A matinee performance of ‘Helen’ at the Globe theatre, a new version of the Euripides piece adapted by Frank McGuinness. Robert’s nerdtastic cup did over-flow thanks to Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, romping over the stage as Menelaus and a fun chat with him after the performance.

Off to Walton-on-Thames for Vera Day’s annual birthday celebration and dinner. This year was slightly different in that Robert and close friends Henry Holland and Alan Coles had planned a lengthy filmed interview with the actress. Robert interviewed Vera in a relaxed and hilarious chat that covered her entire career including ‘The Saint’, cabaret, Boris Karloff, Sid James, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Laurence Olivier, Carol Reed, Marilyn Monroe and that notorious Woman Eater. Good times!

Robert will be attending Don Fearnley’s latest Hammer Day at the Cine Lumiere in South Kensington tomorrow. A salute to the actor John Carson, an on-stage interview will be accompanied by screenings of his two finest performances for Hammer Films in The Plague of the Zombies and Taste the Blood of Dracula.

Robert attends the funeral of Vince Powell at the Guilford Crematorium. Representing the casts of two of Vince’s biggest situation comedy hits was Jack Smethurst and Nina Baden-Semper from Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language stars Francoise Pascal, George Camiller, Kevork Malikyan, Jacki Harding and Pik Sen Lim. A joyful wake was held at the Running Mare in Cobham.

Beginning at 3.30pm on Radio 4 that loveable Leslie Phillips begins reading The Adventures of Mr Thake, hilarious snippets of inspired, colonial comedy tomfoolery from the pen of J.B. Morton. Leslie returns with more tales of silly-ass Britishness abroad at the same time on Wednesday and Thursday. Highly recommended.

Robert is saddened to received news from mutual friend Francoise Pascal that scriptwriter Vince Powell died that morning at the Royal Surrey Hospital, Guildford. His situation comedy credits are legion, including such timeless favourites as Bless This House, Love Thy Neighbour, Nearest and Dearest, Mind Your Language, Two in Clover, For the Love of Ada, The Bottle Boys and George and the Dragon. In a long and prolific career Vince’s writing ranged from Adam Adamant to Cilla Black’s Blind Date. He also proudly claimed the credit for the rushed screenplay of Carry On Emmannuelle. Vince’s autobiography, From Rays to Gags, was published to great acclaim last year.

Ken Burns and Licence to Shoot Entertainment present their first Carry On masterclass at Pinewood Studios. Carry On Shirley Eaton saluted the series’ first leading lady and saw the actress in conversation with Robert. The relaxed and enjoyable chat ranged from her three early appearances in the celebrated Carry On series to James Bond and via Hammer comedies, Bob Hope, Agatha Christie, art, Mickey Spillane and family life. The two-hour plus conversation was warmly appreciated by the audience which included Director of Photography Alan Hume and film director John Hough.

The alternative Independence Day celebration that is the Leslie Phillips signing at the Vintage Magazine Shop, Soho, goes brilliantly well with the packed-out two-hour session extended to nearly three hours to cope with the demand. Robert will be hosting another celebrity signing with Denis at the Vintage Magazine shop next month.

A final reminder that Robert will be joining Leslie Phillips at the Vintage Magazine Shop, Brewer Street, Soho autograph signing session from mid-day to 2pm on Saturday 4th July. Leslie will have a wide range of photographs for sale and autographs cost £15 each. Robert will also be selling books and will be happy to sign his Doctor Who Big Finish plays ‘Medicinal Purposes’ and ‘Assassin in the Limelight’ which star Leslie as the notorious Doctor Knox.

Back from New York City and Robert is, almost immediately, back at his desk working on his next biography. More news as and when. In the meantime, please remember that Robert and the Vintage Magazine Shop in London’s Soho are hosting a signing with Leslie Phillips from mid-day until 2pm on Saturday 4th July. Robert will hopefully be attending the plaque tribute to Wendy Richard on Sunday 5th July and the Bad Wolf Doctor Who convention at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham on Saturday 11th July. He will be interviewing Shirley Eaton at Pinewood Studios on Sunday 12th July.