Once again I should start by apologising for the length of time it has taken me to update this occasional Blog. But it gets tedious if I always start by saying 'Sorry' and making feeble excuses – so I won't.  Although I am. Anyway….

Since my last update I have been trotting around England being Count Fosco in The Woman in White.  The production, I am delighted to report, has been very well received everywhere, since we opened in Wolverhampton back in July.  The reviews have been very positive, which has surprised all as we had, to be honest, been worried that a play which is in total pretty much three hours long might prove too much for most people.  We hoped we were doing a good job but feared for the staying power of the audience!  But such is the strength of the original story by Wilkie Collins that the length of the play doesn't seem to bother people.  That is useful to know for the future.  I have been in plays that have been around two hours forty five minutes long in the past and people have complained that that was too long.  Clearly, if what the audience is watching is sufficiently gripping, then the time will go quickly. 

I guess too that the adaptation by Nicola Boyce and the actors can and should take some of the credit as the cast is very strong throughout – and it is a larger cast than one might normally see on tour these days; so the producer, Ian Dickens, should be commended for taking the risk of sending out such an expensive production when times are so tough financially.

It has been a great cast to work with and all of them have become good friends over our three months together.  Most of us shared a house when we were in Derby and had the best week I've had on tour for many a long year. We rented a big old mansion near Ashbourne and stayed up far too late and talked far too much.  But it was great.  As I write this, we have only three weeks to go before the tour ends; so if you are in Crewe this week, Malvern next week or Taunton the week after, come and see us, if you haven't done so already.

Otherwise, I must confess that I have still failed to deliver the final version of my book of short stories to Hirst Books, so the delayed production of it remains my fault and not the Publisher's. Sorry - all of you who paid up front.  I promise you that Iwill complete the final bit before my tour ends in three weeks time and deliver it to Tim Hirst.  Otherwise all is well at Baker Towers. No 1 daughter Lucy has started her second Year as a Primary Schoolteacher.  My second daughter Bindy whohas been in Rhodes since April as a quarter of an ABBA tribute band has returned, slimmer, browner and glad to be home – and is now – as is the norm in the entertainment business – looking for the next gig.  No 3 – Lally – is all graduated and ready forthe fray – but in common with all those other young hopeful graduates lookingfor the right job, while doing a temporary unpaid internship for an animal charity.  Rosie my  fourth daughter is still saving her pennies as fast as she can before auditioning for Drama School. 

We have a new dog – a Jack Russell puppy now five months oldwho is a complete NUTTER!  His name is Henry Herbert.  He is very funny and very naughty and has fitted very well into the existing menagerie.

My wife and I managed to grab a three day 'holiday' in Cornwall during a weekout from Woman in White and were lucky to do so during that wonderful weather at the beginning of October. We both share a love of Cornwall and dream of downsizing there whenthe girls finally flee the nest.  If ever!

Panto approaches fast. Although I have a day or two in audio studios coming up – not sure if I'm allowed to say what I'm doing so to be on the safe side I won't say what I'm doing now and will update in the fullness of time.

I still haven't found anywhere to live while I'm in Mansfield and really should be doing something about that instead of writing this probably – but I have never been a very good time manager and felt a sudden stab of guilt for Rob Cope whose continuing generosity of spirit keeps this web site running. 

The most exciting thing that has happened to me this year arose because of very sad circumstances.  My dear friend,  the much loved Nick Courtney died this year, as I mentioned in my last blog.  As a result the Presidency of the Doctor Who Appreciation which he so rightly and gloriously held after the first President Jon Pertwee was taken from us, became vacant.  I was astonished and humbled when I was contacted by DWAS to ask if I might consider accepting the Hon. Presidency.  Anyone who has seen me at a Convention knows that I am not normally at a loss for words; but on this occasion both given the status (in my eyes) of my predecessors and the wealth of other Doctor Who luniaries available, it did not occur to me that I might be in the frame for this great honour.  I am very, very touched that the membership who voted consider me a suitable person to bear the grat seal - and I do most sincerely hope that I will be in charge of it for some considerable time.  But I must be circumspect here - I did - remember - say I wanted to beat Tom Baker's seven years as the Doctor when I got that job.  So I shall just be honoured and humble and shut up now!

We have also just seen another fabulous new season of the programme reach a very complex and stunning conclusion.  I loved it and cannot understand those few fans who say they don't.  I think Matt Smith just gets better and better and for me just IS the Doctor.  No question.  I hope he stays on for some time.  He and Steven Moffat are a winning combination - long may it continue. And bring on the labyrinthine plots, I say!

As for next year for me – it is at the moment an open and empty diary after panto.  I was in the running for a rather nice tour but someone else recently pipped me to the post for that – so that's another actor's name to add to me grudge list!  Watch this space basically.  I shall notify Rob as soon as I know what is afoot.