The Omnibus on Robert Altman is to be shown next weekend to coincide with the general release of Gosford Park. It will be shown on BBC2 at 8.00 pm (videocode 9395). There’s no actual guarantee that Richard will appear on the program (as there are no details of interviewees involved), but there is a chance he may seeing as he’s appeared in one or two of Altman’s films (and the fact that REG is quite well known there in Britain.)

It is followed by “I love Morecambe and Wise” for some unknown reason, and then the Robert Altman film – Cookie’s Fortune (1999) starring Glen Close.

Thanks to Denise for the information.

Thought i’d also show a cool picture with REG in it that someone sent me the other week. I just like it basically because it’s such a long picture. You can just click the picture below to see a bigger version of it.

NOTE: If you can’t quite make out REG then you can see a close up pic of him here.

Also I’ve posted a pic here that REG sent Pat the other day for her contribution to the Waterford Trust. Seems like maybe REG has a new digital camera perhaps? :-)

Kirsten said it, everyone thought she was mistaken, but in the end it was true. REG makes a “phantom appearance” on the B&W version of the Gosford Park poster – at least in the UK anyway. Why?? Who knows? Possibly it’s just because Richard is so popular over there and the press people wanted to capitalize on it? Or maybe just because Richard is so damn great? Maybe even both? Anyway you can now compare the two versions yourself. The colour one is here and the B&W version of it is here.

The Independent – 25th January, 2002

Taken from interview with Kelly Macdonald, written by Fiona Morrow.

NOTE: Kelly Macdonald is a 25-year-old actress who has the role of Mary in Gosford Park. Previously she has appeared in Trainspotting and Stella Does Tricks.

From near end of interview:

One of the observations that Altman makes great play of is the self-imposed hierarchy of the downstairs community, a fact made plain by the seating arrangements at meal times, when the maid of the most important visiting aristocrat gains the top spot at the table.

Macdonald hugs her knees, remembering that scene:

“That was one of my favourite days on the film,” she explains. “Because Bob likes to get things done – he doesn’t like to linger – it meant that the table had to be lit from everywhere, so that the camera could just move about. And so we all were sitting here for ages whilst the crew busied about us, and it was really good fun – just like being back at school again, just chatting.”

“Richard E Grant was brilliant,” she continues. “He’s really nosey and he asks questions all the time, really forthright. He went round the table asking everybody what their nicknames were at school – questions that people were a bit taken back by – and managed to get everyone to join in.”

I asked whose nickname was the best·. Producing a cheeky grin she whispers conspiratorially: “Derek Jacobi. His was Stinky.”

Denise has sent me a snippet from a newspaper interview mentioning REG:

Taken from interview with Kelly Macdonald, written by Fiona Morrow, printed in Friday Review The Independent on 25th January 2002.

Kelly Macdonald is a 25-year-old actress who has the role of Mary in Gosford Park. Previously she has appeared in Trainspotting and Stella Does Tricks.

From near end of interview:

One of the observations that Altman makes great play of is the self-imposed hierarchy of the downstairs community, a fact made plain by the seating arrangements at meal times, when the maid of the most important visiting aristocrat gains the top spot at the table.

Macdonald hugs her knees, remembering that scene: That was one of my favourite days on the film, she explains. Because Bob likes to get things done he doesn’t like to linger it meant that the table had to be lit from everywhere, so that the camera could just move about. And so we all were sitting here for ages whilst the crew busied about us, and it was really good fun just like being back at school again, just chatting.

Richard E Grant was brilliant, she continues. He’s really nosey and he asks questions all the time, really forthright. He went round the table asking everybody what their nicknames were at school questions that people were a bit taken back by and managed to get everyone to join in.

I asked whose nickname was the best?. Producing a cheeky grin she whispers conspiratorially: Derek Jacobi. His was Stinky.

Pat has scanned a picture of REG from the Gosford Park soundtrack CD. You can see that here. Pat said that she also thought that there was a good chance that Richard’s back appears in the poster of Gosford Park, seen here, as the other male house servents don’t quite have the right “profile”. Anyone agree that this could be a possibility? Maybe it’s one to put to REG next time around?

Richard E Grant will announce the nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards on January 28.

The award winners’ ceremony takes place on February 24 and will be shown live on BBC1.

Due to the interest in Waterford lately I thought it would be an idea to repeat the address to which people can send donations.

All cheques should be made payable to The Waterford Bursary Fund and addressed to:

Waterford School Trust
13 College Lane,
LONDON NW5 1BJ

As all money is converted into Rands it is probable preferable to send cheques in your local currency – after all, why pay two sets of conversion fees to the banks?

One last note, if you expect a reply don’t forget to mention REG – and also a SAE wouldn’t go astray either. Someone has to pay the postage after all.

Waterford is much more than a charity REG supports, as Richard is actually one of the patrons of the charity, and quite possibly the only one who actually attended the school. Other patrons include Lord and Lady Attenborough and Michael Heslop. It’s full name is Waterford Kamhlaba. It is a “school” in Mbabane for students ages 11-19. REG attended it after Swaziland gained it’s independence and his father was no longer the Minister of Education. It is a private school as opposed to a public one.

In an interview published in the Daily Mail a couple of years ago, Richard promised to personally reply to anyone who made a donation in his name. Obviously he’s a man of his word and he still honours this commitment.

If you want to know more you can go to http://www.waterford.sz/summary.htm

Thanks to Pat, Susan and Denise for various bits and pieces.