Actor Shaun Williamson, best know as Barry in BBC One's long running soap, EastEnders, has signed on the dotted line to appear in a new Carry On film, Carry On London, which has been pencilled in for a Christmas release in 2004.

The news immediately reminded us of an activity involving deceased horses and flogging, not least because of the last attempt to modernise the franchise, 1992's abysmal "Carry On Columbus", which left it's victims asking the question "Why did they bother? Why? WHY??".

The producers appear to be looking for modern day replacements for all the original "classic" Carry On cast.  Producer James Black describes Williamson as "the new Kenneth Connor" and hopes to make David Jason "the new Sid James".  It also appears that they have been trawling the has-been celebrity swamps as they have dragged up Daniella Westbrook to be "the new Barbara Windsor".

While we may be surprised, we're inclined to believe that the question is not "Will it be any good?" but "How bad will it be?".  The Carry On's may have had their own unique, kitsch "charm" at the time, but is there really room for another one in the 21st century?  How many horses have to die?