That delightful and vivacious actor Maggie Stables died today. Full of infectious joy, dazzling wit and a gleeful air of mischief, her career had been long and varied. Notably, she displayed a love and skill for music hall in the television series ‘The Good Old Days’. However, it was late in life that cult stardom came her way. Long admired by Gary Russell and Nicholas Briggs of audio drama production company Big Finish, she was cast as “game old girl” Evelyn Smythe in a string of popular ‘Doctor Who’ adventures, including all three of the ones I wrote. Teamed up with Colin Baker’s Doctor, Maggie matched his caustic charm, sharp intelligence and pedantic manners tit for tat, both in the studio and out of it. Colin himself described her as the definitive champion for Old Sixie. She was great fun and a supreme professional. Rest well.

This coming Friday, the 19th of September, sees the annual Best of British Comedy lunch at BAFTA. I’ve been a committee member of this worthy bash since its inception and behind the laughter and the food fights and the gallons of Pinot Grigio, there is a very good cause. It’s all in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, who help industry folk who have fallen on hard times. This year’s proceedings are in the more than capable hands of Mr. Barry Cryer, with games, an auction and live comedy from stars of the Comedy Store. Please e-mail events@ctbf.co.uk to find out how you can attend. See you there!

Very sad to wake up to the news of the death of Sir Donald Sinden, at the age of 90. He was part of the foundation of the British film industry, with outstanding performances in ‘The Cruel Sea’, ‘Above Us the Waves’ and ‘Eyewitness’, and a theatrical behemoth with notable roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company including the Duke of York in ‘The Wars of the Roses’, Lord Foppington in ‘The Relapse’ and Malvolio in ‘Twelfth Night’. He was also an excellent droll in hit television sit-coms ‘Our Man at St. Mark’s’, ‘Two’s Company’ with Elaine Stritch and ‘Never the Twain’ with Windsor Davies. He had already proved himself adapt at comedy in the films ‘You Know What Sailors Are’, ‘Twice Round the Daffodils’ and two in the ‘Doctor’ series. Recording the commentaries for both ‘Doctor in the House’ and ‘Doctor at Large’ was one of the happiest of many happy encounters I had with Sir Donald over the years. Always with a twinkle in the eye and poised with a lit cigarette and an amusing anecdote, he’ll be greatly missed in the material Green Room.

A fun and frantic filming schedule for a new ITV documentary culminates with six hours of me in front of the camera. That will probably be edited down to around three minutes, but the result should be on your screens sometime in the spring of next year.

A hilarious and emotion time in Finchley to attend the unveiling of the beautiful Spike Milligan bench in the grounds of St. Stephens’ House. The life-size bronze by John Somerville incorporates elements of Spike’s army life, his early days in India, crazy times with the Goons and his writing for children. Terry Gilliam, Roy Hudd and Denis Norden were among the comedy elite who came to remember a beloved pioneer of the daft.

Sad news from down under that Bill Kerr has died at the ripe old age of 92. Very close to my heart as Tony Hancock’s slow-witted chum in so many cherished radio half hours, he also starred opposite Sid James on television in ‘Citizen James’ and Peter Sellers on screen in ‘The Wrong Arm of the Law’. Even during his Hancock days, he had proved himself an actor of intensity. His supporting roles in British war films like ‘The Night My Number Came Up’ and ‘The Dam Busters’ are proof enough, all the more endearing because these dips into drama were mercilessly sent-up in his radio comedy successes. Having returned to his homeland, he impressed in ‘Gallipoli’, ”The Year of Living Dangerously’ and ‘Let’s Get Skase’, but it’s his knack for comedy that will endure. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve listened to ‘The Wild Man of the Woods’ or ‘Sunday Afternoon at Home’ or ‘The Last Bus Home’, and I’m not about to stop now. Reassuringly, the final sounds his neighbours heard were of Bill Kerr laughing uproariously at ‘Seinfeld’ on the telly. Pretty much the perfect way to go. A long life, well lived. I would write more, but I’m only here for four minutes…

A fantastic evening saluting Sergeant Bilko at the National Film Theatre, a prelude to the long-awaited release of the complete series on DVD. Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Phil Silvers’s daughter, Cathy, waxed lyrical on the man and the series. Familiar classics and splendid rarities in the clip choice as well. The 20 disc Bilko Complete Collection from Mediumrare is available from the 22nd September.

A wonderful and exciting day at Pinewood Studios today. It’s been a while and I’ve missed the place, but it can still fill me with delight. The ghosts are getting restless. Watch this space…

Sad to hear that dear old, dotty Dora Bryan died today at the ripe old age of 91. Our paths crossed many times, notably during the recording of the DVD commentary for ‘Carry On Sergeant’ and several hilarious weeks on location for ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. A delightfully funny and beguiling talent, her vibrant prowess for musical theatre may be restricted to recordings but her film work – from the sublime ‘A Taste of Honey’ to the ridiculous ‘Mother Riley Meets the Vampire’ – will entertain for always.

I was the guest interviewer for the Max Miller Appreciation Society evening with actor Christopher Beeny. Chris, whose career stretches back to the late 1940s, first found fame as young Lennie Grove in the BBC soap ‘The Grove Family’. He was still working for the corporation during the very last of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ in 2010. Along the way, he has starred in such popular ITV successes as ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and ‘In Loving Memory’. It was an elephantine evening, packed with outrageous anecdotes and nostalgic delight.