It's the oldest for a start having been cooked up by the University of Western Australia nearly half a century ago and a

It's the oldest for a start, having been cooked up by the University of Western Australia nearly half a century ago, and a university connection is never to be sniffed at, since it's a half-promise that you won't only find Riverdance at every venue that isn't staging nude ballet from Chicago. Don't become an extra if what you really want is to be a main character. Once you get classed as an extra, you're an extra for ever, basically. There have been quite a few extras who've got small speaking parts, but once you've said a few lines you won't be used for about five or six months, because you've been seen and might be recognised You don't have to have any acting skills at all. It's simple: chat to the other extras in the dressing room, then when you're called on to the set just carry on those conversations. That way it looks natural when you talk. You can approach main characters, but if they don't want to talk, leave them alone.

Don't go pestering for autographs, and don't take your camera: they won't like you taking photographs that you could leak to the press. It's great seeing yourself on TV and knowing what's going to happen before anyone else, but don't be tempted to give away storylines - if someone found out you'd be struck off."Tony Murphy is a drag queen and entertainer and has been a professional extra for 10 years in shows such as `Mr Wroe's Virgins', `Coronation Street', `Brookside' and `Band of Gold'. It doesn't matter what size or shape you are, and it's best to be a blank canvas so they can make you up as they want. Alternatively, go directly to the television companies and ask to go on their extras' book (although we're not actually known as extras now, it's `support artists'). "First of all, find yourself a good agent.

If they try and charge you to get on their books, they're dodgy, so don't pay them (the actor's union Equity can advise you). To keep costs down, many firms use pre-prepared forms and pseudo-clerical staff to draw them up. Check the qualifications of the person writing your will, and make sure you are comfortable with the questionnaire.There are also some postal will-writing services around, but again these may not employ qualified staff.Whoever draws up the document, you will need to appoint an executor who has a legal duty to carry out your wishes, and to pay any taxes or costs for administering it. They can be family, friends, a solicitor, financial adviser or any other professional.Finally, many charities, such as Age Concern, also offer a will-writing service in the hope of being included in your bequests.For more information: The Law Society has a website with detailed information on all areas of wills at www.make-a-will .ukWills & Probate: Which? Consumer Guides cost 10.99: Putting Your Affairs in Order: Age Concern free guide available 0181 679 8000. Except that he always called his wife "mother".As solicitor's fees for wills are relatively modest, it may be worth getting a few quotes from local firms and leaving it to them; although even here a word of warning.

The most famous case this century involved a man whose will said he wished to leave everything to "mother", which seems quite clear. The first section should appoint executors, the second distributes your wealth and the third gives the executors the powers they need to perform their duties.A Consumers' Association spokesman says: "The one thing worse than not making a will is making a mess of a will." The three most common errors on DIY wills are failing to get it properly witnessed and not clearly identifying either the item in question or the person it is supposed to go to. It can take a great deal of time and the difficulties can be intractable."Yet one third of people who should have made a will have not done so, even though most solicitors charge as little as pounds 50 to pounds 80 for putting simple affairs in order.It is possible to write your own will by buying a pre-prepared form from W H Smith, or another reputable stationers, which you fill in, sign and get witnessed. However the Consumers' Association is critical of these forms and recommends drawing up your own document in three parts.

Nevertheless, he or she could lose control of their homes.If you don't have children your spouse gets the first pounds 200,000, and your parents get half the rest. If your parents are dead, your brothers and sisters inherit.But if you and your partner are not married or in a second marriage with children or step-children, failing to make a will is an act gross irresponsibility.Alan Benstock, a solicitor with the Lister Croft Partnership, says: "The biggest problems we face today are sorting out the affairs of people who have been involved in more than one marriage, or who have had more than one partner. Or rather it is, provided your wealth is less than pounds 125,000. Above that, the children share the balance, although your spouse retains an interest during his or her lifetime. They wrongly presume that if they die their spouse will get everything, but that is not so.

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