Pat has sent me some pics from the Jack And Sarah DVD which I’ve just set up on the site. To see them just click the image above.

The DVD also has the original theatrical trailer but that’s about it as far as “extras” go, i’m afraid. The Region 1 DVD is the same as the PAL VHS version and the difference between the UK and US VHS’s is basically the language (or the lack thereof) in three of the scenes.

In the NTSC VHS Jack’s opening lines in the park scene with his Dad is omitted and the line “Bull shit, I’m pissed” was changed to “Balderdash, I’m drunk.” That’s understandable as “pissed” in the US doesn’t mean drunk, but rather “really, really mad.” The Region1 DVD, however, is the British version with it’s “pissed” and “fucked up” references intact.

It’s also interesting to note that although they changed Jack’s line with this Dad from “pissed” to “drunk” but they didn’t change Sarah’s “pissed” from the scene after she talks on the phone about friends coming to dinner?

If anyone in the UK (especially) is interested in getting a copy of this it’s currently on sale for just £7.99 from HMV. A bargain at that price!

Also at WH Smiths you can find the DVD of Withnail And I with a few cool extras. Apparently there’s an interview with both Bruce Robinson and Richard E Grant on it and I can tell you that they take the pee out of each other a bit. There’s also a commentary by Paul McGann and Ralph Brown which can be rather intrusive at times, but it’s nonetheless interesting to hear the stories that emerge out of the woodwork, such as the fact that Paul had only had his driving licensee for 3 or 4 weeks when he was required to drive the powerful Jaguar. In some scenes Bruce Robinson is actually driving it, not Paul. There are lots of little anecdotes from Paul (and some from Ralph) about things that happened during the making of the film, such as the crew finding it so funny that they couldn’t help laughing (which was one thing Bruce Robinson was paranoid about, thinking that if people laugh now, it will be funeral in the cinema – to which Paul told him that was wrong and that they were laughing because it was funny). Some scenes had to be re-shot several times because the sound man could hear the laughter!

You probably wouldn’t want to watch the film with the narrative running (normally, that is) but it is interesting just to check out what’s been said. Also you get a series of pre-shoot black and white Polaroid’s by Ralph Steadman, showing Richard and Paul larking about and “getting into character” by laying in baths and putting their feet in toilet bowls, etc., lots of funny faces being pulled and so on. All in all a great DVD to own!

"Bring Me Sunshine" – Wyndham’s Theatre, Wednesday 19th December 2001

Well, where does one start?! Thanks to Denise, who organised it all, the three of us (Denise, Emma and I) had an absolutely brilliant evening…..

I will let Denise tell the story of how it all came about, but suffice it to say that until Monday evening I was jogging along, embroiled in Xmas preparations, finishing my SAGE course and looking for a job. Then an email popped up on my screen from Denise titled "URGENT!" . … after that, it was a whirl of excitement and nerves, more so for Denise I think – but she needn’t have worried!

Denise managed to book three balcony seats for the Wednesday evening performance when, thanks to REG’s email to Dominique giving the dates of his December appearances, we knew he would be performing. Lots of emails and "Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three" type phone calls flew back and forth, to ensure we could all keep in touch and enable us to find each other in London. This wasn’t helped by my Talk Time running out on Monday evening, with no time to replace it before we were due to chat!

I know Denise didn’t sleep too well on Monday and Tuesday, nor did I, as I was on tenterhooks once Denise said that she had a plan…. Which worked! I was waiting at Ash Vale railway station for the connection to Waterloo (having almost killed myself walking-very fast!-from home to the railway station in just under 35 minutes….) when Denise’s message came through – Richard had left a message on her mobile telling us to come to the stage door after the show!!!!! I bet I must have been grinning from ear to ear. I wondered why people on the platform looked at me oddly …

Eventually I got to Waterloo and met Denise in Covent Garden where she had been stringing out a meal of starters in order to hang on to the table for my arrival! (she was a bit mortified that I recognised her from the scanned Birthday Book photo she sent me via email; but honestly Denise, it was a nice photo, don’t know what you were worried about!) I managed to make a few dents in a massive hamburger (too excited to want much). Then Emma rang to say she was in London, and Denise and I hurried round to Wyndham’s Theatre to meet her and get the tickets. I thought Emma seemed very calm and collected, all things considered! Were you, Emma?!?

