Well, I return to this thread not to continue it - sadly personal commitments intervened & I wasn't able to continue running things & no-one else was able to take over. I'm back now just to point out that the latest issue of SFX magazine
http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=latest_issue has a very nice four-page spread on the series with at least one pic I haven't seen previously, showing the actors playing Merry, Legolas, Treebeard, Gimli & (I think) Pippin. Very positive review, but I'm not sure it includes any new info (well not new to readers of this thread & Brian's brilliant article on his site. Still, for fans of the series its a nice memento.