Filming has ended on hit US sitcom Frasier after 11 years, with the end of the show marked by champagne toasts and embraces between cast and crew on set.

The final hour-long episode, to be broadcast in the US on 13 May, was filmed in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Star Kelsey Grammer hugged each member of cast in turn as the actors took their final bow before the audience.

The show won a record 31 Emmy Awards since beginning as a spin-off of the comedy Cheers in 1993.

The Paramount studio stage that had been used during the show’s life was filled with an audience of several hundred, including family and friends of the cast.

A dinner was served to the audience, with star Peri Gilpin – who plays Roz – handing out pizza to guests.

Guest stars on the final episode included Laura Linney, Anthony LaPaglia, Robbie Coltrane, Richard E Grant, Jason Biggs and Jennifer Beals.

“I’m never working this show again,” Grammer joked at one point after receiving the wrong direction from a member of the crew.

The last episode of the show includes a scene where the Seattle psychiatrist recites a play by Alfred Lord Tennyson with the line “That which we are, we are”.

The finale also remembered one of the series’ creators, David Angell, who died in one of the planes hijacked during the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001.

The show won the title of best comedy show at the Emmy Awards – the US TV industry’s main honours – every year from 1994-8.

Hope you like my Christmas Card to you all! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Reg fans

:0)

Best wishes,
stargazer:0)

Mayfair – 20th March, 2004

The fact that nearly everyone wore black to the RAPt (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust) fundraising dinner at Tamarind did nothing to dampen the evening’s high spirits. While Richard E. Grant chatted away to Saffron Aldridge, Trinny Woodall looked almost as radiant as her husband, proud new father Johnny Elichaoff. The raffle prizes were original: Hollywood memorabilia, silver Bulgari goblets and the chance to be an extra in the new Bridget Jones flick (the only prize Toby Young bid for). But the raciest item had to be Alison Jackson’s photograph of ‘the Queen’ watching a stallion covering a mare. It was auctioned off to Zoe Appleyard’s fiancé, Escada heir Sven Ley, amid lout mutterings of ‘But where will they hang it?’ After dinner, a jolly core crowd moved onto Annabel’s, dancing on the tiny starlit floor until dawn- high excitement for a school night.

REG reads the Afternoon Play on BBC4 Radio today. The 45 minute play will be available at the link below for seven days after broadcast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/afternoonplay.shtml

Details of the play are:

Harry in the Underworld

By Michael Butt

Harry’s a novelist, who says that what he does is “write on the tree of life”. Unfortunately, he’s not very successful and knows nothing about real life. Then real life comes knocking on his door in the shape of two hardened criminals.

With Richard E Grant, John Rowe, Lesley Sharp, Andy Linden, Danny Webb and Philip Fox.

Director Peter Kavanagh.

Thanks to Sue W for the “heads up” on this one.

Richard and Joan were amongst the “audience” for teenager Keaton Henson’s first art exhibition in Richmond a couple of Sundays back.

Fifteen-year-old Keaton is the son of actor Nicky Henson and ex Royal Ballet principal Marguerite Porter.

Other familiar faces at the Richmond Salon in Kew Road were “Casualty” favourite Julia Watson and James Bond’s Miss Moneypenny actress Samantha Bond.

Also present to view Keaton’s 34 paintings were singer Anita Harris, musical actress Elizabeth Bennett and television’s former Dr Finlay actor David Rintoul.

Both Richard and Joan are family friends.

Thirty one of the canvasses were sold during the evening.

Thanks to Sue W for the news.