I am sorry, but television chiefs will have to ban any more showings of my favourite political sitcom, Yes Minister .

In London the other day I was in the area which is home to the Houses of Parliament and (several times) heard it called ‘West Min-is-ter’.

This got me thinking about the Dad’s Army episodes which are coming back.

Did they ever go away, you ask? Aha, but not as re-runs this time.

A cast of ageing actors is lining up to shoot a new version of the 1970s Second World War comedy.

I was sorry to hear that Ian Lavender who played the young Pike is not included. Couldn't he have played his own father or grandfather this time around?

Ian went to the same school as me in Birmingham but as the boys and girls were caged in separate buildings we didn’t share any drama lessons.

I do remember seeing him in Pygmalion , though, at the boys’ school, playing Professor Higgins. He was excellent.

Shame he will always be remembered as dopey Pike.

One actress who can definitely take a bow is Anne Gerrard who took over a part at short notice in Relatively Speaking at the Compass Theatre last week.

The Proscenium Theatre Company actress had to take a script on stage, but she did such a good job that we forgot she had to read her lines.

It is very difficult to handle props while not bumping into the furniture or losing your place on the page. I’m in awe.

Well done also to the Beck Theatre for bringing fab folk group Show of Hands to Hayes.

We are very lucky to have them in our borough as they have sold-out the Royal Albert Hall four times and are triple winners at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Catch them if you can on Monday, November 17 at 7.30pm.

TALKING of showing your hand, Russell Brand, who regards himself as intelligent, says proudly that he has never voted. I suggest Brand goes to live in a dictatorship like North Korea.

Russell Brand

Then, when he finds he prefers our freedom of speech (which he certainly makes good use of), he will undoubtedly back our system which – pay attention Brand! – needs voters, to keep it afloat.

As journalist and filmmaker Michael Moore once said: ‘Democracy is not a spectator sport.’

It should be tattooed on our foreheads at birth.

Catch up with Barbara at www.getwestlondon.co.uk/authors/barbara-fisher/