Roger was asking if he and Andrew had reached the 10,000 Beau Peep strip milestone. Well, I've updated my figures, and to qualify them the following need to be noted.
? There's been loads of individual 'series' made up with 2 and 3 strips (but only one serial number).
? Also there's the 16 Xmas specials (5 or 6 strips each), and a full page colour special (6 strips)
? As before, I haven't included any figures for the Sunday Express nor the first time Beau was in the Sunday People as I don't know how many strips were printed there.
? Also it must be noted that two weeks' worth of Star strips were both serial numbered 5781 to 5785, and the strips 2898-2903 were re-prints of 580-585.
? And on April 1st 1984 there were 2 strips in the Star – one was an un-numbered April Fool's Day strip (an advert for Harp Lager).
? For a couple of years, I think, the Sunday Star ran reprints.
? When Beau returned to the Star in 1999, the serial numbers began from number one again.
So, if I assume one story (printed on one day but consisting of multiple strips) = 1 strip; and forgetting about the re-prints, serial number errors, Sunday Express, Sunday People (1st run), the Sunday Star and the odd 'miscellaneous' strips etc, I reckon the figures are:
Daily Star
1978-97 = 5,940
1999 to 21/08/13 = 4,362
Sunday People
1998-99 = 51
Grand Total to date =
10,353So my best guess is that the 10,000th strip was published on 21/06/2012 (serial no 4009).
Many congratulations to you and Andrew, and I'm very sorry I missed broadcasting this momentous anniversary last year!
