Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me

Rather like Morecambe and Wise (after their first BBC series) and Bruce Forsyth (before he got the Generation Game gig in 1971) its hard to imagine Frankie Howerd as ever being on his showbiz uppers. In the early sixties though, despairing of his closet homosexuality and lack of work he was thinking of packing it in and running a pub. Its this mid period after his post war variety/BBC radio success and before his imperial Pompeii/late cult peak that this film focuses on.

Effectively a sister piece to last year’s Fantabulosa shown last year, Walliams, seemingly from nowhere conjures up a portrayal as good as Michael Sheens. Yes that good. Banish all your fears of a repeat of Capturing Mary. And Rafe Spall, who’s everywhere, is not bad playing Howerd’s lover; Dennis Heymer. This leans heavily on Graham McCann’s brilliant biography and equally fine Spike and Co which documents the history of Associated London Scripts. Now there’s a story for another day. A brilliant closer to the BBC Four season and if you’re quick (1 day left) then still time to see Trevor Eve’s performance of a lifetime in the Hughie Green film from last week.