The seats were centre stage, and although high up, we had an excellent view of everything that was going on. Emma suggested it might be a good idea not to stand up and lean over, though. … instant vertigo!

What can I say about the play itself, except that it was two hours of sheer fun! Anyone who has grown up with Morcambe and Wise on the box will delight in it. I won’t give too much away about the script, as it might spoil it for anyone who has yet to see it (if anyone wants more details, email me and I will come back to your private email addy with details) but I can say that the second half follows the format of a typical Morcambe and Wise show….with Richard as the special guest. It really is a laugh a minute, with Richard first being mistaken for an intruder and told to "Clear off!", then the two comics groveling and calling him "Sir Richard E" when they realise their mistake…. The theme of "The Play What I Wrote" in which Richard is the guest, will be familiar to REG fans, but as I have no idea whether this is changed according to which guest star is appearing or if it is the same throughout, I won’t say anymore here, in case it spoils the surprise!

Suffice to say that Richard delivers the often grammatically awful lines (as in the title of the play!) with great skill, dignity and pained expressions … the look on his face as he delivers them is just so funny….Given Richard’s beautiful pronunciation of the English language, it is even funnier to hear him say things like "What is what happened, too, too" (the inference being that the same word is in the script twice by accident, but the guest is told to follow the script come what may!)… There is singing as well, and dancing, and old jokes that make you groan but are still funny! I think Richard is brilliant at comedy!

He is excellent as the poor beleaguered guest who is famous yet is treated by the two main comics as the supporting artist … well, anyone who has seen a Morcambe and Wise TV show will know exactly what I mean! I think the most famous TV show must be the one where Glenda Jackson was the guest… I think Richard mentioned in one of his emails to Dominique that he gets to wear a dress – I hoped he wouldn’t be wearing it all the way through and he didn’t…. he looked fab, anyway.

It was terrific to see how the audience reacted when learning the name of the guest star – the applause was deafening! Denise rang beforehand to see if the Theatre would tell her but apparently the management keep it quiet, to add to the surprise I guess. As I said to Denise and Emma, "I bet we are the only members of the audience who know who is appearing tonight!"

After two or three encores, the curtain went down and THE moment had arrived…. We went round to the stage door as instructed, Denise announced us and the young lady rang through to Richard to tell him we had arrived….We were told "Dressing Room 8" and went through a rabbit warren of narrow corridors until….there he was!

He must be a master at the quick change, as it could have been not much more than five minutes since the curtain went down and us arriving at the open door… he was just towelling his face dry as we went in, and he seemed really delighted to see us, shook our hands, thanked Denise for her home made mince pies which she had left earlier with the request for a meet! I think I said something like "You worked hard!" which he grinned at (because he did; it was a very action-packed show, lots of running about and some falling over….!).

Richard was amazed that we three girls had not met before, he asked how we got to know each other and when we said "The Regiment!" he gave the widest grin you’ve ever seen and said that he "Must email Dom and tell her that it works"! Then he spotted Denise’s "Hamleys" bag and asked if she had children, and if she was the only one who did, I said that I had one too, when it came to Emma he asked "How about you?" and she replied that she was too young. I got the impression that he was quite bowled over to have a teenage fan!

If this is a bit disjointed, by the way, sorry – I am typing it as I recall it, I’ve probably missed bits but hopefully between the three of us we will have remembered it all!

There was then some conversation about Father Christmas and Richard asked whether our kids still believed in Father Xmas. Denise said that her oldest boy doesn’t, but the younger one does, I said mine still does, and Richard said that Olivia is not quite convinced anymore, or words to that effect, I can’t quite recall the exact words.

He asked us where we all lived, again seemed impressed that we had come all that way to see him, and said that he thought the audience that night had been terrific, asked us if we thought we were good! I remember saying, "Well, we had a lot of fun!" He was pleased, said again that the audience was excellent, and that the matinee performance that day had seemed to consist mainly of 95 year old ladies … and he looked a bit downcast, which I took to mean that perhaps they were hard work….!

Richard then had a phone call, and another guest was coming to see him, and it turned out to be an actress he worked with on "Gosford Park",which is due for release in February apparently. Richard introduced us all to Geraldine (I’m sorry, I can’t recall her surname, I meant to look it up on the link on the web before starting this but my brain is not working too well today!),and we shook hands with her. Richard said that "Geraldine plays ‘Posh Upstairs’ and I’m …." something I didn’t catch. (might have been "not so posh"? Help, Denise, Emma?!) "… downstairs!" He then told us some of the awards it had won or been nominated for, not sure which; Best Director, Best Actress (which wasn’t Geraldine if I recall, so I gave her what I hoped was a commiserating look, which I think she understood, as I got a little smile back!) best several other things, he was ticking them off in his fingers but I couldn’t keep up with him!

