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FRANKIE HOWERD: Rather You Than Me

Frankie Howerd was one of the UK's best loved comedians but he also had a secret life he kept hidden, a new drama from BBC Four, Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me, starring David Walliams as Howerd, promises to lift the lid on Howerd's life and time.

The one-off drama tells the moving, humorous and poignant story of Howerd's fight with his inner demons, as seen through the eyes of his long-term partner Dennis Heymer. Frankie Howerd is to this day an enduring and celebrated icon of British comedy, and his "thrice nays" and "titter ye not" have been immortalised in the canon of comedy catch-phrases. Behind the scenes, however, was a man riddled with professional doubts, conflicted by his homosexuality and wracked with depression.

This is the first time that the true story of Howerd's inner life has been told, as he kept his sexuality and relationship with Dennis secret until his death in 1992.The writer Peter Harness has utilised intimate interviews with Dennis to tell the story.

David Walliams, who is as archly camp as Howerd was and should do a great job said: "I have been a life-long fan of Frankie and his work: I even managed to get an autograph after one of his shows! Playing Howerd is, in many ways, a dream role for me. In fact, Matt Lucas and I first bonded as struggling comedians over a shared love of Frankie Howerd impressions."

Peter's credits include BBC Four's A View from the Hill and, currently in production for BBC Films/Heyday Films, Is Anybody There?

Frankie Howerd: Rather you than Me is a single 60-minute drama being made by BBC Drama Production, directed by John Alexander (Shadow in the North; Sense & Sensibility), produced by Ben Evans and executive produced by John Yorke. It was commissioned by Jane Tranter.

The drama forms part of a four-part season for BBC Four which will also explores the extraordinary lives of Hughie Green, Tony Hancock and the two actors who played Steptoe & Son: Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell.

The season, to be screened in Spring 2008, follows in the footsteps of acclaimed BBC Four dramas Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!; Fear of Fanny; and the recent, rumbustious Fanny Hill.

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