Another unforgettable West End experience with the penultimate performance of ‘Deathtrap’ at the Noel Coward theatre with the mercurial Simon Russell Beale as Sidney Bruhl.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ at the Theatre Royal Haymarket reunites Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles from the classic situation comedy ‘To the Manor Born’ and both were born to play this surprisingly saucy, robust and lively piece under the diligent eye of director Sir Peter Hall. Penny’s original malapropisms and Peter’s continued threats of “frenzy” are as impeccable as you would expect. The rest of the cast is uniformly excellent, although special mention should go to Tony Gardner who milks every laugh out of his pompous Faulkland. Eventually, there is even Eric Morecambe-like pleas and glances to the audience: a brilliant performance. Carlyss Peer as the cheeky maid Lucy is a delight, Keiron Self gives a panto-sized performance as Bob Acres while the demure Robyn Addison and Annabel Scholey bicker, console and giggle about love, lost and their silly boyfriends in 18th century Bath. The play runs until 26th February. Do not miss it.

The Yvonne Arnaud theatre, Guildford for another production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’; this time headlining the multi-talented Sarah-Jane Honeywell. She sings, she dances, she can handle a sword! Shane Lynch turned the ladies to jelly, the wonderful Royce Mills played Nurse Nellie with saucy delight and Nichola McAuliffe gave the Wicked Fairy a knowing theatricality that ranged from chav to Joyce Grenfell. The legs of Guildford School of Acting graduate Lucy Hope-Borne were an added attraction!

Off to the Apollo Piccadilly for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund preview screening of ‘The King’s Speech’. An Oscar-tipped performance from Colin Firth and superb performances from Geoffrey Rush, Sir Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham-Carter make this a classy, enthralling and enriching two-hours. And if there’s any justice Guy Pearce as King Edward will pick up a Best Supporting Actor award or two. Thanks to Johanna Crotty and the C.T.B.F. gang.

‘The Secret Life of Bob Monkhouse’ on BBC4 is one of the best television documentaries on television that you will ever see: bursting with love and affection for Bob himself and the shows and films he made and collected. Within the 90 minutes there were ultra-rare snippets of everyone from Sid James and Graeme Garden to Vincent Price and Reece Shearsmith. A masterpiece.

Shockingly the first pantomime of the season and the year is almost over: Wendy Craig vs. a particularly impressive Abi Titmuss in ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Basingstoke Anvil. ‘Balamory’s Andrew Agnew kept the fun going while Nick Wilton, clearly channeling Peter Butterworth, made for an hilarious Nurse Nellie.

It’s the final repeat in the current run of ‘The Goodies’ and they have been the ‘surprise’ ratings success of the season with an average figure of 600, 000. More are, hopefully, expected in 2011 and don’t forget the 54th series of ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’ kick starts on Radio 4 in the New Year.

A few T.V. comedy highlights for the Christmas period. The wonderful Two Ronnies and Eric and Ern theme nights, of course. ‘Come Fly with Me’ from Matt Lucas and David Walliams, a new batch of ‘Unforgettable…’ documentaries including Harry Secombe and Danny la Rue, and a new Christmas episode of ‘The Royale Family’. Typically, the only telly Robert will be watching on Christmas Day is the Queen and ‘Doctor Who’. Happy Christmas!

The start of the eight-strong BBC2 repeat series of ‘The Goodies’. Please do watch them all!

Jolly japes at the Savile on Brook Street with friend and writer James Hogg. Several fiendish plans are being hatched for 2011…and Melvyn Bragg was there.