Richard asked us we all knew of Morcambe and Wise, to which we all said "Oh, yes, grew up with them" apart from Emma, who knows them from the repeats! (Oh, what it is to be young!) Even Geraldine said she grew up with them, which I was surprised at, as I thought she seemed quite a bit younger than me! (Repeats, maybe) It turned out that Richard didn’t know of them beforehand, only having arrived here in the ’80’s, as he put it, and had to watch a tape to see what they were all about.

As to how he looked, well … younger than he appears in photographs, I would definitely say. Slim … he was wearing a red, white and (blue?) rugby style shirt, cream chinos or may have been cords, and brown boots. Slightly tanned, too – not at all pale. I think I remember him asking Denise where we were seated and when she replied "balcony" I thought he said something about "receding" which I didn’t quite catch! Could have been something to do with his hair, but he must have a thing about it as I can’t say I particularly noticed….he was just . … scrumptious! After signing some autographs for us, Richard gave us each a hug and a kiss on each cheek, wished us all a happy Xmas, and we sort of reeled out; nearly lost our way so Richard showed us which door to go through. I think we said something along the lines of "Goodbye Richard" and I am pretty sure he (or someone!) said "Sir Richard E….!" which caused much laughter. Then we were outside, looking at each other, and I’m sure I speak for Denise and Emma, thinking, WOW! We looked at our autographs, wandered around to the front of the theatre where were approached by a drunk man asking for money and a young man who asked "Who was the guest tonight?" and we chorused "Richard E Grant!"

We made our respective phone calls for lifts and so on, and waited for Emma’s Dad to arrive. Hope your Dad was impressed with his autograph, Emma! My husband was still on the M3 so Denise, bless her, who was, I know, shattered by then, offered to stay with me for a while, so we went across the road to the coffee bar, and sort of tried to recover our wits; talked about lots of things half of which I’m sure neither of us can now recall!!! Denise told me that Geraldine had come into the coffee bar shortly after us, for a minute I thought "Don’t say Richard is there as well!!!" Unfortunately not! One coffee and one tea later and I could see Denise was flagging, so off she went, with thanks from me for having the idea and doing it all, and at such short notice too! Shortly after that, my dear husband turned up to collect me. I kissed him told him that I had shaken hands with and been kissed by Richard E Grant and was never going to wash those bits again (well not for a while, anyway…!!!) – with which Graham touched his face and said he wouldn’t wash that bit either then!!! He had great difficulty finding his way out of central London with me chattering nineteen to the dozen in his left ear (its his slightly deaf one, too, wonder why!!!). What a great evening it was.

To anyone who ever has the opportunity to meet Richard but is worried that they might be disappointed, go for it, because, believe me, YOU WON’T BE! I must admit that the thought had crossed my mind beforehand, I thought "Omigod, supposing I’m disappointed, or make a twit of myself!" I was fairly certain that I wouldn’t be, though – you only have to read the Waterford Diaries on the Temple, to know that other members of the Regiment have met him and been bowled over by his charm and friendliness. He is very good at putting people at their ease, too. Thanks, Richard!

I hope to find out what dates Richard may be doing in January, my excuse is that my husband says he wants to see the show too…..!

Lastly, thanks again Denise, it was great to meet you and Emma. Lets do it again!

Elaine Jackson.

The Play, meeting Richard and that call.

When I received the message from Buffy I knew I had created a problem for myself. The suggestion that I was holding you all in suspense was amusing but slightly worrying especially as messages from others inferred great things were expected! Then I read Elaine’s report and thought so that’s what happened. For inspiration I looked at my, now signed, copy of `With Nails’ and read Richard’s meeting with Barbara. No it wasn’t like that either. So I suppose I’ll have to start not at the beginning, which would take us back 3 years, but perhaps with Buffy.

The news that Richard was appearing as a surprise guest in a play in the West End provoked a similar response in Buffy and myself -WHEN? An e-mail to the theatre only extracted the information that guest stars were not announced beforehand in order to retain the element of surprise. Fine, but as I pointed out, my main reason for seeing the play WAS the guest star, Darren was apologetic but unable to help.

