My next Leicester Square Theatre show is a ‘Strangeness in Space’ special. Just who, what, or why is ‘Strangeness in Space’? You may well ask! Well, it’s a hilarious crowd-funded radio series written by and starring Saturday morning legends Trevor & Simon, and featuring ’80s ‘Doctor Who’ girl Sophie Aldred. The trio will be joined on stage by producer Clare Eden and, hopefully, a handful of the show’s guest stars. The cast reads like a Who’s Who of comedy, including Rufus Hound, Doon Mackichan, Alexei Sayle, and Monty Python’s Carol Cleveland, so this is not to be missed.

I’ll be interviewing the team, and there will also be an opportunity for an informal meet & greet, autographs, selfies, and even script-reading fun. In addition each ticket holder will receive a free 8×10 glossy photo of Team Strange. The show starts from 4pm. on Sunday, 31st. July; and this one is going to be epic! A handful of tickets are still available by ‘phoning the Box Office: 0207 7342222, or visiting the website www.leicestersquaretheatre.com See you there!

Reg Varney was born 100 years ago today. Best-loved as the star of classic situation comedies ‘On the Buses’ and ‘The Rag Trade’, Reg’s career ranged from a fledgling double act with Benny Hill to a bushel of piano recital recordings. To mark his centenary, Fairlynch Museum & Arts Centre in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, are presenting an exhibition of his life and work. In association with the British Heart Foundation, entrance is free; running every day save Mondays until 30th September. Ding! Ding!

For twenty Golden years, Jimmy Gilbert was a very safe pair of hands at the BBC, producing such classic shows as ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, ‘Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?’, and ‘The Two Ronnies’. Indeed, as one of the chief architects of ‘The Frost Report’, Gilbert was instrumental in bringing together the Rons, as well as most of Monty Python. He was appointed the Head of Comedy from 1973 until 1977, during which time he commissioned, among many others, ‘Fawlty Towers’; and subsequently held the post of Head of Light Entertainment, before leaving the BBC in 1982. As a freelance producer he steered such evergreen ITV successes as ‘Fresh Fields’ and ‘The Benny Hill Show’ to even more success. Jimmy Gilbert died on 7th. June, at the age of 93.