Northern Ireland Welcomes New Production

Filming is to commence in Northern Ireland this month on a new dramatization for BBC One entitled Dave Allen At Peace.

The project, in which Northern Ireland Screen and RTÉ are partners, is a dramatization of the life and career of the legendary Irish comedian. Dave Allen will be played by Aidan Gillen in the biopic.

Produced by Darlow Smithson Productions, the hour-long factual drama will focus on the controversial comedian's 40-year career, from performing alongside his brother as a Butlin's Redcoat, to becoming one of the UK and Ireland's comedy greats.

Written by Stephen Russell, the film will explore how his comedy genius was shaped by the loss of his father, his brother, and his finger. He survived decades of the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church, death threats from the IRA and a ban by Irish and Australian TV, only to have his TV career end in controversy when he used the f-word in an innocuous joke.

The film will be structured in 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 features Aidan Gillen as Dave Allen and Conleth Hill as Allen's brother, John. His father and mother will be played by Tommy Tiernan and Joanne Crawford, respectively. The film also features cameos, including Robert Bathurst, Pauline McLynn, Ian McElhinney, Simon Day and Julian Rhind-Tutt.

(JP/MH)