Gosford Park has won the Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the year. This award was accepted by Robert Altman. The film also won for Best Costume Design.

You can get full details at the BAFTA website: www.bafta.org or at the BBC website which has been updated: www.bbc.co.uk. Just go to the “film” subsection to find it.

For Australian fans The Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAS) are going to be shown on the ABC Saturday night, March 2nd at 9.30pm, and for American fans they will be shown on the E! Entertainment channel on Saturday March 2 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. The show will be two hours.

According to reports there was a glimpse of Richard arriving with Joan, as well as a couple of close-up shots of him during the programme (He’s apparently sitting in the row behind Nicole Kidman.) Richard didn’t present any of the awards this time around.

It was raining as stars arrived and the red carpet not only got very wet, but whatever they had last cleaned it with hadn’t been properly removed! Soap suds started to emerge on its surface, ruining designer shoes and the hems of long designer dresses!!

Prompted to wonder who foots the bill for these things?

Is it true that Richard is advertising CSI – Crime Scene Investigation on British radio? According to Emma that’s the case. Apparently Richard claims “If you like Sopranos you will be lined up around the corner, CSI Crime Scene Investigation, Channel 5, Saturdays, 9pm.” There was more to it but Emma couldn’t quite catch it all. Has anyone else from out there in Britland heard this radio advertisement?

Maureen is asking for anyone who would like an Australian flyer for Gosford Park (showing at Greater Union Theatres from early March) to contact her off-list (as in mailing list)

The flyer is printed on glossy paper and is available at the ticket counter (for those Australian fans.) It is A4 size and folded in half, the front is “the back” with credits (Reg is 3rd in abc order), the back page talks about Golden Globe stuff and an ad for the CD (Reg not in CD cover picture.) The centre page shows two strip pictures – upstairs with Reg and downstairs without. Act fast as Maureen only has limited stocks.

Information taken from The Independent on Sunday.

There’s been a rise of incidences of the latest condition psychologists have been treating around the world – CWS, or Celebrity Worship Syndrome.

Here’s how to find out if you are a sufferer, but before you do the test you might want to take a quick look here first.

Do you:-
1. Enjoy watching, reading or listening to your favourite celebrity?
2. Think learning the life story of your favourite celebrity is a lot of fun?
3. Keep up with news about your favourite celebrity as an interesting pastime?
4. Love to talk with other fans of your idol?
5. Like watching or hearing about your idol when you’re in a large group?
6. Find it enjoyable just to be with followers of your idol?
7. Discuss your celebrity’s latest doings with your friends?
8. Feel compelled to learn the habits of your idol?
9. Keep pictures and/or souvenirs of your favourite celebrity in a special place?
10. Feel like dying when your idol dies?

Scoring.
Yes to one to three : you have mild CWS.
Yes to 4 to 7 : You’ve got serious CWS.
Yes to all : get a life you erotomanic.*

* An erotomanic is someone who believes that a star is in love with them.

By the way it’s important to note that a certain degree of celebrity worship is necessary for economic viability. Imagine the magazines that would go out of business, the films we wouldn’t bother to see, the CD’s we wouldn’t buy and the products we wouldn’t purchase if we were all suddenly “cured”. Plus the celebrities would suddenly experience a drop in their standard of living if we didn’t care whether Brad Pitt or Keith Chedwin played the romantic lead opposite Julia Roberts! At the end of the day it’s similarly a matter of supply and demand. (except in the case of Victoria Beckham!)

Thanks go to Denise for passing on this report to The REGiment.

And Pat informs me that there’s a Withnail And I soundtrack CD for auction at eBay. It says it’s for the US only, but if you’re outside the US and interested then let Pat know personally and she’ll work something out with you.

Title of item: Withnail and I CD – out of print
Seller: mehappyevil
Starts: Feb-15-02 12:01:01 PST
Ends: Feb-22-02 12:01:01 PST
Price: Currently $7.99
To bid on the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1515063402

Item Description:

Withnail and I Soundtrack: Original music composed by David Dundas and Rick Wentworth. It is Camden in 1969, and two unemployed actors, Withnail (Richard E Grant), and I (Paul McGann), are facing up to the harsh realities of an empty wine cellar and a harsh comedown following a speed binge. The CD was released in 1987 on DRG Records CD is in good working condition as well as the CD cover and tray.

Tracks: 01. A Whiter Shade Of Pale – King Curtis 02. The Wolf 03. All Along The Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Hendrix Experience 04. To The Crow 05. Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix Experience 06. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles 07. Marwood Walks 08. Monty Remembers 09. La Fite 10. Hang Out The Stars In Indiana – New Mayfair Dance Orchestra/Ray Noble/Al Bowlly 11. Crow Crag 12. Cheval Blanc 13. My Friend – Charlie Kunz 14. Withnail Theme Album Credits Hugh Fordin (Compilation)

Shipping is $4.00 for priority mail, accept money order or check (ten days to clear). Any questions please ask before the auction ends. Happy Bidding!

From the Radio Times website.

Channel: BBC1

Date: Sunday 24 February Time: 8:00pm to 10:00pm

Subtitled

Stephen Fry hosts a star-studded evening at The Odeon, Leicester Square. Presenters include Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Tim Roth, Halle Berry, Rhys Ifans, Renee Zellweger, Bjork, Saffron Burrows, Helena Bonham Carter, Ian McKellan and Jamie Bell.

And for those of you in other countries:

For the first time the BAFTAs will be shown on the US cable TV channel E! Entertainment Television screening a two hour international version on March 1. I don’t know the time yet. Other countries showing the awards include Australia, India, China, Denmark, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Last year Richard did present a BAFTA so don’t be surprised if he does so again this year.

Taken from Theatre News website.
15th February 2002

The Daily Mail newspaper has reported this morning that Sir Ian McKellen shocked cast and audience members of The Play What I Wrote last night when he drunkenly climbed onto the stage at the end of the show. In the off-the-wall tribute to comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, created and performed by comedy duo The Right Size (aka Sean Foley and Hamish McColl), one of the running jokes is that McKellen (who normally never appears) is too drunk to play his part in the spoof.

On this particular occasion, however, McKellen did appear – and the inebriation was just an act, rest assured – in order to present the pair with this year’s Olivier award for Best New Comedy. The presentation was filmed to be used as part of today’s lunchtime Oliviers ceremony at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as for the BBC2 TV broadcast on Saturday. A full list of winners for the 2002 Oliviers will be posted on Whatsonstage.com as soon as they are announced.