Talk of the Town: Give tanks as Gary goes centre stage

IT’S been a monumental hit on the small screen – and now an irreverent comedy by one of our own could be about to be transformed on to the stage.

Talks have opened to turn Gary: Tank Commander – created by and starring Morningside funnyman Greg McHugh – into an all-action play.

Actor Scott Fletcher, who plays squaddie Charlie Smith, is currently starring in The Christmas Quangle Wangle at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, and said: “Meetings have been held about doing two live arena shows.”

There will be no place to hide – not even dressed in camouflage.

Christmas all wrapped up with charity store buys

ON the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . the 1985 edition of the Guinness Book of Records and a well-worn pair of beige Farah trousers.

Oxfam tells us that the people of Lothian are increasingly opting to buy Christmas presents for their loved ones from charity shops.

But how can we know this is what people want? TOTT suggests a mass Evening News experiment – rather than searching for that perfect piece of jewellery or that must-have festive toy, head instead for a simple gift from your local charity shop.

On Christmas morning, we can all pause together and listen for the reaction across the Capital . . . “aaaaaaaaarrrrgghhhhh!”

First-class celebration

EDINBURGH Zoo’s centenary year is fast approaching and staff are keen to keep everyone posted.

And a group of schoolchildren have helped them do just that – by designing commemorative stamps.

Four winning designs featuring a giant panda, tiger, crowned crane and a lion were picked from more than 4000 entries by children as young as three.

The stamps have come just in time for giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang to send a Christmas card to friends back in China.

Having been catapulted to celebrity status in the past year, they certainly have a lot to write home about.

Numbers game for bridge

THE naming of the new Forth crossing has already sparked debate, with author Ian Rankin the latest to chuck in his two cents’ worth.

Rebus writer Rankin, a Fife-born Edinburgh resident, suggested the £1.5 billion bridge should be branded after the Kingdom and not the Capital.

He joked: “It’s the third bridge, so you could call it the Third Forth Crossing.”