INTERVIEW: Writer and producer Brian Clemens

What a wonderful chap. Brian Clemens chuckled and plugged his way through our interview with ease, like the seasoned pro that he is. Renowned for the ever-so classy handling of his slice of UK cult-televisual pie, most would say it was The Avengers; that quaint, idiosyncratic upper-class British adventure-cum sci-fi production, that Brian's name would ring most familiar. Not the only celebrity in the family, Brian is permitted to boast about his achievements; he even has a medal to show for it all...

The following interview was broadcast on The Geekend, Radio Reverb on 10th September 2011. 

LIVE MUSIC FROM TOM GRAY OF GOMEZ

Every week, with my two awesome friends audio mover-shaker Wayne and the filmically au fait James, we put together the highly acclaimed The Geekend radio show.

From what was just a miniscule acorn of a brilliant idea, cycle six months later, and we can boast shows and guests that honestly make me need to pinch myself to make sure I'm not stuck in some Matrix style machine-dream (check out the list further down this post).

But this week's show was one of my most enjoyable. To celebrate The Persuaders! 40th anniversary, I got to interview Brian Clemens, the fine fellow writer/producer of it (and a right royal British shed load more). But we were also very lucky to be graced with the presence of one fifth of Mercury Music Prize winning band Gomez, in the form of Tom Gray. Now, ashamedly I thought I didn't know any of their music. So when his dulcet tones burst out these magical musical poems (Flyaway Katie in particular), well I was most impressed. Post event I popped on to Spotify to discover what a numpty I was as Gomez are a band who you may not think you know, but actually, it's impossible not to recognise Whippin' Piccadilly or Options. I totally retract the pub admission Tom.

DOCTOR WHO SIGNING @ FORBIDDEN PLANET, LONDON

I love Forbidden Planet. The magical hive of merchandise from the 'cult cream of movies and television' makes my heart flutter a little every time I step foot in one of their stores. From the beautiful to the bizarre, I wish to covet 90% of what they sell. But I'd never taken advantage of one of their exclusive signing events until this weekend. Mainly because a signature is just that; a signature. Instead I have always personally treasured the value of holding a conversation with said luminary, perhaps also a photo to capture that megapixel memory vividly; the setting, the clothes, the facial expressions, that moment of (I hope) happiness. It's just how I roll.

So I hopped, skipped and tripped the Brighton-to-London fantastic with the aim of meeting Carole for a time more generous than fleeting. I travelled up with friend and presenter of The Geekend (radio show that I contribute to weekly) Wayne. It took me a whole hour to realise when he says 'I know exactly where we are, we are just 2 minutes away', that he is indeed, navigationally challenged, and an impressive bluffer. Not the best discovery when the heavens decide it is time to water the mortals. So we eventually arrived, on time (just, as we set off super early, we both hate being late), looking like drowned rats. A secondary dowsing of juice all over my dress (clumsy moment) and a snaking-queue-of-doom later, I was soon stood in front of an all star Doctor Who line-up: