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They defined British culture as much as fish and chips - and made the double entendre an art form.

Now, after a lull and one flop, the Carry On team is back with Carry On London, slated to start filming early in 2004 with soap stars stepping into the shoes of Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ London's entertainment correspondent Brenda Emmanus has been meeting the new cast...

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The launch of the new Carry On film at a House of Commons reception saw fans, friends and past performers in attendance.

Former Carry On actress Anita Harris

"The Carry On movies have created their own heritage", said actress and singer Anita Harris, "We look up there to Heaven and it's all happening up there, you know. There's a script and a writer up there...and all those stars".

Harris's comments pointed up a bitter reality: with so many of the old-stagers dead and gone, how do you go about reinventing - and recasting - the genre for a 21st century audience?

publicity

Carry On London hasn't even started filming yet but producers are already trying to drum up as much publicity as possible.

The first new Carry On for more than a decade, an array of soap stars, wannabes and has-beens - including EastEnders Danniella Westbrook and Shaun Williamson - have already signed up.

"In EastEnders I played a complete slapper", said Westbrook, "I'm looking forward to doing something different, something a bit ballsy and gutsy".

Carry On Photo Opportunity: Danniella Westbrook poses with Iain Duncan Smith

And in the strangest photo opportunity since William Hague wore a baseball cap, she agreed to pose with Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith - much to the delight of the paparazzi gathered in the Members Dining Room.

Westbrook is being promoted as the new Barbara Windsor and insisted she was not trying to fill the shoes of the Carry On icon and star.

"quite saucy"

She had not even read the new script yet, she said, but promised it would be "quite saucy".

As if to emphasise the point, Carry On creator and executive producer Peter Rodgers told us:

"The script is the most important part and if it's funny and basic enough, people will laugh".

But as the drinks and the jokes continued to flow, film critic Derek Malcolm added a cautionary note:

"I think some of the modern people are going to have an awful job to equal the old boys and girls. I wish them lots of luck...I hope it works but I have my doubts".

Filming for "Carry On London", the 32nd in the series, will take place in 2004 on location in the capital and at Pinewood Studios.

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