David Threlfall has been cast as iconic comedian Tommy Cooper in a new ITV one-off drama.
The Shamless star will be joined by Amanda Redman as his wife Dove in the biopic which has been written by Simon Nye and is being produced by multi award-winning production company, Left Bank Pictures.
Nye’s script focuses on the dilemma the much-loved comedian faced when he fell in love with assistant Mary Kay and embarked upon a relationship that would last 17 years.
Cooper was married to Gwen, whom he adored and affectionately nicknamed Dove. Tommy was unable to choose between Dove and Mary, and his untimely death live on air in 1984 meant that he never did.
The film will also reveal the comic’s relationship with his agent, Miff Ferrie, who managed his career until his death in front of millions of television viewers during Live From Her Majesty’s on 15 April 1984.
Filming will begin in London this June with former London Weekend Television Producer and award-winning magician, John Fisher, acting as a Consultant on the drama.
John was a personal friend of Cooper’s and is the author of Always Leave Them Laughing, a definitive biography of the comedy legend’s life.
Tommy will be executive produced by Left Bank Pictures Chief Executive Andy Harries (Strike Back, DCI Banks) and produced by Lucy Dyke (The Ice Cream Girls). The Director is Benjamin Caron (Derren Brown: The Heist, My Mad Fat Diary, Scott & Bailey). Writer Simon Nye’s credits include How Do You Want Me, Reggie Perrin and the fabled comedy Men Behaving Badly.
“Tommy Cooper was an ITV legend and so it feels very fitting to be telling his story on ITV,” said ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November. “Left Bank have brought together wonderful talent in Simon Nye, David Threlfall and Amanda Redman to tell the story.”
Andy Harries of Left Bank Pictures added: “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.”