The happiest of festivals, the Bristol Slapstick, kicks off with Lucy Porter celebrating the Talmadge Sisters from 11am this Thursday, 25th. Festival director Chris Daniels has pulled together an incredible programme of events: Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie are reunited to salute the greatest of them all, Buster Keaton; while Jo Brand presents her top comedy clips, Rowland Rivron remembers his cult days with Raw Sex, and Ade Edmondson and Nigel Planer introduce a screening of Comic Strip Presents classic Bad News. And this year the very laudable Young Slapstick strand is initiated, including a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Adventurer, and in foyer Punch & Judy from Professor Patel. Wondrous.

I’m in attendance from the Friday night gala, and will be in conversation about the Two Ronnies with Barry Cryer at the Bristol Old Vic, from 11:15am on Saturday, 27th. Later that evening I’m hosting Jason Donovan and The Rocky Horror Picture Show from 9:15pm, at the Colston Hall. Then on Sunday morning, it’s bright and early for me and Bill Oddie when we discuss the diverse and beguiling musical legacy of The Goodies. That informal chat is from 9:30am at the Watershed. See you there! www.slapstick.org.uk

Please forgive the long radio silence. Happy, frantically busy times. Anyway, a very happy two thousand and eighteen! There are so many exciting projects coming up, from various sixty years of Carry On celebrations to work finally coming to a conclusion on my labour of love book The Forgotten Heroes of Comedy. Keep checking in for updates.

In the meantime, a few dates for your diaries for the next few weeks:

I’ll be appearing at the Bristol Slapstick Festival, from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th January. www.slapstick.org.uk

On Sunday 11th February, I’ll be hosting great swathes of the Renown Films day in association with Talking Pictures TV. www.renownfilms.co.uk

Then on Saturday, 17th February I’ll be discussing the Carry On films at the Leicester Comedy Festival www.comedy-festival.co.uk; and on Friday, 23rd February I’m marking the centenary of the unique and brilliant Spike Milligan, at the Concert Artistes’ Association, 20 Bedford Street www.thecaa.org

See you there!