GARETH THOMAS

Gareth is currently filming an episode of the Doctor Who spin-off series
'Torchwood' for the BBC. He's playing a character called Edwin but not yet sure
of the episode name/number or transmission date.



Gareth has recorded one of Francis Durbridge's Paul Temple stories for BBC Radio
4, 'Paul Temple and the Sullivan Affair'. This will be broadcast weekly for 8
weeks. Gareth plays two Egyptians, an Irishman, a Frenchman, a German and Sir
Graham Forbes!"



PAUL DARROW

Paul recorded 'Return of the Scoundrel' for BBC Radio 4, based on the original
film 'School for Scoundrels', which in turn was adapted from the book
'Oneupmanship' by Stephen Potter. Cast includes Ian Carmichael, Richard Wilson
and Colin Baker.


STEVEN PACEY
Steven is currently appearing at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre. He is
playing Oberon in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Percival Browne, the father,
in Sandy Wilson's 'The Boyfriend.' They are playing in Rep from 31 May through
to 09 September. 'Midsummer Night's Dream' - last performance 30 August, 'The
Boyfriend' - first performance 18 July, last performance 9 September.
http://openairtheatre.org/ for dates of when each play is being performed.
Book online or call 0870 060 1811.



JOSETTE SIMON

Josette is reading Radio 4's 'Book of the Week' - 'And Still I Rise' by Doreen
Lawrence, from 19/23 June. Playing 9.45/10.00 am, repeated 12.30-12.45am. You
can also hear it online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/book_week.shtml for up to
7 days after the broadcast. Doreen Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence,
recounts the story of her son's murder in April 1993 and her family's struggle
for justice.



JACQUELINE PEARCE

Jacqueline has returned from an amazing visit to Africa where she was living and
working on a sanctuary for orphaned vervet monkeys. Read all about her
experiences and thoughts at her website http://www.jacquelinepearce.com/



OBITUARY - ALLAN PRIOR

Sadly, Allan Prior, who wrote the episodes Horizon, Hostage, The Keeper, Volcano
and Animals has died, aged 84.



Allan Prior wrote more than 300 TV scripts, as well as over 30 radio plays and
20 novels. His writing career began in 1943 when he won a writing competition
while he was an RAF pilot during WWII, which led to having stories accepted by
literary magazines. Shortly after the war ended he became a full time writer
beginning with scripts for radio, and published his first novel A Flame in the
Air about men returning from the war to a northern town.



He is best known as founder writer of the 1960's cop show Z Cars and the soap
opera Howards Way which he created with the producer Gerard Glaister and ran
from 1985 to 1990, attracting up to 14 million viewers. Z Cars began in 1962,
with Prior writing 5 of the first 10 episodes, going on to write 80 scripts for
the show during its 16 year run. He also wrote 37 episodes of the Z Cars
spin-off Softly, Softly which starred Stratford Johns, as well as scripts for a
spin-off of Softly, Softly called Barlow at Large. During the 1960's and 1970's
he wrote several original plays including several for Armchair Theatre. He
wrote for series such as The Borderers, The Gold Robbers, The Onedin Line, Crown
Court, Sutherland's Law, Warship, The Sweeney, Secret Army, Juliet Bravo, Dr
Finlay's Casebook and of course Blake's 7.. He also wrote The Charmer a
six-part ITV series about a 1930's con-man, starring Nigel Havers.



Allan Prior was born on 13 January 1922 in Newcastle upon Tyne, and died on 1st
June 2006 aged 84. He is survived by his second wife, Norma, and by a son and
two daughters, one of whom is the folk singer Maddy Prior, lead singer of
Steeleye Span. Our deepest sympathy to all his family and friends.

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