by PAUL WELSH

It was recently reported in one national paper that the BBC were considering opening up the EastEnders set at BBC Elstree to the paying public.

However, I have spoken to Matthew Robinson, the series executive producer, who said: "The story was a complete fabrication and there would be too many operational difficulties."

It was also reported in the national press that Madonna visited BBC Elstree for a taping of Top of the Pops. Apparently her minders spent much of the time ejecting over-zealous fans from the studio.

It was said that the free tickets were exchanging hands for up to £250 each.

Emma, Sean and myself went to another occasion where tickets were selling on the black market for £200 each. It was a play called 'Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs,' starring Ewan McGregor at the 174 seater Hampstead Theatre.

Emma spent much of the time brushing against the actor who plays heart throb Greg in Coronation Street, who was in the audience and flirting via eye contact with Ewan during the performance. The latter was not difficult as, sitting in the front row, we were only a few feet away from him for the two and a half hours he was on stage.

By contrast poor old Sean could only boast that a gate steward at Wembley Stadium said he has lovely eyes, while he was being frisked! What with players hugging each other after scoring a goal and signing up for modelling contracts, where will it all end?

Ewan gave an excellent performance and it is no surprise that the seven week run sold out in three days. Next year he will become a superstar with the release of Star Wars IV and has already signed up for the next two. Sadly, they will not be filmed at Elstree or Leavesden, but in Australia.

Before all this fame, Ewan wrote to me in 1995 saying, "Sorry I cannot make the Elstree Film Evening, but I am off to Glasgow to film a project called 'Trainspotting.' I admire your work to retain Elstree Studios and if in the future I can help in any way, let me know. Thank you again and much luck."

His uncle actor Denis Lawson did attend that year and is now directing 'Little Malcolm.' Denis appeared in all three Star Wars movies as a fighter pilot but told me, " I know how much the fans enjoy them, but I never attend those conventions, as such things make me feel a bit uncomfortable."

I inadvertently became part of Star Wars history by organizing what was the last ever screening of the trilogy in their original format.

Lucasfilm had turned down hundreds of requests but in 1994 George Lucas gave me special permission to show them as support for the Save Our Studio campaign. We screened the films in the old venue and it was a marvellous atmosphere.

Anybody who attended the sell out event also became a slice of cinematic history.

It was very appropriate these classic movies returned home for the final time to Borehamwood where they were born.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.