So I guess this will probably be the final clue as far as members of the cast go. I think there is to be some small announcement tomorrow at the TV festival in Edinburgh about the show. In saying that I think it's going to be more of a mention rather than a grand announcement; I assume they have all of the ITV autumn schedule to announce first before they get into what's gonna be on during the winter. So here's your clue for today... This young comedy actor is probably best known for playing the title role in a recent channel four series about an uber cool web master/DJ/film maker/screen writer.... Now, that wasn't too difficult was it? I'm now starting to receive a lot more emails from supporters of what I do; all lovely people, I'm really flattered and always get around to replying, even if it's a week or two later. I keep saying I shouldn't mention the property we are trying to buy because it will 'jinx' the deal; maybe that's starting to come true as it looks very likely that the sale is going to fall through. Will know more next week. I'm trying not to let it get me stressed out; although I must admit I'm running out of walls to head butt in this rented house.

I purposefully haven't been writing about the house we are trying to buy because I didn't want to "jinx" the deal… So much fucking use that was; things aren't going well, the deal isn't off yet but it's just more cocking about that I really could do without right now. I suppose I should be thankful that I'm really busy right now and don't have that much time to sit and dwell on it but we seem to be at a sticking point that is out of my control. We do have to be out of this rented house at the end of October though so a decision has to be made one way or another pretty soon. Oh well, whatever happens is usually for the best in the long run, even if it doesn't seem that way at the time (now if someone has suggested that pearl of wisdom to me this afternoon after I had got off the phone to the estate agent I would have gleefully cut off their head with a blunt sheet of A4). I think ITV are going to announce my new show "Benidorm" at the Edinburgh TV Festival today so maybe my cryptic clues as to the cast will end after today. Anyway, we had more casting today in Soho and there is another session in Manchester tomorrow which I wont be attending (but shall have the pleasure of fast forwarding on video tape at some point). So here is (possibly) the last clue of the identity of a member of the cast of ITV's new comedy show by that not very well known scribbler and advert whore Darrell Linton (as I'm sure I will end up being billed… the last time I did an episode of 'Casualty' in the credits I was billed as "Derren Little" - I wouldn't mind but it was the third fucking time I'd done it)… So, this performer/writer was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. A couple of his less famous TV and film credits are Death On The Nile (2004) and Woody Allen's 'Match Point'. It's great that we are filming on location in Benidorm because he is quite local…. So there ya go; hopefully that wasn't too easy. I shall decant myself to the living room to watch "Location Location Location" whilst crying into my glass of carrot and apple.

Well this is all a bit of a shock. It would seem that people ARE actually reading my blog. The things some people will do to avoid work. So my clue yesterday as to the identity of a member of the cast of Benidorm was far too easy; no such luck today I'm afraid my beauties, it's gonna be a tough one. The show Benidorm is really an ensemble piece but there is a family at the heart of the show. The actor playing the mother of that family is our clue today…. This actress had a great start to her career when she was chosen to play a leading, title character in what is now a cult film. In that film her boyfriend went onto star in a famous sketch show. She's married to an actor who plays a character in a long running comedy drama. And that's your lot, I told you it was gonna get harder! Feel free to email me with your suggestions. Other news just in, we now have a release date for The Catherine Tate Show DVD (series 2); it's 23rd October 2006. Or if you really wanted to splash out you could get the box set of series one and two. There's also a book of the scripts from series 1 & 2; "the perfect Christmas gift!" I hear you cry! ("Yes indeed", I reply). Oh yeah, gym stuff with Paul my new trainer going very well, had a day off from him yesterday but managed to go swimming! It's not easy being a health freak.

Well, where do I start? Have been soooo busy I just haven't had time to do the blog. Thanks to all concerned who emailed to ask why I haven't been doing it, the list ran into tens… (well, almost ten… OK, four). Had a big push in the last few weeks and all six scripts for Benidorm series 1 are now written! Of course this means that the real work of editing them down to (or near) the required length for ITV begins; also making sure they are as good as they possibly can be. Yesterday marked the beginning of the first week of pre-production - it's sooo exciting!!! Director Kevin and Line Producer Philippa are in Benidorm today doing technical line producer/director type stuff and I'm pretty sure that there is going to be an announcement made by ITV at the television festival in Edinburgh this month; I'll check when that exactly is and sneak out a few details the day before about cast etc. To keep you coming back for more bloggidge I'm going to give you some clues to a different cast member every day; starting with today! So…. The actor in question today was born in Scotland although his surname would suggest another part of the UK. Fan's of V.W. will be used to seeing him in a pair of dungarees in scenes where phones keep ringing after they've been answered! (Yes, I know, not exactly The Times cryptic clues but it's better than nothing!)

