Did you see the opening episode of the new Big Brother television series from Elstree Studios as they introduced the new housemates?

What a positive shower of wannabe celebrity contestants each hoping their appearance is a ticket to fame and fortune. The sad fact is it can prove to be true.

Take the case of 22-year-old Chantelle who won Celebrity Big Brother. It is reported that a publisher is paying her £300,000 for her autobiography!

Besides introducing the cry oh my god!' into the must-say language of impressionable people and taking up with somebody called Preston North End, what else has the young lady done?

It would take a nurse about 15 years to earn that and no doubt the book will be at least in part ghost written, but it just reflects the bizarre world of celebrity we have now entered.

I doubt they would offer me £5 for my autobiography unless perhaps I can come up with a catchphrase.

What about Oh calamity!?' or if I told a few anecdotes about some of the goings on behind closed doors at Elstree over the years! I also hear that the cult MGM Borehamwood 1960s television series The Prisoner which starred Patrick McGoohan is to be remade.

Apparently, Sky One is planning a six-part series and rumour has it that former Dr Who Christopher Eccleston has been linked to the starring role. The original series was a bit off-the-wall and not a great favourite of mine but it still has a loyal fan base who love to analyse the plots.

Years ago the late actor Patrick Cargill told me: "I was a guest star in one episode and 20 years later fan mail still arrives asking me in-depth questions about my role, the plot and the location in Wales. In fact, I don't know what to reply, as to me it was just two weeks' work and they even used a body double for the shots in Wales to save taking me down there!"

I also hear that they are planning another Carry On movie, this time starring Vinnie Jones and Shane Richie. Personally, I think it could prove a mistake and it is said that Barbara Windsor has turned down a guest role. Sometimes it is time to think of new ideas and leave past successes alone.

I was sad to hear that veteran director Val Guest has died. I remember interviewing Val back in 1982 at Elstree on the set of The Boys In Blue starring Cannon and Ball which was a remake of one of his earlier successes of the 1930s starring Will Hay.

Although he was often associated with comedy films, I enjoyed two of Val's science fiction hits, The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), which told the story of the world suddenly overheating and the ensuing breakdown in society apparently a favourite of President Kennedy.

And Quatermass II, which was shot at the old Danziger Studios in the mid 1950s with Brian Donlevy as Professor Quatermass.

The author of the story got that marvellous name at random from the London telephone directory. He did however hate the casting of the American actor Donlevy saying his performance was wooden and he was drunk most of the time.

It is true that on one occasion while filming on some hills the wind caught Donlevy's toupee and the crew had to chase after it.

Bryan Forbes had a role in the film and told me: "Val was an excellent director and was able to work on a very tight shooting schedule by having the scenes to be shot each day sketched out on a board on the set.

"That meant each sequence was pre-planned and the actors and crew could easily see what was required."

That reminds me of a story the director of The Dam Busters, Michael Anderson, told me.

"When I directed my first film I was, and looked, very young," he recalled.

"On the first morning I walked on set and all the crew looked at me, weighing me up. I got out my viewfinder and wandered around looking for the best place to position the camera for this particular shot.

"Eventually I walked over to the the cameraman and said, where you are looks like the best place' to which he replied of course governor, why the bloody hell do you think I am already standing here?' which both put me in my place and reminded me to use the experience of my crew."

Well, I hope you have been to Fairway Hall and the Reel Cinema to buy tickets for the Elstree Film Evening and the Elstree Film Festival.

If the screenings are a success it would be nice to think of perhaps starting up regular showings of popular old films.

At least it will be an opportunity to have a break from the endless diet of football!