Fade to web-site problems in December and me being out in the cold. An e-mail from Rosemary mentioned Richard had responded to questions. Rosemary was kind enough to post replies to me and amongst them were dates for Richard’s stage appearances. 17th December – husband’s birthday – request to go to London to see Richard E Grant probably grounds for divorce and likelihood of seeing children again zilch. 18th and 19th December – husband in Scotland, parents already booked to child-sit 20th and 22nd – likelihood of being tried for abuse of parents extremely, generous nature probable. As Dom said "so near yet so far." Dom unable to supply January dates.

Move forward to Wednesday 12th December – return from school concert just before nine to husband’s announcement that he wouldn’t be going to Scotland next week. "Can I go to London then?" An agreement sees me frantically e-mailing Emma and Elaine to see if they want to join me (as Buffy lives in Philadelphia knew possibility slight). Then a quick search for tickets – recommend Virgin – dress circle £35, balcony £15, three seats in balcony booked for a week’s time. Went to bed with mind frantically trying to sort out arrangements for boys, meeting others and what could happen to prevent me getting to theatre! Hopefully, if you are still with me, you will forgive me for not posting to inform you of our intentions. Being on the superstitious side I just kept thinking "if I tell anyone it won’t happen!"

Fast forward though pre-Christmas excitement – including trip to RSC to see "Alice", although I was beginning to feel slightly unsure of reality myself. Wednesday 19th December. Whilst the previous day had been foggy, this morning was dark grey but clear. I set off sure I had everything – book, camera, card, Christmas cards for all, mince pies – well having seen the Kumars and baked the previous day I had decided to take a few up for Richard, as I knew I was going straight to theatre it wouldn’t be a problem. Ten minutes later saw me back at house collecting younger son’s disco clothes! Thirty minutes later I was going up Birdlip Hill just outside Cheltenham, and an hour and a half later parking in Kew!

First call theatre, where I found stage door, left pies and card. By the way the card included well wishes from all the REGiment for his performance that night which I hope was okay with you all. Then I went to spend the day shopping in London – Hamleys, Harrod’s (never managed to get there before but really recommend as an opulent shopping experience). Stood in book department reading Bruce Robinson’s "Smoking in bed" references to Richard, worth checking out. Phone rang but no one here. Went to get tube to Covent Garden.

Checked phone and discovered message, tried to hear but train too noisy, time meant Richard was on stage therefore something wrong at home. Looked up to see doors closing as train pulled out of Covent Garden! Eventually got back to Covent Garden and surface. Played message, "Hi Denise. It’s Richard Grant calling. Thank you for your wonderful mince pies." Not sure which emotion hit first, relief that everything at home okay, or gobsmacked that I was listening to Richard’s voice. Went happily around Covent Garden and even gave most of loose change to a busker singing, "Killing me softly". Then decided I really should let Elaine and Emma know. But first I listened again just in case. Emma sounded extremely calm when I told her, had to leave message on Elaine’s phone.

By now I thought I ought to eat, as I didn’t want to pass out. Not the world’s biggest eater my stomach rejected the thought of a main course. The nice waiter at "The Rock Garden" smiled obligingly as I explained that I couldn’t face a full meal and only required the starters. A bowl of olives and goat’s cheese red onion tart with grape salad that was delicious, plus sorbets of lime, melon and raspberry. Elaine arrived as I ordered a pot of tea. Querying "were we really were going to meet Richard?"’ I decided that it was best heard from him and replayed message. Time was marching on and Emma contacted us and, after asking the waiters to point us in the direction of Leicester Square, we made our way to the theatre.

In the small, but crowded foyer, we failed to spot Emma. When located she too listened to message. We then climbed, then climbed, and yet climbed again. Arriving at the balcony, otherwise known as the Gods, I realised why seats were so much cheaper, they were more like upholstered benches. However the stage was clearly visible.

The show started with the two leads standing strapped to a cardboard bed, singing a song about being in bed dreaming that you’re dreaming inside your head. The image evoked memories of the 70’s, when two men in bed was not a reference to a homosexual relationship and gay still meant blissfully carefree. The comic song also created the mood of the play, we weren’t watching a tribute we were watching a piece of unreality inspired by Morecambe and Wise. Hamish reminded me as much of Vic Reeves as of Eric Morecambe, whilst Sean’s eyes and manicness seemed more akin to Ric Mayall.

