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Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me

  • TV Movie
  • 2008
  • 57m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
181
YOUR RATING
David Walliams in Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me (2008)
Biography

In the 1950s Frankie Howerd, the famous radio and film comedian, meets a young waiter Dennis Heymer, who, like himself, is a closet homosexual.In the 1950s Frankie Howerd, the famous radio and film comedian, meets a young waiter Dennis Heymer, who, like himself, is a closet homosexual.In the 1950s Frankie Howerd, the famous radio and film comedian, meets a young waiter Dennis Heymer, who, like himself, is a closet homosexual.

  • Director
    • John Alexander
  • Writer
    • Peter Harness
  • Stars
    • David Walliams
    • Rafe Spall
    • Peter Sandys-Clarke
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    181
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Alexander
    • Writer
      • Peter Harness
    • Stars
      • David Walliams
      • Rafe Spall
      • Peter Sandys-Clarke
    • 10User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast17

    Edit
    David Walliams
    David Walliams
    • Frankie Howerd
    Rafe Spall
    Rafe Spall
    • Dennis Heymer
    Peter Sandys-Clarke
    Peter Sandys-Clarke
    • Sheridan
    Sally Leonard
    • Jane
    Paul Anderson
    Paul Anderson
    • Roger
    Benedict Martin
    Benedict Martin
    • Gunman
    Melanie Hill
    Melanie Hill
    • Ruth
    Dilys Laye
    Dilys Laye
    • Edith Howerd
    Jeffrey Perry
    • Director
    Chris New
    Chris New
    • Rent Boy
    Peter Harness
    Peter Harness
    • Promoter
    Paul Courtenay Hyu
    • Dr. Ling
    • (as Paul Courtenay-Hyu)
    Jake Maskall
    Jake Maskall
    • Don
    David Reed
    David Reed
    • Peter Cook
    Tom Allen
    Tom Allen
    • Lighting Technician
    Eamonn Andrews
    • Self - 'What's My Line' presenter
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    David Frost
    David Frost
    • Self - 'That Was The Week That Was' presenter
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Alexander
    • Writer
      • Peter Harness
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Made as one of a four-part season "The Curse of Comedy" on BBC Four, though not billed on-screen with this series title. The other three films in the series were The Curse of Steptoe (2008), Hancock & Joan (2008) and Hughie Green, Most Sincerely (2008).
    • Connections
      Referenced in Remembers...: Ruth Jones Remembers... Hattie (2025)

    User reviews10

    Featured review
    4/10

    Disappointing

    This programme only serves as a kick in the backside to the memory of Frankie Howerd. In this he's portrayed as the most boring person to ever walk the face of the planet, albeit via a pretty decent impression by David Walliams. Good actor, crap script.

    If you want to see an inaccurate story (I use the term story very loosely) of a comedy legend interlaced with a load of pointless homo-erotic scenes and watch a pretty good impression of Frankie Howard but doing the worlds unfunniest stand up routines then this is for you. Personally I think its an insult to Mr Howerds memory. He may have been a depressive and he may have been homosexual but if you're going to devote an entire show to Just those two aspects of him and exaggerate them massively, at least have the decency to have some sort of story to it.

    It starts , plods along and ends. I finished watching it not two minutes ago and couldn't tell you what it was about! Shame really, because Walliams voice and demeanour were perfect, Rafe Spall's acting was excellent, everything else about the film was not.
    • derektrotteresq
    • Jul 19, 2008
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 9, 2008 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
      • BBC Four (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production company
      • BBC Drama Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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