Due to the unfortunate experience that caused the entire REG Temple site to be accidentally wiped out by the webhost for the past couple of weeks or so we regret to announce that the News Section will be temporarily closed down while we repair and re-install it.

All of the previous news items have been saved, however, so the database is still intact.

Needless to say, we’ve sacked the web host!

For the sake of ease all the news will still be posted, though no-one (except me) will be able to actually see it until the “cover page” is removed. The reason for this is to allow me some time to get all of the internal links updated and repaired as I no longer have the luxury of the Grumpyfish Temple site to back up the main one.

Humble apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Monday 24th March, 2003

Richard E. Grant Narrates New Cineflix Series Chronicling Lives Of Hollywood Wannabe’s

90 Days in Hollywood, a weekly series about struggling actors seeking fame in Hollywood, premieres on Thursday, April 10, 2003 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Life Network. The series, produced by Cineflix in association with Life Network, follows the lives of nine actors from different countries and different backgrounds as they make their way through the daunting maze of Tinseltown.

British actor and film-star Richard E. Grant, whose intense performances have continued to shock and delight audiences since his 1987 breakthrough in Withnail and I, will narrate the series. Grant is also the author of With Nails – the Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant, a revealing account of the film business and life among its stars.

High on style and attitude, each half-hour episode of 90 Days in Hollywood interweaves the actors stories as they deal with pre-audition anxiety, the taut atmosphere of the auditions themselves and the tense wait for call-backs in the days or weeks to follow.

Actor-singer-songwriter Holiday Hopke’s strategy for success involves getting Madonna to hear her music. Gail Greaves works nights in a bar, forgoing sleep to work as a bikini extra on feature film shoots. Bronx-born Elisa Bocanegra has attitude and talent but a lack of traditional movie star looks. Royal Shakespeare Company actor Steven Elliot leaves his wife and young sons in London and gives himself six weeks to land a part in LA. Jade Carter has moved from small town Alberta to accomplish his dream. Csaba Lucas, a Hungarian Canadian who talks like Arnold Schwarzenegger, approaches industry players wherever he goes. Seventeen-year-old Edwin Hodge takes his mother and siblings with him when he moves from New York City to Tinseltown. Opinionated and glamorous Rowena King comes to LA after working in British television. Daz Crawford a handsome professional basketball player and former boxer fights to get a role other than “brute parts that get murdered in the first act.”

In each episode, major Hollywood players like casting director Eddie Foy offer their candid opinions on the aspiring actors’ charisma and talent.

90 Days in Hollywood executive producers are Andre⁄ Barro and Glen Salzman. The series is co-executive produced by Tom Parkhouse and Katherine Buck. Jim Brown is the series producer, writer and head director. Ann Harbron is the Production Executive at Life. 90 Days in Hollywood is a Canada-United Kingdom co-production. The series is produced by Cineflix in association with the Life Network in Canada and Living TV in the U.K., with the participation of The Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit administered by SODEC, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, and with the assistance of The Government of Ontario: the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.

Cineflix is a leading producer and distributor of popular non-fiction programming with offices in Montreal, Toronto and London, U.K. Other popular Cineflix series include Dogs with Jobs, Birth Stories and elove.

90 Days in Hollywood Premieres on Life Network April 10 at 10 p.m.

H4>Richmond Theatre – Sunday 23rd March, 2003

An Elizabethan Revue for the 21st Century. A star-studded Royal Charity Gala Concert, marking the 400th anniversary of the death of Elizabeth I and featured surprise guest stars.

The event was in aid of the Mayor’s Charities and Arcadia In The City and was attended by Their Royal HIghnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex – Richard E Grant, Hannah Gordon, Robert Hardy and Bonnie Langford.

Shortly before the performance, a ring was dropped from the Gate House window in Richmond Palace to a waiting horseman. He then galloped across Richmond Green, which was encircled by 20 boy scouts holding torches, to present the ring to the HRH The Earl of Wessex – an echo of events in 1603 when Queen Elizabeth I died.

