Sid and Rich: the sitcom that never was

According to a new biography, when Sid James died in April 1976 he had been just about to finalise plans to record a sitcom pilot for Thames Television in which he had been slated to appear with ex-Beatle Ringo Starr. It's a sad tale of what might have been - and, author David Hamm suggests, so very nearly was.

Kickstarter page for Peter Skellern's Complete Decca Recordings needs pledges before September 19th

[update 23/4/19: this Kickstarter project did not meet its target but a second attempt was successful - to celebrate which I have written a song-by-song account of Peter Skellern's third album, Holding My Own, readable here. This draws on material in an unfinished piece about the recordings of Peter Skellern in general, findable here, but the relevant sections have been revised and expanded. Now read on ...]

Jeffrey Holland as Stan Laurel now at the Edinburgh Fringe

For readers who might be visiting the Edinburgh Fringe Jeffrey Holland is currently appearing in Gail Louw's play ... And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel at the Pleasance Courtyard at 11.30am. Here are my notes about the show from its 2016 London run: