As I look out of my workroom window and cast my eyes upon the turning of the leaves I ask myself, how long can I go on using this as an opening sentence?

Grim news about 4Extra. Especially sorry for Jimmy Clitheroe and Jimmy Edwards who must be only a few weeks away from being paid

Actors and writers are often paid absurdly late and below union rates. However a theatre in the east of the country has created a new post to try and address the problem and improve working conditions for their freelancers. The new job is advertised at £36,350p.a.

The portentous announcements that Claudia delivers to the contestants; do they sound a bit like intros to an Ernie Wise play?

Best in London by far, and the only hard-copy paper I read now.

Oops. Inflated number of Ashes triumphs here. If only...

'Bloodsport - After Helen of Troy'. Stratford East. Flawlessly constructed revenge tragedy with grand guignol laughs, by the stellar playwright of the moment (and Clacton girl) Ava Pickett. 5 star production by Lisa Spirling. Hope Front Row can persuade Nigel Farage to review it

RIP Stephanie Cole. The greatest ever conversationalist in between takes.

The developers/ council appear to have given up on getting everyone to call Bloomsbury 'Midtown'. But now it looks like they think they've invented the word 'Bloomsbury'. Think I might start calling it 'Midtown' now

Brian Friel's adaptation of 'A Month in the Country' at the Donmar is masterly, hilarious and tight as a drum, with a performance of quicksilver brilliance from Sophie Okonedo

This astonishing film, with a remarkable central performance is getting another well-merited airing on Wednesday. bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0031c5…

Will there be room in the schedule for a 'Ralph Reader' prom?

Covent Garden merch. Fill yer clogs!

Everyone in North London got a deafening alert on their phones earlier saying: 'Warning! Another pop music prom tonight. Be sure to put a Benjamin Britten CD on!"

'The Galloping Cure'. Exciting to see 1100 people packing out Edinburgh's King's theatre for a new opera with a big idea, large cast and 50 strong orchestra. Great production too.

Is anyone old enough to remember waggish men who thought it was amusing to pronounce the word 'yes' as 'yerst' in a nasal voice? I think perhaps Dudley Moore started it but I've no idea what the context was.