‘Missing Believed Wiped’ at the National Film Theatre, as a cheerful and blissfully articulate John Cleese presented two prized episodes of ‘At Last the 1948 Show’.

40 years since the last episode of ‘Monty Python’ aired on BBC Television. Suitably, dinner was with Terry Jones, following a filmed tribute assignment for Bristol’s Slapstick Festival.

Off to Deal in Kent for a weekend in tribute to Charles Hawtrey’s 100th birthday. Carry On rebel rousing!

This year has been very Monty Python-centric. No complaints from me. This morning I did an enjoyable pre-record for John Fardy at Newstalk Radio in Ireland. It’s due to air next Thursday, which marks 40 years since the last television episode was broadcast on the BBC. Tempus fugit. As do circuses!

A splendid week of West End theatre kicked off on Friday evening with ‘Shakespeare in Love’ at the Noel Coward. A stunning realization of the film by director Declan Donnellan, Tom Bateman’s energetic and winning Will Shakespeare leads an excellent cast. The following day it was the annual embrace of the murder pantomime that is ‘The Mousetrap’! This year’s experience had a poignant edge since the death of Richard Attenborough the original Sergeant Trotter, but all the familiar elements warmed the cockles. There’s even added Max Miller as an illustration of the filth playing on the radio. Fantastic! Finally, it was the Wednesday matinee of Mike Bartlett’s outstanding history play pastiche ‘King Charles III’. Delicious iambic pentameter, portentous direction by Rupert Goold and a uniformly perfect cast headed by Miles Richardson, it’s booking at the Wyndham’s until January. I urge you to see it.

To the London Irish Centre at Camden Town this evening for the Chortle Comedy Book Festival. I was hosting a double bill of Monty Python, with Carol Cleveland promoting her memoirs ‘PomPoms Up!’, followed by Terry Jones in conversation about the ‘Forgotten Heroes of Comedy’. A shed-load of fun clips included Arthur Haynes, Jake Thackray and Olsen & Johnson. I even sneaked in a little Marty Feldman. Well, any excuse to promote my biography of the great man. Terry also had some copies of his short story anthology ‘Evil Machines’ on hand. If you want to buy Terry’s book or pledge for our ‘Forgotten Heroes of Comedy’, head on over to the Unbound website.

Today’s most thrilling news is that that splendid fellow Dick Fiddy, of the British Film Institute, has announced the discovery of two ‘At Last the 1948 Shows’ in the private archive of its executive producer, the late Sir David Frost. A monumental find, this 1967/68 sketch show written by and starring Marty Feldman, Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Tim Brooke-Taylor paved the way for ‘It’s Marty’, ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ and ‘The Goodies’. With beautiful symmetry the recovered material is the very first and the very last editions of the show, and will be screened for the first time since their first transmission at the eagerly-awaited annual ‘Missing Believed Wiped’ event at the National Film Theatre on December 7th. See you there!

A top evening of chat and clips with ‘Avengers’ girl and so much more Linda Thorson, at one of my favourite places to be: the Cinema Museum. Lovely to see Linda’s fan and friend, Paul O’Grady lapping up the gossip. A splendid time was had by all.

I was delighted to introduce The Wednesday Play: ‘Double Bill’ at the National Film Theatre. It was screened alongside the equally weird and wonderful ‘The Portsmouth Defence’ by Nemone Lethbridge as a final part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the series. The opening treat was written by Johnny Speight and starred Marty Feldman in arguably his most captivating and impressive performance. The presentation consists, ostensibly of two two-handers: ‘The Compartment’ and ‘Playmates’. Train passenger Joby Blanshard and disturbed loner Eileen Atkins face a Marty onslaught of black humour, guarded threats and nervous energy. Truly wonderful television.

My dear chums, John and Rachael Hewer of Hambledon Productions, have taken up residency in the Cooper Room at the Museum of Comedy in Bloomsbury. ‘Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show’, stars John Hewer as the beloved comedy genius, and is an officially approved showcase of some of his finest and most obscure routines. Essential fun. I’ll be at the press night on Friday the 3rd.