A new year bristling with fun ideas. As for the seasonal television, that was as much fun as expected. From a glorious ‘Doctor Who’ on Christmas Day to the return of ‘Sherlock’ on New Year’s Day, the BBC prove themselves still expert at new drama. Mind you, ‘Downtown Abbey’ on Christmas Day over on ITV finally sucked Robert into the heightened history of Julian Fellowes, while the new ‘Poirot’ film, ‘The Clocks’, showcased David Suchet’s definitive performance once more. It also saw Anna Massey’s last screen work. A fitting and powerful farewell. Great to have the old guard Bruce Forsyth doing his thing on telly and Bernard Cribbins reading some poignant stories on radio. Mind you, it still didn’t feel like Christmas until Eric ‘n’ Ern could be enjoyed with the nation on Christmas Eve. Lovely and fitting that the boys are now as much a part of Christmas as turkey and Tiny Tim. The sad news also came through that cartoonist, wit and gentleman, Ronald Searle, had died on 30th December at the ripe old age of 91. He was best known for his barbed digs at education in both Molesworth and the girls of St. Trinian’s. One of the great Englishmen.

A great pre-Christmas lunch with Penny Spencer. Following which, loaded down with gifts, Robert journeyed home for Christmas. Normal service will be resumed next year!

Celebrated comedy scriptwriter Ronald Wolfe dies at the age of 89. With his writing partner, Ronald Chesney, he created some of British television’s best-loved shows including ‘The Rag Trade’, ‘Meet the Wife’ and ‘On the Buses’. He also gave Marty Feldman his first professional writing job on the radio and television ‘Educating Archie’. Ronnie and his wife Rose were extremely helpful to Robert while he researched his Marty Feldman book. Ronnie telling Robert, without irony, the best bus to get from his London home to the West End remains a treasured memory.

Robert’s annual Christmas drinks with Terry Jones. Bill Oddie joined in the fun. You really should have been there!

It was off to Horsham for the day for a double bill of theatrical treats at the Capitol theatre. First up was Robert’s good pal, Sarah Jane Honeywell, giving her Good Fairy in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. Connor Byrne brilliantly chewed up the scenery as Fleshcreep while Amanda Sim gave Jack great leg. A wonderful production. A little later it was back to the venue’s more intimate space for the ‘Steptoe and Son Christmas Special’. An excellent combination of both the 1973 and 1974 seasonal classics penned by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the set dripped with seedy grandeur while the acting was impeccable. Mike Simmonds was a note-perfect Harold while the youthful Jack Lane got the old man mannerisms of Albert spot-on. A rollicking production from the Engine Shed Theatre Company.

The most exciting fun of the month and, quite possibly, the year was the jaunt along to the National Film Theatre for ‘Missing Believed Wiped’. There were so many treasures unveiled for this year’s event, including rare Pete ‘n’ Dud material, David Bowie performing ‘The Jean Genie’ on ‘Top of the Pops’, footage of the Frank Mumford Puppets and The Beverley Sisters singing a hit from ‘Hair’! However, the much anticipated and very secret highlight was the recovery of two complete episodes of ‘Doctor Who’, unseen for over forty years. A brief clip of the William Hartnell episode ‘Airlock’ from the previously completely missing four part story ‘Galaxy Four’, was followed by a screening of ‘The Underwater Menace’ part two starring Patrick Troughton. Stunningly good.

The birthday treat for Robert’s nephew Connor and it is off to the National History Museum. You can’t beat dinosaurs, particularly when they move about. The exhibit also pays tribute to cinema dinos from ‘The Lost World’ to ‘The Land Before Time’. Great fun.

A delightful Marty Feldman lunch with Robert’s publisher at Titan Books, Barry Took’s widow, Lyn Took, and Marty’s agent Jill Foster. Plans are afoot for an extended paperback edition of the book to mark the 30th anniversary of Marty’s death for Christmas 2012. The day was perfectly rounded off with dinner, drinks and delirious laughter with Francoise Pascal.

The silly season is here and Robert will attempt to watch or listen to one comedy Christmas special a day up to and including Christmas eve. The Comedy Advent, complete with an additional classic comedy photo or film clip, will be detailed daily over on Robert’s Twitter account. He is @RobertWRossEsq

The Royal Film Performance at the Odeon, Leicester Square in aid of The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. This year’s film was ‘Hugo in 3D’ and, as the director said on the night, “it *is* a family film despite having the name of Martin Scorsese on it!” Many of the stars were in attendance including Sir Ben Kingsley, Richard Griffiths, Chloe Grace Moretz and the title star Asa Butterfield. Sir Christopher Lee brought a chilling calm to his supporting role as the bookseller. The film as a whole is a masterly love letter to silent cinema.