Although Sean had "written" an Ernie Wise-like play he did not want to be a straight man to Hamish. Underneath the funny, and familiar, comic routines was the realization that the straight man was as important to the success of a comic pairing as the much-loved and audience-appreciated funny man.

The storyline involved Sean believing his play was going to be produced in the West End whilst Hamish and his friend George (Toby Jones), in various guises, manipulated him into a tribute to Eric and Ernie.

The second half saw Hamish agreeing to put the play on but unfortunately without the preferred lead, Sir Ian McKellan. However he claimed that he had obtained Sir Richard E Grant. Enter George bedecked with a dark wig and wearing a long Withnail-like coat. Sean indignantly protests that is not Sir Richard E Grant as, attired in dressing gown, Richard appears stage left, to gasps, cheers and applause from audience. "Sir Richard E Grant," exclaims Sean upon which Hamish protests that he is an impostor. The format is familiar to viewers of those Christmas specials. Richard’s role is a straight one as he feeds lines to the comedy duo and utters the really appalling, but somehow amusing, dialogue of the play. The line from Hamish that Richard’s eyes were truly terrifying from this distance seemed to be an adlib. As was the comment "he’s got a detachable head!" as the head fell into the bucket before the blade of the guillotine descended. Cut! Reshoot!

Yes Richard was singing and no it didn’t sound off-key. Also dancing – not quite Gene Kelly but good enough for the requirements of this play. Then we were clapping as the curtain came down. I looked at Emma and Elaine muttered, okay this is it, and we started the descent down all those stairs.

"Richard E Grant is expecting us, my name’s Denise," I informed the stage doorman. A phone call confirmed our visitation rights and we were allowed to go to his dressing room. As we were escorted there the lady started singing, still in superstitious mode I asked, "Isn’t that unlucky?" by all accounts it’s whistling that is unlucky.

We entering the dressing room as Richard was washing the make-up from his face. He was still dressed in the simple French costume; dark red waistcoat, yellow breeches. In the flesh he is very slim and extremely good-looking. Drying his hands he crossed the room smiling and greeted us, shaking our hands. "Who made those marvelous mince pies?" he asked. I admitted it was me and we were chatting away. To be honest any intelligent, witty or sparkling repartee that I may possess completely deserted me leaving behind social intercourse responses that were inanely banal. I was in a surreal situation where I knew more about the person in front of me than many of my family members yet he knew nothing about me. Everything I want to say was somehow locked in some unreachable corner of my brain yet I was nattering away! A phone call announced another visitor. This was a co-star from Gosford Park, Geraldine, an attractive young girl. "She’s upper class whilst I’m below stairs," Richard summed up their contributions to the film, which was, he told us proudly, already being nominated for awards. Richard was concerned that we had all enjoyed tonight’s performance which I could honestly confirm I had. Arriving in Britain in the 80’s he had missed the phenomena that were Morecombe and Wise. Both Elaine and I remembered the originals, as did Geraldine, although she must have been quite young. Richard had researched with videotapes and I couldn’t help thinking that comedy is part of its era and a video can’t quite capture that.

"So you’ve never met before today?" Richard queried incredulously. The thought entered my brain that two of us had Richard, but Elaine was confirming his belief and the moment passed as conversation moved on. Before leaving he happily agreed to sign things. I produced my tatty copy of "With Nails". The presence of Geraldine prevented me admitting that this was what had brought me here, that if I hadn’t read that book a year ago I wouldn’t be standing in front of him now, that it had inspired me to go for my dream and that I wanted to thank him. Instead he kissed me. Okay it was one of those social kisses that, from a man, I always mess up, figuring if any man wants to kiss me than it should be lips! But who am I to complain.

Too soon we were back in the street. Suddenly we all remembered the cameras in our bags and the questions we hadn’t asked. Immediately my brain numbed over and I failed to recall anything I’d actually said! It just retained the image of Richard standing in front of me talking! I apologized to Elaine and Emma as I convinced myself that I had talked non-stop! They were really kind and said that it was okay that they hadn’t known what to say anyway!

After leaving Elaine I journeyed home. The M4 was not too busy, although I nearly undertook a middle lane hogger as I sang along to a CD to retain alertness. I crept into bed in the early hours of the morn and slept for what felt like the first time in a week. I awoke next day unsure of whether I, like Alice, had dreamt everything. Checking my mobile the message was still there as was his dedication in the book. I played message to hubby. "He sounds a down-to-earth guy," he commented. I nodded thinking that at the moment I was the opposite!