I have my first session with Paul, my new personal trainer tomorrow so thought I would get into the swing of things by having a game of badminton with Jindy tonight. So now I know I can tolerate the embarrassment of losing three straight badminton games in a row I think that has set me up very neatly for collapsing in the gym tomorrow with a ruptured spleen. As the rather annoying youth on the Frostie's advert says, "It's gonna be greeeaaaaaaat!".

Found myself on Primrose Hill this afternoon, I had some business in Swiss Cottage and had Charlie our dog with me who tends to get very excited when we drive along Regents Park Road, her wet nose frantically drawing patterns on the passenger eat window. So on our way back home we stopped off for a bracing walk over the hill. We walked around the back of the actually hill itself then attacked the ascent from the rear (steady) to arrive at the tourist scattered summit huffing and puffing like an overweight middle aged man (only "like" one, of course). While getting my breath back I noticed a strange green tent the size of a phone box flapping in the breeze, a video camera lens conspicuously poking out of the front. Looking in the direction to which the lens was pointing (about ¾ of the way up the hill) I noticed a pretty woman wearing a summer dress and long leather boots looking very awkward, standing next to a bored looking woman seated in wheel chair wearing the worst grey 'old lady' wig I've ever seen. As I got nearer I noticed the woman in the summer dress was in fact Carole Vorderman; oh how I love the madness that is London town. I got closer and wondered if she would remember me very drunkenly boring her to death at the BAFTA's; she did and surprisingly enough didn't run screaming in terror. We chatted briefly, she made no reference to the strange bewigged woman in the wheelchair and I didn't bring up the fact that she was standing in the middle of Primrose Hill being stalked by a man dressed as a portable toilet. It's bizarre moments like this that make living in dirty, expensive, noisy, cramped London so very much worth while.

Completed my 7 days of juice only diet. Feel great and only cheated once over the weekend when I had a chicken and mango salad in our local pub (yes, I know, it's a far cry from the pubs I used to frequent in Hull were if you asked for prawn cocktail crisps they smashed you in the face and called you a puff). Didn't weight myself at the beginning so have no idea if I lost the "guaranteed" 7 pounds but I feel great and more importantly the kind of foods I am now craving are salads and fresh vegetables - I thought by the end of the week I'd be begging my local Chinese take away to open an hour early but not at all. What with my new personal training starting in 4 days time and my new found love of health foods I feel a whole new chapter of my life starting to unfold. (My God, did I really just write that???... I give it a month).

Had a brilliant casting session at Tiger Aspect today. Found two more actors who we will be offering parts to. It is getting so, so, SO frustrating not being able to tell anyone who these brilliant people are but there's no point until they have signed on the dotted line. In saying that one of the parts we have been casting for the last couple of sessions is a very important character who nobody has been able to "nail" yet - until today. She was so brilliant and SO funny; Kevin our director and I were pissing our pants; having being reminded how brilliant she is I then went home and watched a classic 1970's film/screen play that she was in and pissed myself laughing again. Oh dear, I haven't given you many clues have I? What about if I said she has veeeery - beauuuutiful - liiiiiiiips? Still not got it? Oh, forget it, there's no helping some people.

Bizarrely enough I haven't been at all tired or hungry on this juice diet. It's my 4th day of only drinking freshly squeezed/pressed/whatever you call it veg and fruit juice and I feel great. So much so that I decided I would book my first session with a personal trainer at my posh health club (which I've been a member of since April and have only visited 3 times). I start my training with 'Paul' next week, first session on Thursday (a week today). So now I have a personal trainer. Just when I thought my life couldn't get any more ridiculous.

Wednesday 2nd: Still on the juice diet. My poo has now taken on the hue and consistency of slightly watered down orange emulsion paint. Well, you did ask.

Tuesday 1st: My agent's birthday today. I celebrated it by sending her a chocolate cake from a rather marvellous bakery in Primrose Hill that delivers (in every sense of the word). Do a google search for "Beverley Hills Bakery" if you're interested. No such indulgent pleasures for me mind, carrot and pineapple juice for breakfast, carrot and apple for lunch and carrot, apple, cucumber and celery for dinner. I think I'll miss out the cucmber and celery next time, it gave the drink the appearance of murky dishwater and tasted just about the same (I imagine). If only I had rinsed my cucumber… (Weren't those the last words of Casanova as he lay on his death bed dying of syphilis?)