Aidan Gillen To Play Comedian Dave Allen In Biopic For BBC
If you were wondering what Littlefinger would be doing now he’s no longer scheming in Westeros, we have an answer! Aidan Gillen is set to play the provocative godfather of modern stand-up in ‘Dave Allen At Peace’ for the BBC.
The hour-long factual drama will focus on the controversial comedian’s forty-year career, from performing alongside his brother as a Butlin’s Redcoat to becoming one of the UK and Ireland’s comedy greats. For those of you too young to know who Dave Allen is, the Irish comedian is considered one of the first alternative comics, who worked from the 60’s up into the 90s and often performed from a bar stool, with a glass of whiskey in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. His laid-back, satirical, storytelling style of observational, and often controversial, topics of comedy were groundbreaking and really helped blaze a trail for the comedians that followed.
“Dave Allen defined and pushed at the boundaries of where television comedy were set and paved the way for modern stand-up to tackle controversial themes and taboos,” comments Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy and Commissioning at the BBC. “This film explores what shaped his trail-blazing career and celebrates this hugely popular comedian who ridiculed authority figures with a twinkle in his eye, a glass of whiskey and the most talked about finger in comedy history.”
Written by Stephen Russell (‘We’re Doomed: The Dad’s Army Story’, ‘Hattie’, and ‘Peaky Blinders’), the film explores how Dave’s comedy genius was shaped by the tragic loss of his father, his brother… and his finger. How he survived decades of the Roman Catholic Church’s wrath, death threats from the IRA and a ban by Irish and Australian TV, only to have his television career end in controversy when he used the f-word in an innocuous joke.
The film will be structured in affectionate homage to Dave’s original television format. From his famous bar stool, the comic will reflect on his formative years and showbiz career. Flashbacks, some visualised as comedy sketches, will intercut his bar stool repartee bringing significant moments to life.
The cast is fronted by Aidan Gillen (‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘Game of Thrones’), with Conleth Hill (‘Game of Thrones’) taking the role of Allen’s brother, John. His father and mother will be played by Tommy Tiernan (‘Father Ted’) and Joanne Crawford (‘Line of Duty’). The film also boasts a line-up of impressive cameos, including Robert Bathurst (‘Cold Feet’), Pauline McLynn (‘Father Ted’), Ian McElhinney (‘Star Wars: Rogue One’), Simon Day (‘The Fast Show’) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (‘Green Wing’).
“Stephen Russell has written a wonderful script that is surprising, innovative and poignant, exploring the people and forces that went into making Dave Allen the comic genius he was,” adds Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two. “With Aidan Gillen leading a stellar cast, this promises to be a real treat.”
Filming starts on ‘Dave Allen At Peace’ this month in Northern Ireland, and is expected to air on BBC Two in 2018.
