I remember seeing him in Beyond The Fringe (his and Jonathan Miller's sketches were always the most intellectually amusing) and meeting him once at The Establishment - a club I joined as a 15 year old. Then got to know him in 40 Years On at the Apollo in the 60s. He was one of the few celebrities to support me 15 years ago (read his diaries).

But Maggie Smith has, surely, to be a shoe in for the Best Actress Oscar next year.