Ray's a laugh

Can it really be only 35 years since popular playwright Ray Cooney OBE last directed a cinema film? Not Now, Comrade - in case you'd forgotten - co-starring Windsor Davies, Michele Dotrice and Cooney himself.

Proving that you're never too old to 'helm', Cooney (pictured below), who will be 80 next year, has just started a film version of another one of his stage comedy hits, Run for Your Wife, with Danny Dyer, Denise van Outen, Sarah Harding and Neil Morrissey.

But of particular interest this time round is the promise - some might suggest threat - of cameos from the likes of Cliff Richard, Lionel Blair, Rolf Harris and Ray Winstone.

The good news is that they're not doing it for profit. Apparently these performers plus Maureen Lipman, Sylvia Sims, Richard Briers "and many others" will be donating their fee to a theatrical charity.

Good to see Mr Cooney hasn't forgotten his roots.