In the early hours of 24 March 1603 – Queen Elizabeth I died in Richmond Palace. Soon after, a horseman carrying a ring, set out for Edinburgh to inform the then King, James VI of Scotland, that he was now King James I of England – so reuniting the thrones of England & Scotland; local legend has it that the ring was taken from the dead Queen’s hand and was all James VI needed to know that he was now King of England.

Perfect moment…Backstage after the Royal gala at Richmond Theatre, Prince Edward greeted actor Richard E. Grant, a Petersham resident, and one of many stars taking part. More than 500 people gathered on Richmond Green to witness a unique event to commemorate the occasion.

The evening’s entertainment culminated in a specially commissioned Royal Charity Gala at Richmond Theatre in the presence of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Below are some pics of REG backstage – as well as a short video message from him to the REGiment.

NOTE FROM SUE: Nikki shot the message and these pics with my new camera when we met Richard last Sunday for “A Moment In Time – A Royal Charity Gala Performance” at the Richmond Theatre. Jacki & Annie were also in attendance and we’ll be submitting a report of the event for the Temple soon.

SueW.

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March 2003

A magazine programme called “The Richest” was shown on British TV. In the show a female presenter providing a cheerful, cheeky voiceover; while a barrage of images – which only vaguely related to the info – was flashed before the viewer. C-list celebrities such as Paul Ross supplied additional face to camera comments.

Who decided who “made the list” isn’t explained. At one point the commentator referred to them as “boy babes”, though actors like Alan Rickman, Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Sir Ian obviously didn’t fit their selection criteria. All ;monetary values ;given in the program were the programmers estimates of their worth. ;

Here’s the complete list:

1. Hugh Grant
2. Ewen McGregor
3. Pierce Brosnan
4. Guy Ritchie
5. Ralph Finnes
6. Rupert Everett
7. Jude Law
8. Richard E Grant
9. Vinnie Jones
10. Gary Oldman

Richard wasn’t interviewed for the programme. The makers took a couple of comments he’d made at premieres and inserted them in. A bit of Withnail And I was used such as the part where ‘I’ states that Withnail’s family (who dislike him acting) must be delighted with his career so far.

To be fair most of the basic information given was correct – although researchers had him making Spice World for his kids. There was a view of Richard’s house in “Richmond, Surrey” which consisted of a stretch of the River Thames with some houses in the distance (at least this was better than Ewen McGregor where we were told he lived in 3 million pound house in St John’s Wood and were shown a green road sign with directional arrow pointing to St John’s Wood!) For Richard’s house in France we just had a street view (unless Richard has a second career as cafe owner), then an arch.

One bit of editing which was quite ludicrous ;was Hugh’s misdemeanour being recanted and footage of him at some premiere banging his forehead with hand as if he’d only just found out about it. The imagined dialogue: “I’ve been arrested. What for? You’ve got to be kidding!” The looks at the camera in shock!

It would be seriously doubtful if any of the celebrities were asked if they minded appearing in these Murdock specials?

March 2003

By Clodagh Hartley.

Telly comic Doon Mackichan has bared all – in a Lady Godiva stunt for Comic Relief.The 40-year-old Smack the Pony star wore just a long blonde wig as she rode across Clapham Common, South London.

Actor Richard E Grant got in on the action too – chasing after Doon and slapping her backside.

RIGHT: No pic of REG, but here’s a “naked” Doon.

Doon’s telly co-star Sally Philips said; “It has been a fantasy of Doon’s to horseback naked with Richard E Grant in hot pursuit!”

The clip will be seen on BBC’s Red Nose Day on March 14th.

* For Comic Relief fund-raising kit call 09065 500500 or go to www.rednoseday.com

There’s a ‘galaxy of stars’ list that includes Richard’s name for a donation on the day. Your name can be added to this list.