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Shameless star to play Tommy Cooper in ITV film Shameless star to play Tommy Cooper in ITV film
(4 months later)
Just like that! Shameless star David Threlfall will play Tommy Cooper in an ITV biopic of the comedian scripted by Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye.Just like that! Shameless star David Threlfall will play Tommy Cooper in an ITV biopic of the comedian scripted by Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye.
New Tricks star Amanda Redman will play Cooper's wife Gwen in the two-hour film to be made by independent producer Left Bank Pictures (Wallander, The Damned United).New Tricks star Amanda Redman will play Cooper's wife Gwen in the two-hour film to be made by independent producer Left Bank Pictures (Wallander, The Damned United).
The film will focus on the dilemma faced by Cooper when he fell in love with assistant Mary Kay, embarking on a relationship which lasted 17 years.The film will focus on the dilemma faced by Cooper when he fell in love with assistant Mary Kay, embarking on a relationship which lasted 17 years.
The comic magician became one of the small screen's biggest stars at the height of his fame with his ITV shows in the 70s.The comic magician became one of the small screen's biggest stars at the height of his fame with his ITV shows in the 70s.
He made his TV debut on a BBC talent show in 1948 and died on stage, live on television, after he suffered a heart attack during the LWT show, Live From Her Majesty's, in 1984.He made his TV debut on a BBC talent show in 1948 and died on stage, live on television, after he suffered a heart attack during the LWT show, Live From Her Majesty's, in 1984.
The film will explore how Cooper became torn between two equally devoted women, Mary Kay and his wife, whom he nicknamed Dove, and will also reveal Cooper's acrimonious working relationship with his manager, Miff Ferrie.The film will explore how Cooper became torn between two equally devoted women, Mary Kay and his wife, whom he nicknamed Dove, and will also reveal Cooper's acrimonious working relationship with his manager, Miff Ferrie.
Filming will begin in London this June with former LWT producer and award winning magician John Fisher – also a friend of Cooper and the author of his biography – working as a consultant.Filming will begin in London this June with former LWT producer and award winning magician John Fisher – also a friend of Cooper and the author of his biography – working as a consultant.
The casting of Mary is yet to be confirmed.The casting of Mary is yet to be confirmed.
ITV's director of drama commissioning, Steve November, said: "Tommy Cooper was an ITV legend and so it feels very fitting to be telling his story on ITV.ITV's director of drama commissioning, Steve November, said: "Tommy Cooper was an ITV legend and so it feels very fitting to be telling his story on ITV.
"Left Bank have brought together wonderful talent in Simon Nye, David Threlfall and Amanda Redman to tell the story.""Left Bank have brought together wonderful talent in Simon Nye, David Threlfall and Amanda Redman to tell the story."
Executive producer and Left Bank Pictures chief executive Andy Harries said: "Few comics have had such a lasting influence on UK culture as Tommy Cooper.Executive producer and Left Bank Pictures chief executive Andy Harries said: "Few comics have had such a lasting influence on UK culture as Tommy Cooper.
"The man was a comedy giant who spent his final years juggling his hugely successful public persona with a private passion for two women. Just like that.""The man was a comedy giant who spent his final years juggling his hugely successful public persona with a private passion for two women. Just like that."
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