Happy New Year all.

Not an awful lot has been going on this year although I did spend a very pleasant few days in January recording an episode of Doctors forthe BBC. It is called 'Every Heart that Beats' and is due to be aired sometimein April I gather.  It's bound to be while I am away in Australia– more of that later. I am quite proud of this one as it was a really nice part with a bit more depth and development than some of the parts I have played on television lately. I played a QC called Augustus Bloom who undergoes something of a 'Road to Damascus'change of heart that really affects his life in many ways.

Great director - James Larkin, who as an actor himself, was completely in tune with what actors need from a director when the pace is asfast as it is of necessity recording Doctors. They really do shoot at a very crisp rate – which isn't too bad in this case as the team are really on top of it and as long as you can cram the words in at a fast rate then it all goes very smoothly.

I recorded some audios for Big Finish in January too, which was (as always) a great experience.  I always look forward to my visits to the Big Finish studios mainly because ofthe people involved – David Richardson the producer and Toby the studio owner and genius with the dials, computers and microphones (as well as being the best caterer in the known Universe) and Nick, Ken and all the directors.  Big Finish consistently turn out audio dramas that even eclipse the mighty Beeb's output. I wish that we actors could take the credit but it is the extra hours and hours – days even – that are devoted to the post-production sound build that make the difference. 

Otherwise all my activities have been home and family related pending my trip to Australia in a couple of weeks. Bill Geradts who took me over to New Zealand a few years ago has invited me to do a few events in Australia and New Zealand in March/April so I am flying off to Melbourne to start a whistle stop tour that takes in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Auckland and New Zealand before I return just over two weeks later.  I have enjoyed both my trips to those two wonderful countries before so have no doubt that I will be made most welcome and have a great time.  I was to meet up with Sylvester there but I gather that his filming in New Zealand has been delayed, so I shall be doing the rounds with only John Leeson as a companion.  I say 'only' – but John is a very witty and sophisticated person so I suspect it will be a fascinating couple of weeks.  He is also a wine connoisseur which in the Antipodes will come in very useful.

The sad note of the year so far has come with the death of dear, lovely Nick Courtney.  He really was 'the guvnor' as far as Dr Who was concerned and there was only one of him.  Doctors? Ten a penny!  Companions?  Twenty a penny!  Brigadeers?  Just the one.

Not only that but he was in every sense of the word – a gentleman.  I never heard him say anything hurtful to anyone, nor did I hear him do anything other than see the other fellow's point of view.  Things that would make me furious and vocal would only provoke the merest of sighs and resignation from Nick. Even when he said 'No' he did so in the most charming way so that theperson concerned did not feel rejected but honoured that his Brigship hadshared a conversation with him.

I went to his funeral last week which was made most affecting by the fact that the officiating priest Bert Baker was a personal friend of Nick and Karen – indeed he had married them.  So unlike what can happen on this occasion she was able to speak from experience of the splendid fellow that Nick was. I sat with Sylvester, Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines and we were all greatly moved. 

It was a substantial turn out, many of those attending from the world of Doctor Who, which was a tribute to the great man that Nick was.  I remembered that whenever I met him he never failed to ask after my daughters whom he enquired of by name. He was an impressive man with great memory for people and a great interest in them.  I gather there will be a memorial to him later in the year and have no doubt that the attendance at that will be huge and we will hear countless stories of his charm, humour and thoroughdecency.

I will miss him hugely and can only imagine how Karen, his wife, will be feeling.  My heart goes out to her.

I have this very day decided to Tweet.  I am now on Twitter and hope that I can somehow manage to regularly let anyone who might be interested know the trivial minutiae of my life.  You will perhaps then realise how little I actually do that is of interest.  Hopefully that will change soon!

I have also agreed to do pantomime in Mansfield this year. Jack and the Beanstalk, reprising my role as Fleshcreep for UK Productions.  This time Nick Wilton (who is an old friend) will be dame-ing which I am looking forward to. He is smashing chap and very good actor. It should be fun.