Robert was interviewed for a new Radio 1 documentary, Carry On Filming.  Talking about the ‘Golden Age’ of post-war British film, including Carry On, Hammer, the Doctor comedies, the Norman Widsom romps and the Confessions series, the documentary will compare the classic days with today’s British film industry.

Robert will be doing several local radio interviews to promote the new BBC cd of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson’s Steptoe and Son: The Very Best Episodes volume 1.  The cd, containing four original radio episodes of Robert’s favourite situation comedy, is released on Monday 6 February.  Robert kicks off his plugging session with a live chat on Luke Deal’s afternoon BBC Suffolk show on that same day.

Robert has recently been signed up to write an affectionate tribute book to his ultimate comic heroes, The Goodies.  Endorsed by Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, the book is set to be a lavish history of the team from Cambridge University to the Christmas 2005 BBC2 ratings winner, The Return of the Goodies.  It is due for publication in October.

Sad news to hear of the death of Henry McGee.  Nick named ‘SS’ or ‘Super Stooge’ by Benny Hill, Henry’s impeccable straight man performances on The Benny Hill Show over twenty years made him an international comic hero.  Closer to home he will always be beloved as the pedantic Mr Pugh in the Charlie Drake situation comedy The Worker and for his Sugar Puffs adverts with the Honey Monster.  Film appearances ranged from The Italian Job to Carry On Emmannuelle and, having met him several times over the years, Robert remembers a charming, totally unassuming actor.  Rest in Peace.

Robert enjoyed his Dr Who signing session at Tenth Planet…even signing a vintage copy of The Carry On Companion!  As usual when ever Robert and Doug Bradley get together the actual signing took second place to a heated discussion about 1930s horror films!  Robert extends his grateful thanks to Derek Hambly and the gang for a fun afternoon.  The play, Pier Pressure, received a double page spread in the February edition of Doctor Who Magazine which included an extenstive interview with Robert about the writing of the play and his passion for Brighton.

A Happy New Year!  Rick Blackman’s excellent preview of Robert’s Dr Who adventure, Pier Pressure, has been added to the Dr Who page.  The double CD is released on 20 January and Robert will be joining guest baddie, Doug Bradley, at a signing session at Tenth Planet, Barking on Saturday 28 January.  Further information and up-dates can be found at http://www.tenthplanet.co.uk/.

Robert enjoyed his BBC radio-athon as usual, happily chatting to stations across the country from the several self-contained studios within BBC Broadcasting House.  Briefly chatting to fellow interviewee Lance Ellington, Robert had a chance to congratulate him on his brilliant performance as his father, Ray, in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.  Lance’s album of standards, Lessons in Love, is available now on the Vocalion label and is well worth checking out.

Well panto season is almost upon us and, as usual, Robert is planning a bit of a panto crawl this year.  He won’t make all of these but the following are the pick of the local crop: Richard O’Brien in Snow White at Milton Keynes, Richard Wilson and John Barrowman in Cinderella at Wimbledon, Colin Baker (in a dress!) in Snow White at Truro, Sylvester McCoy in Dick Whittington at the London Zoo, Lynda Baron and Geoffrey Davies in Cinderella at Reading, the legend that is Keith Harris in Goldilocks at Fareham and Christopher Beeny in Beauty and the Beast at Windsor.  The tickets are all ready booked for that last one!

On Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December Robert will be decamped deep in Broadcasting House recording interviews and broadcasting live.  It’s part of his regular committment to advertise the latest comedy releases from the BBC.  This time he’ll be chatting about such classics as Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Blackadder, Little Britain and the legacy of Ronnie Barker.  So tune in to your local BBC stations, Robert may be coming in yer eyes over the next week!

Robert will be signing books and joining Carry On Abroad and Bless This House movie babes Sally Geeson and Carol Hawkins at the NEC in Birmingham for Memorabilia on 26 and 27 November.  Other guests close to Robert’s heart include the delectable Jenny Hanley, Mr Cool Peter Wyngarde, Pier Pressure guest star Doug Bradley, the stunning Caroline Munro, the dream maker Ray Harryhausen, Huggy Bear himself Antonio Fargas, American Werewolf David Naughton and Sid Haig, Lon Chaney Jnr’s bizarre ward in Spider Baby.  Further details at http://www.memorabilia.co.uk/.