The rain in Spain...

...well you know the song and it turns out to be true. The Blogs are just back from the wettest Easter Spain has had for 65 years - which didn't stop it being a whole lot of fun. We left the Blog in capable, professional hands but no news was judged worth reporting apparently. What! Sunderland appoint an ex-fascist and Michael Gove is still ruining education. Come on Britain! #wecandobetter. Whoops. Sorry - this is Blogger, not Twitter, easy to confuse the two yet the discourse is so different...

Well, what has been going on Fringewise? We now have 130 events all properly paid for and entered - with barely two weeks to the closing date and 3 months to Fringe Sunday. But are we panicking? Probably should be.

The programme at Underground Venues is taking shape - though the final details are still to be confirmed. Some old friends and favourites are back. There will be another double dose of George Telfer - reprising his roles as Richard Burton and Graham Chapman. It's easy to take George for granted. Don't, he's a genuine treasure and to be loved and appreciated.

Young Scott Allsop will be back on home turf with some songs born out his time in Egypt. I haven't seen Scott since he was a curly-haired mop-top at the Community School playing his Dire Straits licks. Will be interesting to see what Cairo has taught him.

One final reminder: tickets for the Buxton Festival are now on sale and some events are sold out - so don't delay. One final plug for friends and supporters at the Opera House: immediately the Fringe ends (Sunday 21st July) a season of "Summer Pops" starts at the Opera House. Check the line-up but it includes the mighty Bellowhead and Jack Bruce [not on the same bill!] These shows will sell-out so don't delay. Quite different - one of our favourite comedians, Stewart Lee, is back at the Opera House in October. Don't disappoint us.