It’s been a very sad year for fans of The Benny Hill Show.  Just weeks after the death of Henry McGee, Robert was shocked to learn of the sad passing of Benny’s close friend and favourite director/producer Dennis Kirkland at the age of 63.  Robert has fond memories of many pints over many hours chatting with Dennis about working with the greats of post-war light entertainment, from Tommy Cooper and Eric Sykes to Freddie Starr and Frankie Howerd.  Deeply affectionate and proud of his long association with Benny Hill, Dennis produced the show from 1979 until the end in 1989 and would happily defend the show against the backlash of political correctness.  His blunt attitude could be misunderstood.  For Robert, Dennis was a thoroughly likeable, dedicated chap and one of the world’s most influential comedy directors.  Robert joined forces with Dennis for the radio 2 tribute There’ll Never Be Another: Benny Hill and, once again, marked the occasion with several pints over several hours!  Dennis was clear, stating that: “I’ll go to my grave knowing my shows will be screened all over again…when they’re all watching The Benny Hill Show on kid’s television in 2090.”

Robert can be heard celebrating the ‘Golden Age’ of British film-making on the Radio 1 documentary Carry On Filming which will be broadcast from 11:30pm on Monday 27th February.  Robert’s good pal David Benson does a rather excellent job of linking the interviews, playing Kenneth Williams as the doctor and Frankie Howerd as the patient: the British film industry today!  Fab stuff.

Robert attended the West End press night for the new play Steptoe and Son in Murder at Oil Drum Lane.  Series creators Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were again in attendance, along with a starry guest list including Barbara Windsor, Paul Merton, Dudley Sutton, June Whitfield and William Gaunt.  The show is running for a limited season as the Comedy Theatre, Panton Street, and is HIGHLY recommended.

Carry On Cowboy is today’s dvd give away in The Sun.  Robert had a small hand in putting this six film collection together and in yesterday’s paper producer Peter Rogers was pictured clutching an original edition of The Carry On Companion.

Robert was interviewed for a new Radio 1 documentary, Carry On Filming.  Talking about the ‘Golden Age’ of post-war British film, including Carry On, Hammer, the Doctor comedies, the Norman Widsom romps and the Confessions series, the documentary will compare the classic days with today’s British film industry.

Robert will be doing several local radio interviews to promote the new BBC cd of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson’s Steptoe and Son: The Very Best Episodes volume 1.  The cd, containing four original radio episodes of Robert’s favourite situation comedy, is released on Monday 6 February.  Robert kicks off his plugging session with a live chat on Luke Deal’s afternoon BBC Suffolk show on that same day.

Robert has recently been signed up to write an affectionate tribute book to his ultimate comic heroes, The Goodies.  Endorsed by Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, the book is set to be a lavish history of the team from Cambridge University to the Christmas 2005 BBC2 ratings winner, The Return of the Goodies.  It is due for publication in October.

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.