I attended the first Best of British Comedy Lunch at BAFTA in support of The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. A star-studded turn-out included Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, Paul Merton, Neil Innes, Andrew Sachs, Victor Spinetta, Burt Kwouk and Sanjeev Bhaskar, as well as sterling cabaret from Comedy Store favourites Stephen K Amos, Rhod Gilbert, Sarah Millican and Roger Monkhouse.

My latest Doctor Who play for Big Finish, ‘Pier Pressure’, completed its two day recording schedule today. Roy Hudd is the Pure Gold of Music Hall, Max Miller, while Doug Bradley plays the mysterious end of pier fortune teller, ‘Professor’ Talbot. There’s also a special guest appearance from someone very familiar to the world of Doctor Who. The play will be released on compact disc in January 2006.

A few glasses are raised to Peter Sellers who would have celebrated his 80th birthday today.