A million cheers for Bob Altman on winning the Best Directors Golden Globe Award for Gosford Park. Maggie, Helen and Julian didn’t win in their catagories, however (though, as the saying goes, they’re already winners for just being nominated.) Hope this all bodes well for the Oscars.

Another mention about REG in Contact.

Close Contact for New London Post Cats???

16th January 2002

A West End transfer for Susan Stroman’s award-winning Broadway “dance play”, Contact, has been talked about with increasing frequency since early last year. Now that Cats has confirmed its departure date as 11 May 2002 (its 21st West End birthday), Contact may have found its perfect, and perfectly available, venue for a summer West End opening.

The 1,100-seat New London Theatre is highly flexible and modern, though it may take awhile to clear out two decades worth of feline props and costumes. Devised by Stroman (who also choreographs and directs) and James Weidman, Contact presents three stories told through dance and dialogue as the characters struggle to connect with one another.

Withnail and I’s Richard E Grant is rumoured to be lined up for a starring role in the planned London outing, which will be produced by Michael White.

And lastly for Aussie fans of REG, Hudson Hawk is to be shown on Wednesday 23rd January on Channel 9 at 9.30pm.

According to Denise, a repeat of Richard’s appearance on Johnny Vaughan should be on BBC Choice tonight. Apparently the repeat consists of the three weekday programmes being shown back to back, therefore you do get to see the full interview and not just snippets. Richard’s appearance should be on the second programme.

Also Elaine sent the REG Temple mailing list a cool picture of Richard at home (from The Saturday Magazine, The Mirror, dated July 25 1998) that I decided to post up on the site as well. You can see that here.

Hazel has sent the Temple a scan of an advertisment for Gosford Park from the Guardian Guide suppliment. You can see it here. Cheers Hazel.

Denise has written up a transcript of Richard’s appearance on Johnny Vaughan Tonight, which was shown on BBC-1 on Tuesday 15th January. You can read the transcript here.

According to Elaine, REG appears to be doing the voiceover for an ad for the new mag, James Bond Specials. At first she wasn’t sure about it, but the second time she saw the ad she was certain – especially when he says “For your eyes only!”

Denise received a letter from Michael Javis – honorary treasurer of the Waterford Charity. It reads:

“I write to acknowledge your letter of 11 January and your cheque for £50 from the REGiment. This continuing support is much appreciated. This UK registered charity met the not insubstantial cost of the fees for 30 black students from Swailand and South Africa to attend Waterford Kamhlaba during the year 2001, and, due to the extraordinary devaluation of the Rand, the same money will probably meet the fees of nearer 40 students in 2002. The value of the pounds and dollars we can raise is of quite enoromous value when remitted to Southern Africa. (Regrettably fund-raising in the States is negligible.)

All good wishes.
yours sincerely,
Michael Jarvis.”

Denise would like to thank all who contributed.

Pat now wants to rally all of the US fans together to raise some money for the charity. Anyone who is interested in doing so can email the Temple and we’ll pass the email on to Pat. Otherwise they can contact her directly through the REG Temple mailing list.

And Sue says that some of Richard’s signed stills can still be purchased through her, with proceeds going to Waterford. Sue will be sending the money to Richard with a list of names and addresses of the contributors. The Withnail & I still with Richard, Paul and Richard Griffiths is no longer available, but the others are. So you can contribute and get a pic too! (And hopefully a note from REG.) Sue can be contacted at weglew@optonline.net

For UK fans, Richard was a guest on “Johnny Vaughan Tonight” – a “Letterman-like” chat show on BBC 1 (Tuesday 15th January). According to Denise he looked very tanned as he was just back from Barbados. REG was wearing a grey roll-neck sweater, dark grey trousers and a three-quarter length black leather coat! He also mentioned that “Working on Gosford was like being in a living Madame Tussauds.” The audience definately liked Richard (obviously an audience with good taste), but then Richard has the ability to make most interviewers look good as he provides excellent anedotes for them.

“Johnny Vaughan Tonight” screens on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC Choice and at 11.05pm on BBC1. BBC Choice will be showing a “best of” compilation show on Saturdays at 11.45pm and Sundays at 10.30pm. We at the Temple will attempt and find out when Richard’s guest appearance will be repeated. Stay tuned for more.

And lastly, Nikki informs us that Richard attended the London Premiere of the new Dame Judi Dench film “Iris”, the life of the author Iris Murdoch, on the 13th January.

Thanks guys!