Richard E Grant is stuck at George Best Belfast City Airport – after he missed a flight by four minutes.

The actor, best known for his roles in Withnail and I and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, tweeted: “Just missed a flight by 4 minutes.3 hour wait ahead in Belfast city airport. Moments like this I wish I was a Buddhist or had a pet Pegasus!”

He said he was in Belfast celebrating his birthday with his wife, Joan Washington, who is accent coaching Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell for the filming of Miss Julie at Castle Coole, County Fermanagh.

Grant enjoyed a stay at The Lough Erne Resort and tweeted of a meal he enjoyed in Blacklion: “Sumptuous four course stupefying feast at MacNean’s restaurant last night in County Cavan. Might have to adjust my gussets and stays today.”

1st May, 2013

Actor & director Richard E. Grant narrowly escaped a terrifying house fire on Wednesday after a blaze broke out at his home.

ABOVE: Press night performance of ‘Peter And Alice’ at the Noel Coward Theatre, London

A construction worker accidentally ignited a tree while working on the roof of Grant’s house, but a team of firefighters arrived just in time to extinguish the blaze and save the property from going up in flames.

The Withnail & I star took to his Twitter.com page to detail the frightening incident, writing, “Flat roofer’s blow torch set conifers on fire & 999 (emergency services) heroic fire brigade arrived pronto presto & have just put it out. Nerves shredded. Pheeeew… Merciful thanks for a windless day & fire brigade’s emergency response otherwise firemen reckoned my garage & house would have been toast…

“Weird how shock reaction delays itself. Now got the shakes like someone coming off methadone. Deep breaths.”

The star has blamed the builders for starting the blaze and insists he has yet to receive an apology for the drama.

He adds, “No prizes for guessing who I would like to blowtorch right now! And still got to pay the f**kers! This being the 21st century there is no apology or taking responsibility. It’s always someone else’s or something’s fault. Drives me balmy (barmy).”

It is thought that sparks from builders who were working on an outbuilding in the garden landed on the conifers, setting them on fire.

Firefighter Warren Stanborough, who was at the scene, said: “We received a 999 call to some trees on fire and dashed to the scene to help out.”

“The builders were using their own hose so we helped them out and together damped the flames. Fortunately the fire didn’t spread and no further damage was caused. Mr Grant was very grateful and thanked us for being so speedy. He wanted to know whether we’d bill him for the incident, which of course we won’t!”

He added: “If you ever see a fire or have one yourself, we’d advise you to immediately dial 999 and we’ll come out and deal with the incident.”

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said firefighters attended the incident in Richmond, south west London, just before 10.30am and quickly extinguished the blaze. One fire engine from nearby Kingston fire station and five firefighters attended the incident.

UK satcaster BSkyB has commissioned a second season of Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets for its Sky Atlantic channel.

UK indie Burning Bright Productions will produce another 6×60? run of the show to air in 2014, with filming taking place this year in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Venice, Berlin, New Orleans and Miami.

The six-part series will once again see Richard E. Grant continue on his audacious endeavour to uncover the hidden secrets of the world’s most famous and infamous hotels. The intimately observed, decadent documentary series returns with its trademark combination of beautiful cinematography, revealing archive footage, illuminating interviews and deliciously witty insight from Grant as he explores a different city through its hotels in each episode.

With unparalleled access behind the scenes of the most exclusive and exotic hotels of Hong Kong, Tokyo, Venice, Berlin, New Orleans and Miami, the second series promises to deliver another dose of unadulterated escapism as its adventurous, secret-seeking host hops from hotel to hotel, one city at a time.

Commenting on the announcement, Richard E Grant said: “Sex, scandal, politics, history and culture – we learn so much about a city through its hotels and the characters who work and visit them so I’m absolutely thrilled to be exploring another six cities and teasing out their most revealing, most outrageous secrets in a brand new series of Hotel Secrets.”

The series was greenlit by Siobhan Mulholland, commissioning editor for factual and features at Sky, who also executive produces alongside Clive Tulloh and Nicky Watham for Burning Bright.

The Hollywood Reporter – 5th April, 2013

‘Girls’ Casts ‘Doctor Who’ Actor for Season 3 Guest Spot.

by Michael O’Connell

The HBO comedy, which recently began production on its third run, has added Richard E. Grant to the premiere episode.

LEFT: Richard E. Grant (Getty Images)

The pieces for Girls’ third season are starting to fall into place.

Following news of Christopher Abbott’s departure from the critically-adored HBO comedy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that British actor Richard E. Grant is set to appear. Details are thin on the character, but Grant will guest star in the season three premiere, playing Jasper.

Grant, whose film credits include The Iron Lady, Dracula and — quite memorably — Spice World, most recently top-lined the Doctor Who Christmas special.

Earlier this week, the actor took to Twitter to lament last-minute passport troubles for a trip to the U.S., presumably for his Girls gig.
Grant is repped by Artist Rights Group in the U.K.

DigitalSpy.com – 29th March, 2013

By Kate Goodacre

The actor, who played Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter movies and Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, died on Thursday (March 28) at the age of 65. Griffiths’s agent has confirmed that the Tony, Olivier and Drama Desk award-winning star passed away from complications following heart surgery.

Read a selection of tributes to Griffiths from the entertainment world below:

© Warner Bros.
Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon in Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe
“Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career. In August 2000, before official production had even begun on Potter, we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys’, which was my first ever shot as Harry. I was nervous and he made me feel at ease.

“Seven years later, we embarked on Equus together. It was my first time doing a play but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humour made it a joy.

“In fact, any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him.”

Richard E. Grant
“My beloved ‘Uncle Monty’ Richard Griffiths died last night. Chin-chin, my dear friend.”

Polaroid of my ‘Uncle Monty’ at full flow In that Penrith cottage.

‘Mind the Oomska’ as my ‘Uncle Monty’ was wont to say. Paul McGann, Richard Griff and Richard E up a hillside

Warwick Davis
“You got a great deal of support for having Richard about. He was lovely, he would always make time for his fans. That’s what makes a great actor, it’s about having a good persona.”

Mark Gatiss
“Desperately sad to hear the news of Richard Griffiths’ passing. A superb, nuanced, naughty actor and an absolute gentleman.”

Russell Tovey
“Really sad. Our mate and leader has moved on to the theatre in the sky. We will miss you so much Richard Griffiths. RIP you wonderful man x”

Sir Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre
“Richard Griffiths wasn’t only one of the most loved and recognisable British actors – he was also one of the very greatest. His performance in The History Boys was quite overwhelming: a masterpiece of wit, delicacy, mischief and desolation, often simultaneously.

“But that was just one small part of a career that spanned Shakespeare, cutting-edge new plays and major work in film and television.

“His currency as an actor was truth; as a colleague it was hilarity. His anecdotes were legendary. They were literally endless. They would go on for hours, apparently without destination, constantly side-splitting.

© PA Images / Louis Lanzano / AP
Richard Griffiths at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards

“The only way to stop them was to tell him you were walking away, though there were always others in the audience so, as far as I know, he never stopped. He was the life of every party.”

Simon Beresford, Richard Griffiths’s agent
“Richard brightened my days and enriched the life of anyone he came into contact with. On stage, he allowed us to share in our own humanity and constantly question our differences.

“Richard gave acting a good name. He was a remarkable man and one of our greatest and best-loved actors. He will be greatly missed.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his devoted wife Heather and his family at this sad time.”