Today marks the 5th birthday of the REG Temple News. The very first news story of the day:

December 14th

Australians, look out for Karaoke, being screened on the ABC again. Mondays at 10.50pm.

Little did Dominique know that when she started the site it would soon become the official website for Richard and grow to become such a huge wealth of REG-related news, pictures, archived interviews, articles and multimedia.

My own involvement in the site, for the main part anyway, occurred some three years back when Dominique no longer could spare the time working on it. Back then I was mainly in the background, setting up the program that would “power” the news more efficiently.

At first it was planned that some of the regular contributors to the site would have direct access to the news, enabling them to post their own articles. It quickly became apparent to us that doing that was largely unworkable due to the program’ constraints and so I took on the “role” as editor-in-chief.

From there I slowly migrated to other parts of the website that needed attention and began the almost overwhelming task of restructuring the entire site from the ground up as well as adding new sections and content.

There’s still a whole heap load of stuff to come – assorted bits and pieces that I’ve had backlogged for quite a while now (some up to three years!). The great news is that I’m starting to see some light at the end of the backlogged tunnel as I steadily work my way through the piles of stuff that people have sent me over the years.

I cannot stress enough the importance of all the people who have contributed to the site over the years. There have been scores – possibly even hundreds – of people who have sent in stuff for us to use on the site. Most notable have been Nicki, Sue W, Jolie, Pat, Denise, Joan, Joann, Linda and Stargazer, but there have been countless, countless others….. Plus, of course, REG himself!

I know that I’ve forgotten many of you out there and ask that you drop me a line and say “Hey, what about me? I’ve contributed too”, so that I can add you to the roll-call of absolute Temple contributor legends! In fact it would be really nice to get a list together so that I can make a special page up just for you guys.

Once again, on behalf of Dominique, REG and myself, thanks for all the years of service and patronage.

Cameron Miller.

In October Sue W gave me a “eds up” about an article/interview that REG did for Macworld UK’s Online subscription site. Not being a subscriber myself (I know, me bad) I asked REG if the guys at Macworld had given him a free subscription along with the very sexy Titanium G4 PowerBook he got for hosting the UK Macworld Awards 2002. REG got in touch with David Fanning from Macworld UK and David contacted me to say that we could reproduce the interview on the Temple site, but could we hold off on it for a month or two so that the Macworld subscribers could have the exclusive….erm….exclusively!

Obviously we at the Temple said “No problem” as we’re all Macintosh aficionados around here and therefore hold Macworld Magazine in very high regard.

So here it is! Courtesy of David Fanning and Macworld UK we have for you REG’s thoughts on all things Mac,s which you can read by clicking here.

By the way if anyone is interested in checking out Macworld UK’s website you can do so by clicking here.

Maybe you could even splash out and buy a new Mac and then see tomorrows’ Windows version machine today! :-)

Another “African Farm” article today from both Joann, who sourced the article and scanned some pages, and Jolie, who provided a written transcript. It’s more a general story about the film and how it came to be, rather than an article on Richard himself, but it does include a few lines from REG and how his willingness to be involved in the film basically assured the money men to fork out enough Rands to finance the film. It’s nice to know that good stories can still be made if the right people are involved! Click here to read about the story of an African film.

Sarah was at the Lord Of The Rings – Return Of The King premiere last night and reports that REG was there with the family. Apparently he looked absolutely gorgeous but, unfortunately, he was rather overshadowed by the fact that Peter Jackson was signing at the time so he didn’t attract as much attention as he normally would’ve. He just looked good and walked straight in to the cinema without stopping for photos/interviews/autographs.

If anyone manages to track down some pictures I’ll put them up on the site. Stay tuned as always.

Thanks guys.

Sue W has just got her “Lulu – Greatest Hits” DVD and has wonderfully reproduced some screen shots from Richard’s performance in Lulu’s music video “Hurt Me So Bad” – just for those of you out there (me included) who have not seen anything of the video whatsoever. You can check out the pictures by clicking on the “New images” link on the Temple Gallery.

Thanks Sue.

The South Manchester Reporter – Thursday 11th December, 2003

By Kate Stirrup

A VERY ‘animated’ Doctor Who.

Chorlton’s world-beating animation studio, Cosgrove Hall, has brought to life yet another British institution – the intergalactic hero Doctor Who.

The new series Doctor Who and the Scream of the Shalka is being broadcast on the internet, in weekly instalments.

The ninth incarnation of the Doctor been hailed by fans as a worthy addition to the cult television series and made it onto the front of the prestigious industry bible Design Week – a first for Cosgrove Hall, based on Albany Road in Chorlton.

British actor Richard E. Grant has lent his voice to the title role of the Doctor, following in the footsteps of Tom Baker, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy.

Cosgrove Hall’s Steve Maher, who is producing the series said: “Doctor Who is a huge phenomenon and the idea of bringing an animated version to life was a big responsibility. There are literally thousands of fans out there waiting to see if we get it right. Thankfully the first episodes have gone down a storm. It’s been great working on such a legendary character and breathing new life into him.”

Steve added: “The whole idea of ‘webisodes’ is a relatively new way of our animation being shown. And the thought that people all over the planet can log in and watch when they like, and as many times as they like is amazing.”

Richard E. Grant said: “I think I must be the only actor who’s never seen Doctor Who, or read it. I’m completely a virgin to it so I don’t know whether that’s a disadvantage or an advantage – that will be for other people to decide. It’s struck me that it’s Sherlock Holmes in outer space. That’s what it seems to be like. I don’t know whether that’s accurate or inaccurate, but you just follow the script.”

And on his new alter-ego’s time travelling powers he added: “I think a tendency that almost inevitably you have is to think, Who would you have as your ideal dinner guests?‚ or Who would you be if you went back to Egyptian times?”

“You’d be a Pharaoh, you wouldn’t be some poor slave hauling rock across the desert. I think the standard of living and the way that we live now, certainly in the West, is so sophisticated compared to anything that’s gone before that I would definitely like to live to at least 120 and see what the future’s like.”

The new 85-minute series was produced to coincide with the Doctor’s 40th Anniversary celebrations with each new episode available for download on Thursday nights.”

Kate Stirrup, South Manchester Reporter.