Some viewers may worry they’ll lose touch with their politically correct souls if they laugh at Timothy Spall’s obese man in this drama, which comes with a hefty portion of humour.
Fear not, lighten up, because Caroline Aherne – co-author of the brilliant Royle Family and creator of Mrs Merton – and her writing partner Jeff Pope have conjured up a tender, cheeky modern fable.
Coffin with Fry-up
Yes, Georgie Godwin, played by a prosthetics-covered Timothy Spall, is huge and people call him ‘fat bastard’. When his rival for the title of fattest man in Britain, Two Ton Tommy, dies, the sides of the coffin are decorated with pictures of fry-ups.
And as Georgie says, ‘When I went out I’d always get the same… “Michelin Man” or “Mr Wobbly” or “F**kin’ Fat Twat”. I heard ’em.”
Inspired by True Story – Jack Taylor
So there are cheap shots at fat people, but then this is ‘inspired’ by a true story. The gist of this yarn is that Georgie uses his weight as an escape. He’s taken the abuse and humiliation of younger days and now clings to some self-respect – and financial reward – as Britain’s Fattest Man.
Even so, it’s not the most dignified existence, with his manipulative agent, Morris (80s comedian Bobby Ball, who’s brilliant at being annoying here), bringing in tourists to gawp at and grope the ‘eighth wonder of the world’.
Frances Barber as Janice
Crisis comes in two stages for Georgie. He hasn’t left his Rochdale home for 23 years, supported by Morris and neighbour Janice, played with blousy, buxom gusto by Frances Barber.
Into this ménage comes abused teen Amy (a really affecting performance by Aisling Loftus), sent to tend Georgie’s overgrown garden as a community service. Georgie gives the pregnant girl shelter when her smackhead boyfriend beats her, and they form a tender attachment.
Aisling Loftus Plays Amy
The second jolt to Georgie’s deluded existence comes when Morris accepts the challenge of a TV weigh-in between Georgie and Big Brian from Birmingham. As Georgie stuffs himself for the showdown, Amy can see he’s wrecking his health and wants him to slim down.
When the clash of the titans takes place, she refuses to support Georgie.
The true events behind the drama concerned Bradford’s Jack Taylor, who was Britain’s fattest man (hitting 50st, or 700 pounds, at one time; he died in 2006), who had a television weigh-in with a man called Barry Austin.
Bobby Ball Rocks On
The idea to dramatise it was apparently Jeff Pope’s, who also produced it. Caroline Aherne was brought in to collaborate and hone the script, which is at times cheesy, compassionate, bittersweet and funny.
‘I’ll have a caffe latte – black,’ says a clueless Morris. The role was written with Bobby Ball in mind, and he is spot on as the irritatingly effervescent Morris, singing Rihanna’s Umbrella or advising Georgie, ‘Lot more fat f**kers around than when you started.’
But of course it’s Timothy Spall’s show. Under hours of make-up the star of Harry Potter, BBC’s The Street and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is kind and funny as the man trapped in a false paradise.
Badly Drawn Boy Soundtrack
The soundtrack was specially put together by Badly Drawn Boy and gives it a melancholy air.
It’s ultimately a feel-good story, as befits the season to be jolly. Showing it on the Sunday before Christmas is also shrewd scheduling – viewers stuffed to the gills from office parties and family get-togethers will feel they haven’t overdone it too severely when they see Georgie lumbering about.
- The Fattest Man in Britain, ITV1, Sunday 20 December 2009, 9-11pm
Georgie Godwin Timothy Spall
Morris Morrissey Bobby Ball
Amy Aisling Loftus
Janice Frances Barber
Japanese man Akira Koieyama
Japanese woman Yuriri Naka
Raj Archie Lal
Mad Bob David Williams
Joe Richard Riddell
Joyce Alice Barry
Richard Barter Mark Chatterton
Father O’Flaherty Brendan O’Carroll
Morley Raisin Tim Woodward
Executive Producer Saurabh Kakkar
Producer and Writer Jeff Pope
Writer Caroline Aherne
Director David Blair
Music Badly Drawn Boy
Robin Jarossi - London-based journalist and editor specialising in TV, sport and books. I was the editor of 'Cable Guide' and have worked at 'Radio ...