I am sure this report, unlike Richard, will disappoint. All I can say is that fiction I can do, detached reportage of events okay, but in-depth biographical writing for others to read I’ll leave to Richard.

21st December 2001
Denise J Hale.

In Brief
Basinger and Ullman take on The Raven
Guardian Unlimited
Wednesday December 5, 2001

“Kim Basinger and Tracey Ullman have signed up to star in a new adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe classic The Raven to be directed by Ron Howard. According to ananova, Greg Kinnear, Linda Hunt and Richard E Grant are also close to signing up for the remake of the 1963 original which starred Vincent Price and Boris Karloff as two rival sorcerers who battle for supremacy. The story has been moved to modern day Los Angeles, with two women fighting for the love of a TV producer. The film is due to go into production next summer.”

We’ll report more on this as it comes to hand…..

Meeting Richard.

On the 19th December 2001 we met the lovely Richard E Grant at the Wyndham theatre in the show "The Play What I Wrote". I had to go to school, which was a bit, annoying so I was unable to meet up with Elaine and Denise in the day. I annoyed all my friends by going on and on about hopefully meeting Richard. When I got home from school I run a bath and then my mobile rang, it was Denise all excited saying that Richard E Grant had rung her and had invited us back stage after the show to meet him in person. She had earlier explained that she aimed to write a note to ask Richard if we could see him after the show. I was calm when talking to Denise because I thought it was so amazing, but when I got off of the phone it was a different story, I was calling my mum telling her I was going to meet him and I was just so excited.

I waited for my dad to drive me to Leicester Square and when he arrived I was telling him and shouting "’‚m going to be late" it was 6.30pm and I was supposed to be there for 7.30pm.

Also when telling my father that I was meeting Richard he said "Oh get me an autograph and that he is so funny in Withnail and I. isn’t he gay?" of course I said no and looked at him in disgust. I was so nervous of meeting Elaine and Denise, because I didn’t want to give either of them the wrong impression, I am now 19 and sometimes I act really immature (I have younger friends and family so that might explain it).

I phoned Denise and told her that I was at Leicester Square outside the theatre and Denise told me that Elaine and herself would be there in 5 minutes and to wait in the foyer. Then my dad decided he would turn the car around while I waited so we drove around the back of the theatre and then he went the wrong way. Denise phoned me telling me that they were there and I explained that my dippy dad had lost his way and I would be there in about a minute.

When I finally arrived Denise greeted me, she grabbed me and pulled out her phone to show me Richard’s message, I was amazed that it was really him, I never would have thought he would personally phone. He sounded just like he does in the movies and said that we could come back as well as thanks for the mince pies. That is when Denise explained that she had sent Richard mince pies, ahh bribery.

Denise then asked me if I remembered my "Withnails"to which I was so horrified to realise that I hadn’t. She pulled a book and a card from her Harrods bag for my birthday and I was absolutely gob smacked. I now had something for Richard to sign and I was and still am so thankful to both Denise and Elaine.

We went to our seat and realised how far up we were, we had a good view of the stage and while we waited for the show to start we chatted.The first half of the show was very funny. Denise was laughing and so was Elaine. When the interval came we went to the bar and brought some drinks, talked for a bit and then the bell went for us all to go back in. I think that by this time we were all excited and waiting in anticipation for Richard to enter and light up the stage. He finally did while Toby Jones was impersonating him at the opposite end of the stage.

Elaine was looking through her binoculars and when I looked at both Denise and Elaine they had moved slightly forward in their seats. Hamish McColl and Sean Foley were calling Richard the impostor, which was so funny seeing as Toby is about 5’6" and Richard is of course over 6". Hamish and Sean explained that the real Richard couldn’t be him, as he did not have a Camberwell carrot at which Richard shouted "HOW DARE YOU!" The show went on with some awful dialog, which Richard acted with excellence and ease; I think that if it were someone else it they may not have done. A funny muck up happened when Richards head was supposed to be cut off by the guillotine, from where I was sitting the plastic head was visible, all Richard had to do was to push the head through at the right time so that the guillotine would seem to chop Richard’s head off but instead the head came off before the guillotine came down. Everyone started laughing and Sean exclaimed "Richard E Grant has a detachable head!"

