Rupert was born and raised in Kensington, West London. He now lives in Barnes, South West London with his wife, Amanda and two teenage children, Howard and Melissa. He became a professional cartoonist almost by accident when in 1989 whilst doodling he drew a little bald man in braces and carpet slippers and named him Fred.
Within months Fred cartoons were appearing every week in Midweek, a free magazine given away at London tube stations. This was soon followed by a book deal and a contract for Fred greeting cards. These proved very popular and within a short space of time were to be seen in every high street in the country. A range of Fred merchandise followed with a steady succession of books. The cartoons also appeared in the Mail On Sunday for four years.
Over eight million Fred cards have been sold and they are still going strong, currently available in WH Smith, Marks and Spencer, on-line from Moonpig.com and in a large number of independent retailers. Since 1990 Rupert has had 21 books published.
When his children were small Rupert was inspired to create a new character, Daddy. Three Daddy books, a greeting card range and merchandise followed.
Rupert gave himself the pseudonym Oscar Wendlow and wrote scores of hilarious letters to public figures, politicians and celebrities. A collection of these letters and their replies was published as The Letters of Oscar Wendlow which received rave reviews and extensive press and TV exposure. Sadly out of print it is a very funny book and a classic.
He subsequently created Uneasy Street, a half-page colour cartoon strip which appeared in the Sunday Express Magazine every week.
He also created Close Encounters, a range of humorous colour cartoons which were published as a book and a successful greeting card range.
At present Rupert is busy developing a Fred animated TV series with King Rollo Films.
Rupert’s latest creation is Wyrds of Wysdom, a very funny and distinctive-looking greeting card range which was launched in January 2008 and looks destined for great success.
For more information and Rupert's cartoons, please visit his website by clicking here .
Tom Cox 
Tom Cox, journatlist and author of 'Under the Paw - Confessions of a Cat Man', is a big cat lover. Tom's blog 'Little Cat Diaries' is very popular and well worth a visit.
For more information about Tom's life and work, as well as links to all his blogs, please click here.
"I love music, cats, but above all, broadcasting live to the world from home every week..."
Desmond Carrington has been an actor since he was 16. He celebrated his 76th birthday in May 2002 and now lives on a farm in Scotland. He loves music, cats, but above all, broadcasting live to the world from home every week.
His first professional stage appearance was in 1942 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, in James Hilton's Goodbye, Mr. Chips. He then toured Britain with several plays and at 17 joined a repertory company performing twice nightly - air raids permitting!
He was conscripted into the Royal West Kent regiment in 1943, drafted out to India and commissioned as an officer. When the war ended in 1945 he was posted to Radio SEAC, a British Forces Broadcasting station serving the whole of the Far East from Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He has been broadcasting regularly ever since.
Upon his return to Britain Desmond resumed his acting career. As an independent radio producer he also made many programmes for the BBC and Radio Luxembourg and in 1951 spent a year as an actor with the BBC Drama Repertory Company. He also worked in films, theatre and in the comparatively new medium of television.
In 1959 Desmond was engaged to play the young Dr Chris Anderson in the medical soap opera Emergency Ward 10, which was televised live twice-weekly in Britain. His initial contract was for three weeks: he left after six years and some 350 episodes, his name and face known throughout the U.K. Other television and radio appearances followed, including 4 years presenting the Daz Swap TV campaign, guesting on TV quiz shows and pop music programmes, contributing to BBC radio series such as Moviegoround and regularly presenting Album Time and the record request show Housewives' Choice. He has also presented many live broadcasts of concerts from venues throughout Britain.
Desmond has continued to work in the theatre, his favourite role being King Edward VIII in Royce Ryton's Crown Matrimonial. He received critical acclaim for his performances in Alan Bennett's The Far Country and Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw.
He has won International Awards for his radio scripts and production and was voted British Radio Personality of the Year in 1991. He has co-presented the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music concerts featuring the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines at the Albert Hall in London for the past 11 years and has also piloted three CD albums by the Marines' band of the former Royal Yacht Britannia.
When the BBC Radio 2 series All Time Greats began in 1981, Desmond was chosen as its presenter. 23 years later, he continues to research and script all the record introductions as he broadcasts his weekly programme, The Music Goes Round, live from his Scottish home.
Desmond is assisted by his cat Sam during the broadcast.
