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Showbiz

Leaving Little Britain behind: Titter ye not, Walliams is serious

Updated 07:13am on 30 Jan 2008


The dishevelled hair and bushy eyebrows are there, along with the slightly worried expression. This is David Walliams as Frankie Howerd.

The Little Britain star plays the camp comedian in an hour-long BBC4 drama called Rather You Than Me.

Told through the eyes of his long-term partner Dennis Heymer, played by Rafe Spall, it shows how he was tortured by professional doubts and troubled by his homosexuality.

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New role: Little Britain star David Walliams is playing the part of Frankie Howerd, who found fame in the Carry On films

Playing the part: Walliams with female castmates in rehearsal

Howerd, who had a successful stage, radio and TV career and became known for catchphrases such as "Titter ye not" and "Nay, nay and thrice nay", died in 1992 aged 75.

The drama is one of four which will also explore the lives of Hughie Green, Tony Hancock and Steptoe And Son stars Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell.

Walliams Howerd

Bracing himself: Walliams has said that Howerd was his childhood acting idol

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He's like the son Frankie was never likely to have.

- Squiz, Islington, 28/01/2008 14:35
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Excellent casting, Walliams should make an excellent Francis, having read his biography Frankie seemed like a very tortured individual, hopefully Walliams will pull out all the stops.

- Naughtius Maximus, London, 28/01/2008 13:55
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