The Slapstick festival fun continued with Graeme Garden’s fascinating, clip-laden tribute to comedian Harry Langdon. A wonderful gallop through the legacy of an unforgettable clown.

Tim was also heavily involved in the annual Slapstick Festival down in Bristol. Alas Robert couldn’t attend Sunday’s tribute to Marty Feldman hosted by Tim but the Friday evening Gala at the Colston Hall saw a host of comedy legends introduce silent comedy favourites. Barry Cryer praised Harold Lloyd before a screening of ‘Get Out’. Neil Innes championed Charlie Chaplin’s hilarious drunk act in ‘One a.m.’ Bill Oddie presented Laurel and Hardy’s 1928 classic ‘We Faw Down’, while Ian Lavender gave an eloquent tribute to his hero Buster Keaton before screening ‘Neighbours’. Other highlights including a Barry Cryer and Neil Innes sing song, Paul McGann warbling Chaplin’s theme from ‘Limelight’: ‘Eternally’ and a laid back Chris Searle on M.C. duties. Festival director Chris Daniels is to be thanked and congratulated. Keep an eye on www.slapstick.org.uk/ for 2012 dates and an exciting touring show of silent comedy planned for this spring.

The fun and hectic research for Robert’s new biography continues apace with a hilarious pub lunch with Tim Brooke-Taylor.

Another unforgettable West End experience with the penultimate performance of ‘Deathtrap’ at the Noel Coward theatre with the mercurial Simon Russell Beale as Sidney Bruhl.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ at the Theatre Royal Haymarket reunites Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles from the classic situation comedy ‘To the Manor Born’ and both were born to play this surprisingly saucy, robust and lively piece under the diligent eye of director Sir Peter Hall. Penny’s original malapropisms and Peter’s continued threats of “frenzy” are as impeccable as you would expect. The rest of the cast is uniformly excellent, although special mention should go to Tony Gardner who milks every laugh out of his pompous Faulkland. Eventually, there is even Eric Morecambe-like pleas and glances to the audience: a brilliant performance. Carlyss Peer as the cheeky maid Lucy is a delight, Keiron Self gives a panto-sized performance as Bob Acres while the demure Robyn Addison and Annabel Scholey bicker, console and giggle about love, lost and their silly boyfriends in 18th century Bath. The play runs until 26th February. Do not miss it.

The Yvonne Arnaud theatre, Guildford for another production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’; this time headlining the multi-talented Sarah-Jane Honeywell. She sings, she dances, she can handle a sword! Shane Lynch turned the ladies to jelly, the wonderful Royce Mills played Nurse Nellie with saucy delight and Nichola McAuliffe gave the Wicked Fairy a knowing theatricality that ranged from chav to Joyce Grenfell. The legs of Guildford School of Acting graduate Lucy Hope-Borne were an added attraction!

Off to the Apollo Piccadilly for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund preview screening of ‘The King’s Speech’. An Oscar-tipped performance from Colin Firth and superb performances from Geoffrey Rush, Sir Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham-Carter make this a classy, enthralling and enriching two-hours. And if there’s any justice Guy Pearce as King Edward will pick up a Best Supporting Actor award or two. Thanks to Johanna Crotty and the C.T.B.F. gang.

‘The Secret Life of Bob Monkhouse’ on BBC4 is one of the best television documentaries on television that you will ever see: bursting with love and affection for Bob himself and the shows and films he made and collected. Within the 90 minutes there were ultra-rare snippets of everyone from Sid James and Graeme Garden to Vincent Price and Reece Shearsmith. A masterpiece.