So sad to hear today of the deaths of Ian Cuthbertson and Keith Floyd. I know the latter wasn`t in Doctor Who but he was, like Crazy Tom, one of those few people to whom the term “Great British Eccentric” could accurately be applied.  I remember his Floyd On… programmes clearly and he blazed the trail for all the “celebrity chefs” who followed him. But he was the first one to make cooking into entertainment and the folks loved him for it. Without him there would be no Two Fat Ladies or Ready Steady Cook, so Gawd Bless Ya Floyd and thanks for all the fun you gave us!

I met him once in Tesco in Didcot [he was living nearby then]. I was working in Wines and Spirits at the time and made sure I steered clear of him in case he asked me something! As I recall he bought The Lion King on DVD and it was comical in extremis as the personell manager insisted on getting the disc for him herself! Oh, the power of celebrity!

Cuthbertson was of course, wonderful as Garron in Ribos Operation, but many may remember him from Children of the Stones or Budgie and it`s sequel Charles Endell Esq. And the very end of Survivors. A great actor and a sad loss.

And speaking of actors, our cracking Nabil Shaban event is only a week on Sunday - if you haven`t already, get those tickets NOW!