29th March 2006

Richard E. Grant with wife Joan Washington attend the British Book Awards at Grosvenor House in London. The literary awards, known as the Nibbies, recognise bestsellers rather than critics’ favourites. Nominated authors include Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan, Jamie Oliver, JK Rowling and Sharon Osbourne.

(Photos by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

27th March 2006

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Richard E. Grant holds 3-D glasses as he promotes the Prince’s Trust at Claridges on March 27, 2006 for the Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday Concert at the Tower of London on May 20. Parts of the gig will be broadcast live in 3-D, the first time a concert will be broadcast in 3-D on British television, celebrating 30 years of the young people’s charity.

Richard E. Grant writes a birthday message as he promotes the Prince’s Trust at Claridges on March 27, 2006 for the Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday Concert at the Tower of London on May 20.

(All Photos by Jo Hale/Getty Images)

Here’s a short article taken from News & Star and sent to me by Sue W.

Loyal local following: Richard E Grant is known for his role in the film Withnail and I, which was partly set in Penrith Richard E Grant – Wah Wah, Words by the Water, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Saturday, March 18.

OVER the course of his film career (67 to date) Richard E Grant has made a bit of a name playing the arrogant, selfish weirdos. How To Get Ahead In Advertising and – of course – Withnail and I being the most famous.

So it’s refreshing to attend Words by the Water and realise from the off that he’s really a lovely, self-effacing, generous bloke. All apologies that the near-capacity audience should have been “fleeced” by paying £10 when his new book, Wah Wah, is as yet “a myth” (the publication has been held back until April 21 because it’s been serialised in a daily newspaper) he proceeded to regale us with tales of “sphincter-winking embarrassment”, a superb Kenneth Williams impression, silly voices and anecdotes of the difficulties and huge excitement of being a first-time director.

Even just the mention of that glorious name of Withnail brought a cheer from the audience, of which quite a large part had clearly come to pay homage. Described as looking like “a fat Dirk Bogarde” by director Bruce Robinson when he was cast, the poor out-of-work-for-11-months actor had to lose the stone in weight he had spent a fortune in weight-gain powder to put on.

Taking its name from his mother’s phrase for the conversations of the colonial English in Swaziland (where Grant was partly brought up), Wah Wah will be the book of the film of his (slightly fictionalised) life.

The film has already received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Film Festival and, if it and the book are only a fraction as funny they will both be well worth checking out.

KATE REES

Thanks Sue.

News & Star – Monday 20th March, 2006

Loyal local following: Richard E Grant is known for his role in the film Withnail and I, which was partly set in Penrith Richard E Grant – Wah Wah, Words by the Water, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Saturday, March 18

OVER the course of his film career (67 to date) Richard E Grant has made a bit of a name playing the arrogant, selfish weirdos. How To Get Ahead In Advertising and – of course – Withnail and I being the most famous.

So it’s refreshing to attend Words by the Water and realise from the off that he’s really a lovely, self-effacing, generous bloke. All apologies that the near-capacity audience should have been “fleeced” by paying £10 when his new book, Wah Wah, is as yet “a myth” (the publication has been held back until April 21 because it’s been serialised in a daily newspaper) he proceeded to regale us with tales of “sphincter-winking embarrassment”, a superb Kenneth Williams impression, silly voices and anecdotes of the difficulties and huge excitement of being a first-time director.

Even just the mention of that glorious name of Withnail brought a cheer from the audience, of which quite a large part had clearly come to pay homage. Described as looking like “a fat Dirk Bogarde” by director Bruce Robinson when he was cast, the poor out-of-work-for-11-months actor had to lose the stone in weight he had spent a fortune in weight-gain powder to put on.

Taking its name from his mother’s phrase for the conversations of the colonial English in Swaziland (where Grant was partly brought up), Wah Wah will be the book of the film of his (slightly fictionalised) life.

The film has already received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Film Festival and, if it and the book are only a fraction as funny they will both be well worth checking out.

KATE REES

Sue W has sent me a couple of pics she found of REG on the set of his latest film “Penelope”. REG stars as Franklin Wilhern in the comedy/drama, alongside Christina Ricci and Reese Witherspoon. The film is due to be released later on this year but for now to check out the pics at the gallery, just click here.