – well, the small but beautifully formed bit of it that I saw in any case. Congratulations to Martin Witts and his spirited, super-efficient, and ever-charming crew. For the first time, we took my ‘Robert Ross Requests the Pleasure…’ out of the Museum of Comedy and, indeed, out of London. The name of the event and the fact that Saturday 1st August was Yorkshire Day made my first guest obvious to me. It just had to be one of the original Four Yorkshiremen, and that meant the legendary Tim Brooke-Taylor. We travelled up by car together, and Friday evening was a delirious time. We may even have talked about the show. Maybe! Local boy Mark Addy also agreed to be interrogated and, by contrast, we had never met before. Thankfully, both shows were a joy, and many thanks to all those who attended. The podcasts should be available shortly. I only had time to actually see a couple of shows, but what shows they were: Slightly Fat Features presented a family-friendly variety of circus tricks, song, puppetry, and sheer high-energy entertainment. While Canadian Commander Tom Stade dished-up some fresh material which was typically pithy, witty, and frantically independent. Oh, and I bumped into the delightful Henning Wehn; long enough to share a joke and a few vegan restaurant tips. All in all, a splendid time was had by all. Here’s to the next time… But first, the Edinburgh Fringe beckons!

There’s a flock of Carry On Girls attending the London Film Convention at the Central Hall Westminster tomorrow. Veteran of four films and the ‘Carry On Laughing’ stage farce Liz Fraser will be joined by ‘Carry On Abroad’ duo Sally Geeson and Carol Hawkins, regular supporting turn Patricia Franklin, and, in a signing debut, ‘Carry On Nurse’ star Ann Firbank. The show runs from 10am. to 4pm., and I’ll be there and happy to sign any Carry On book or DVD of mine you may have on your person. On Sunday, I’ll be back at the Museum of Comedy, where my Robert Ross Requests the Pleasure guest will be the mighty Barry Cryer. Booking on 020 7534 1744 is advisable, but tickets should be available on the door.

Joyous company for the matinee of Richard Bean’s new comedy ‘The Mentalists’ at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Stephen Merchant and Steffan Rhodri in a complex, hilarious, and poignant stake-out situation tackling philosophy, technology, and the poor state of London bed & breakfasts! A recommended treat. Later in the day, we were delighted to attend the recording for two of the new batch of ‘The Missing Hancocks’. Once again Kevin McNally is impeccable as the Lad Himself, with pitch perfect support from Kevin Eldon as Bill Kerr, Robin Sebastian as Kenneth Williams, Simon Greenall as Sid James and Susy Kane as Andree Melly. Thanks to producer Neil Pearson for the invitation; and a thrill as ever to embrace the guv’nors of sitcom Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who were in the audience and received a totally deserved ovation for their glorious work. News on when these resurrected gems will be broadcast nearer the time, although if one of the episodes is any clue at all my guess would be around Christmas! In the meantime, Kevin McNally and The Missing Hancock team will be taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm at the Assembly Rooms, from the 5th August. Showtime: 4.15pm. File it under ‘Essential’!

There’s been a change of guest for my Robert Ross Requests the Pleasure… show at the Museum of Comedy on Sunday, the 26th July. The mighty Neil Innes will now be appearing on the 25th October, while this month I welcome the Godfather of Comedy himself, Barry Cryer. Naturally, our chat will range from Baz being given silly things to do, to writing for practically every top comic of the last sixty years. There will also be a little time to plug the ‘Forgotten Heroes of Comedy’, my book for Unbound. The fun kicks off from 4pm. See you there.

Many thanks to Ross Owen and all at the International Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society for an evening of Stan and Ollie back where they belong, in the cinema: the Vue, Piccadilly, to be precise. On the eve of the 125th anniversary of Stan’s birth, Lucky Dog Theatre Company recreated a classic stage routine, followed by ‘County Hospital’ and ‘Sons of the Desert’ being screened to wild applause and gales of laughter. As Robin Ince tweeted, the cinema was: “packed with comics, writers, musicians all paying homage”. These included Sir David Jason, Terry Jones, Reece Shearsmith, Martin Freeman, Amanda Abbington, Andre Vincent, and Johnny Vegas.

Screenings across the country in June have brought Laurel & Hardy to the attention of fans old and new alike. A fitting tribute to the Fiddle and the Bow; the finest there has ever been. Hats off to them.

It’s my Doctor’s birthday today! Old Sixy, that is. Many happy returns to that fine actor and splendid chap, Colin Baker. You can celebrate by purchasing one of his many Doctor Who adventures for Big Finish. Ideally, one written by me! Go to the CD section for more information about ‘Medicinal Purposes’, ‘Pier Pressure’ and ‘Assassin in the Limelight’. Enjoyed at their best as a trilogy!