- Title: UK: WORLD PREMIERE OF COMEDY "THE PAROLE OFFICER"
- Date: 8th August 2001
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 8, 2001) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF WEST END CINEMA /FANS /POSTERS (3 SHOTS) (1.25) MV ACTOR STEVEN WADDINGTON POSING FOR PHOTOS (1.34) (SOUNDBITE) (English) WADDINGTON SAYING: 'My character, I play a character called Geoff who is sort of, shall I say, intellectually challenged. I seem to be getting quite a lot of those offers
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAB39GP8PNVULHKCG7CFUV8O7Z8
- Story Text: The cream of the British comedy scene turned out in their droves for comedian-turned-actor Steve Coogan's big screen debut in 'The Parole Officer'. Billed as one of the best comedies to come out of the UK since 'The Full Monty', the world premiere of 'The Parole Officer' was held in London's West End on Wednesday (August 8), it opens in the UK this weekend.
The screenplay for 'The Parole Officer' was written by BAFTA award-winning character comedian Steve Coogan along with BAFTA nominee Henry Normal, who is best known for his work on the hit television series, The Royle Family.
For many years, northerner Coogan has been a cult television figure in the UK, most famous for his character Alan Partridge. But he's decided to put television on hold for a while, to concentrate on making it big on the silver screen.
Denying that it's a brave transition, Coogan said it's just natural progression and that he wanted to try something new.
Having got together with Normal, together the duo created, 'The Parole Officer' in which Coogan plays Simon Garden, a probation officer who is not exactly successful at rehabilitating criminals.
The film also stars award-winning actor Om Puri ('East is East' and 'My Son The Fanatic'), Steven Waddington ('Sleepy Hollow and 'Face'), Ben Miller ('There's Only Once Jimmy Grimble' and 'Plunket and Macleane') and Jenny Agutter (The Railway Children).
Garden gets on the wrong side of a crooked cop, called DI Burton (Stephen Dillane) and finds himself framed for murder.
The only way to clear his name is to get hold of a video-tape of the crime, which is unfortunately locked up in a bank safety deposit box.
To overcome this problem, Garden recruits the only three criminals he ever managed to 'cure' (Puri, Miller and Waddington) to help him break into the bank.
Although Britain boasts a plethora of young, talented comedians, it's fair to say that while all have succeeded on the small screen, few have found fame and fortune from their efforts in film. Fewer still have managed to win audiences overseas with their humour.
But as Coogan said at the premiere, it's for the punters to decide.
Director John Duigan ('Sirens' and 'Lawn Dogs') agreed: 'Well it's for the audience to judge I mean we're very hopeful and it seems to have worked very well in the few audiences that have seen it so far. Having worked on it for months, and seen the scenes many times over I can honestly say that I still get a lot of laughs from it myself so if that's a guide it's a good sign,' he said.
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