You can tell Spring is just around the corner when Cupid starts firing those arrows again.

A few seem to have hit the younger members, or would-be members, of the Oscars Irregulars.

Ricky has teemed up with Eve, who is thankfully unlike Bianca in EastEnders.

Dan has now succumbed and is now 'walking out', or, to use a modern phrase, is 'all loved up', with a very nice young lady.

Even Barry got an anonymous valentine card, signed from a 30-year-old customer of The Venue, where he works on occasions. The police are currently looking for a 30-year-old woman with psychological problems!

Romance has of course been the staple diet of movie-makers since they invented the camera. I have not seen many of Elstree Studio's pre-war movies, but the titles indicate they included some on this theme.

The Flame of Love, Bill and Coo, The Love Habit and The Love Nest give a hint to the plots.

Perhaps the most famous romantic film was made in Hollywood about 30 years ago and was entitled Love Story.

It was chosen as the Royal Film Performance that year, and contained that famous line: "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

It starred Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal, with veteran British actor Ray Milland playing the 'heavy' father.

Ray began his career at Elstree in bit-parts during the late 1920s, and went on to become a leading man in a score of 1930s and 1940s Hollywood films.

Then he successfully changed gear to become a star character player, which lasted until his death from cancer in 1986.

Ray once told me: "I wore a hairpiece in films from about 1948, but about the time of Love Story I thought what the hell, and started leaving it off for certain parts.

"Bogart, Crosby, Wayne and Cooper wore wigs until the end of their lives, but they wanted to retain their star status. It does not harm your career so much, as long as you are happy to play character or supporting roles."

Personally, I think a receding hairline turns a man into a babe magnet, especially as you grow older. At least Sean Connery and myself have that view!

A classic movie love story of the 1940s was Brief Encounter, starring Celia Johnson, after whom we named a court on the studio estate.

Her co-star was Trevor Howard, who I understand was paid about £500 for his role.

Sadly Trevor was the subject of a series of articles in a national newspaper recently, which fell into the category of kick them when they're dead.

I had the pleasure to meet Trevor on a number of occasions and I still keep in touch with his widow, the actress Helen Cherry.

Not long after unveiling a plaque commemorating Trevor at Elstree Studios four years ago, Helen suffered a stroke and is still not in the best of health. I doubt she enjoyed reading such material.

Trevor certainly drank a bit too much, but he lived life to the full. He died rich, famous, respected as an actor and, I imagine, a relatively happy man.

I for one will raise a glass to him on the next rare occasion I enter a bar, assuming someone is buying a round!

Another romantic lead of British films in the 1940s and 1950s was Richard Todd. He was under contract to Elstree Studios for many years during that period.

Richard phoned me the other day to say he will be touring in a play in the Summer, and still enjoys acting.

One-time EastEnders heart-throb Leslie Grantham also was in contact recently. He sent me an e-mail, but forgot to put his name down.

I replied asking for the sender to identify himself and he responded: "Sorry mate, I have not got the hang of these things yet."

Finally, congratulations to the reader of this column Nick Cole, who has just passed his driving test after more than one attempt. He will now be able to take his young lady Rachel on summer country rides.

Remember Nick not to run out of petrol as in all those teen romance movies!