The Leicester Mercury – March, 2000

They sought it here, they sought it there, but nowhere could the starry cast of the Scarlet Pimpernel find a firm promise from the BBC that the swashbuckling series would return-until now.

The Beeb has finally announced that Richard E Grant will ride again as the dashing double-dealer Sir Percy Blakeney, a fop at home in England and a fearsome foe of the evil-doers across the channel in revolutionary France.

The Pimpernel’s arch enemy Chauvelin, will not be around for a re-union. Actor Martin Shaw is stil filming a second series of ITV’s hit medical drama Always and Everyone.

Grant will also be without his screen wife, Elizabeth McGovern, who has been killed off in childbirth, leaving our hero free to dally with winsome wenches at home and abroad.

In the first episode he rescues the beautiful Annette De Martignac, played by Emily Bruni. Also cast are Nicholas Gecks as Citizen Didier and Jonathan Coy as the Prince of Wales.

The new series is being filmed once more on location in Prague – where the biggest problem these days is trying to keep out of the way of other film crews. It is due to be screened later this year.

– Her (sober) version of events!!

There once was an actor from Swaz
Very tall, dark and handsome he was
Used to hope and I’d pray
That I’d meet him one day
Then I did! Thanks to Dominique from Oz

It all started with one small email
‘Bout a showing in London of Withnail
And a chance we could buy
THE coat worn by THE guy
The thoughts of it made me go pale

So the ticket I bought on the Net
Hadn’t thought how I’d pay for it yet
Then I thought “Do or Die”
Can’t let this chance go by
So booked hotels & flights – what the heck?

My whole family thought I was mad
& By some Internet scam I’d been had
I said “Wait ’til you see
Pic’s of Richard and Me
You’ll be sorry you thought I was Sad !!”

So I got on the plane on my own
To the ends of the earth I’d have flown
I HATE flying you see
Heights do nothing for me
And to panic attacks I am prone !!

Well I made it there safe in one piece
My confidence starting to increase
Trac was cool as can be
Waiting patiently for me
We went looking for grub – chips and grease !!

The excitement was getting too much
I felt I was going to lose touch
It all felt like a dream
Or the kind of movie scene
Full of smoke, clouds and daydreams and such

We met the rest of the REGiment in town
It was hard just to keep a drink down
All our carrots pinned on
Thanks to Neil and to Dom
People looked at us funny and frowned

We went in and got seated at last
Posh & Becks arrived in with a blast
But the star of the show
Well in my eyes I know
Was dear REG – who looked slightly aghast

He was funny and charming – top class
Wearing combats which complimented his ass !!
He thanked us in his speech
Poor Dom tried not to screech
I thought Jaysus – I’m one lucky lass

It was all for a very good cause
Every bid was met with applause
Christies’s Guy – he was tough
But Wey Hey – not enough
Cos Dom got those pics in her paws

Chris Evans himself bought THE coat
You could see he was trying not to gloat
I got Paul’s autograph
He has such a sexy laugh
While Tracy just stared at his throat

I had to go out for some air
There were cameras and press everywhere
But the best was to come
Days like this – there’ll be none !!
When I walked beside Joan ‘cross the Square

We all gathered together at HOME
I could have been in the Twilight Zone
There were celebs everywhere
One of the Kemp Bros was there
This was euphoria – right through to the bone !!

The booze – how it started to flow
I just couldn’t face drinking – I know !!
Cos I’m Irish you see
Me & sobriety don’t agree
& at boozing I’m actually a pro

My stomach felt quesy and tight
My head was unusually light
My legs just wouldn’t move
Though I was dying to groove
I was really star-struck for the night

The REGiment took over the floor
When it ended they screamed out for more
What a night we had had
But I’ll admit I was glad
To reach bed and to dreamily snore

But the next day – Boy was I awake ?
This was going to be the icing on the cake
We were going to have lunch
With the best of the bunch
Richard E – (Wish I was thin as a rake !!)

At the restaurant we met with the rest
Most of them weren’t feeling the best
We were shown to our seats
All our hearts – they missed beats
As he strolled in on time – we’re impressed !!

He’s as nice in the flesh as on screen
He looked so fresh and youthful – pristine
Spoke to each one of us
Answered questions – no big fuss
“You’re the best” – I just wanted to scream

He even let us take oodles of Pics
Had to leave – poor Olivia was sick
Then he footed the Bill !!
Man is this guy for real ??
No drug could compare with this fix

When he left you could hear a pin drop
We’d just dined with the cream of the crop
No one else would do this
Have lunch with a mailing list !!
If I’m dreaming – please don’t let me stop !!

So this poem Reg, is from me just to say
Nothing else will compare to that day
When you went out to lunch
With a quite dodgy bunch !
Thanks again – but the next time WE’LL pay !!

By Karen Stokes
Dublin

Chris tells us Heat magazine were dishing out their own ‘Brit’ performance awards and they nominated Paul Whitehouse and Mark Williams (suit you sir) for the “Uncle Monty” prize for creepiness. Fame at last for unc.

Nikki told us REG appeared on Chris Evans’ TFI Friday show, with a poorly thumb as he’s just moved house and shut it in some windows!!!!! Blood everywhere by all accounts. REG then read this and found it terribly amusing. The truth of it was that he was filming The Scarlet Pimpernel outside Stratford and had to slam some 18 foot double doors behind him, wearing thick leather gloves. On the 15th take, his left thumb got crushed, blood spurting from all sides of the nail. Gruesome, and being a big girl’s blouse, thought it would require amputation. Mercifully not, but it’s the colour of frankenfurter’s favourite shade of deadly nighshade, but recovering well now we’re happy to report. Just had to fix that up. Can’t have the “official site” spreading porkies now can we?

Needless to say we’ve had Nikki taken out and flogged! Bahahaaaa *kidding*

Neil also spotted a familiar signature on the famous desk. It’s on Chris’s side towards, the audience and says:

‘Richard E Grant’
‘You terrible c*nt’

Well spotted Neil!

Anastasia recently mentioned REG’s report about “An Ideal Husband.” While we were talking about period-piece movies (and how great REG is in them), Neil mentioned Ideal Husband and REG SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PLAY THE LEAD IN IT: had a signed contract, had even gone in for costume fittings. Then Rupert Everett hit it big with My Best Friend’s Wedding, and the producers DUMPED REG (bought him off, I think) because Rupert was a more commercial product. So there you go. I’ll picture REG now every time I see that poster.

Val was surfing the net and found this website where you can see all of Curse of the Fatal Death. You need the latest RealPlayer, and REG’s bit is in Part Four.

The address is: http://homepages.force9.net/bates1/drwho/mm.htm

Andrea Galer, costume designer from the film Withnail and I recently donated the original coat to the Withnail for Waterford charity. It was subsequently bought by Chris Evans for £5000 and he got REG to appear on his show TFI Friday for another £4000 to talk about the whole thing. Click here to see pics.

Andrea is offering copies of the coat for sale (which don’t smell of deep heat – REG has one) They’re quite reasonably priced and can be found on her website here at http://www.andreagaler.co.uk. Details are listed below if you’re interested.

*100% wool. Scottish tweed design commissioned exclusively for this coat
* coat design incorporates several vents to accomodate gun + allow for shooting fish
* fully lined
* available made to order in standard sizes, small, medium + large, for men + women
* coat £850
* shirt £180
* waistcoat £280
* trousers £180
* scarf £60
* Each garment is made on a per order basis (see order form)
* Please allow 4-6 weeks delivery
* bespoke available, please email to arrange consultation