Throughout the show Hamish and Sean kept calling Richard "Sir Richard" and as the curtain came down after the encores and a wonderful performance of "Bring Me Sunshine" Denise turned to me and said "Richard isn’t a sir, is he?"

Then the nerves started to kick in and I realised that we were definitely going to meet him. Denise led the way followed eagerly by myself and Elaine and after walking down lots of basement type stairs, we realised we were outside in the street. Then Denise spotted the stage door and we went over to it, Denise explained to the security guard that we were here to see Richard "I’m Denise Hale, Richard is expecting us." The guard gave us directions to the blue doors opposite and told us to find door number 8 and off we went. When entering the next building we were greeted by a lady who asked where we were going, once we explained she took us up to Richard and left.

Richard was standing drying his face with a towel; I thought oh my god he is tall and then wow his eyes are so blue, the first thing he said was "Who brought the mince pies?" Denise smiled and said "Oh I did".

"Oh they were lovely" he replied. Then Denise went on to explain "I made them, I don’t really like mince pies and we are a glucose free zone, but I made them anyway." I thought it was funny how Denise explained everything and I noticed that Elaine was paying great detail to everything that was going on.

From what I remember Richard was wearing a red and white stripped Rugby shirt and grey/black I think trousers and brown boots. I was hoping he wouldn’t be sitting there like you tend to imagine stars to be like, sitting looking in the mirror with a dressing gown on. Which he wasn’t he stood up the whole time we were there.

Then he proceeded to shake each of our hands and greet us with a beautiful smile, he seemed to know exactly who we each were when asking us, "So you are Denise, Elaine and Emma." Pointing before shaking. Then he noticed Denise’s Harrods bag and asked whether she had been shopping, she explained "my children have realised that mum and dad give the bigger presents and the stockings are done by Santa –" before she could carry on Richard interrupted "and you have had to go out and buy all the extra bits, oh I know what you mean, how old are your children?" "7 and 11‚ she replied "and your 11 year old still believes in Santa?" Richard questioned. "Well my 11 year old is sort of catching on" she smiled as she added and Richard finally said "yes mine is also catching on."

Then he turned to Elaine and asked if she had any children, she replied "Yes a boy" and he then asked if I had any, which I was slightly shocked and stated "No, I’m too young"

"How old are you? 19?" he asked very politely. "Yes, tomorrow" I said surprised.

Usually I get asked if I am 14 or 16 and there was a celebrity who I truly admire asking if I was 19.

"Wow" he whispered through clasped hands which covered him mouth and he added "So we have all just met, none of us know each other and we are all meeting for the first time, wow how weird, how did you meet?"

We all smiled and stated "Yes" Denise then explained "We all met on the REGiment" he seemed so shocked that we have just met and that we were here, the way he said "We have all just met" suggested that we were equal.

He asked "Did you all like the show? Oh the matinee this afternoon had about 95 old ladies and I was just ooohhh", then he demonstrated dangling his hands and pulling a bored face.

"The show was great" and I think either Denise or Elaine said "You worked hard." He then asked where we all came from and when we said, Camberwell, Cheltenham and Ealing, he just stood and stared and asked if we were all getting along. I looked at both Elaine and Denise and they were smiling and we were all looking at each other we were all getting along and meeting him was the biggest highlight for all of us.

Them Geraldine Somerville came in and Richard introduced us to her, and we shook her hand, I think then we felt slightly awkward we then asked for autographs Denise asked for her book to be signed as did Elaine and then I asked whether he could sign my birthday card, the book I received and the envelope for my dad, I told him that I was being a liberty and he smiled. Denise made him sign the picture of him in the book as well as the front.

Then we left, we got a bit lost but he showed us the way out. I think we were all stunned to meet him, because when we came out of the theatre we were smiling and I think just thinking about what had just happened, Denise apologised for talking so much, but I am sure that I would have just giggled and spoke nonsense, Elaine I think took great notice in the experience and was concentrating. Thanking him for seeing us.

All I can truly say about the day is that he is the most wonderful person I have met, show biz has not gone to his head and he is so down to earth, I have met other famous people and none of them are like him. He treated us like himself and was very kind, he didn’t have to meet us but he did, he made my birthday one to remember and I will never forget it. Thanks to Denise she made it possible and Elaine for being so kind.

Emma.