The Comedy Café - 03/12/2010

Whether playing seedy landlord Rupert Rigsby in Rising Damp or frustrated suburban dreamer Reggie Perrin, Leonard Rossiter's performances were iconic and utterly memorable yet little is known about Rossiter himself - until now. Actor and writer Guy Adams reveals the man behind the threadbare cardigan and manic grimace in his biography, "Leonard Rossiter: Character Driven". Headbutting hecklers, distasteful jokes about the disabled, uncensored outbursts online. We trust comedians to retain their cool but what happens when they lose it? Comedy Critic for the Independent, Julian Hall, considers what it means for a comic's status and credibility when they lose control. Quirky stand-up comedian, David Kay, brings his unorthodox style to the small screen as he stars in new comedy pilot "Freedom". Set in Stirling it follows the fortunes of out-of-work "Frank Higgins" whose skewed perspective on life prevents him from finding a job. Why pursue an interview as a local castle tour guide when he can debate Stirling's history with best mate Doug instead? David joins us for an expose of Frank's extraordinary observations on life, and ultra-ordinary solutions.