Comic lands role in Loach movie

Scottish comic Raymond Mearns has landed a role in the next Ken Loach movies.

The stand-up plays builder Big Roddie in the film Ae Fond Kiss, due out next summer.

The plot is a loosely updated version of Romeo and Juliet and revolves around Casim, a Muslim destined for an arranged marriage, who begins an affair with a Catholic schoolteacher, Roisin.

Atta Yaqub and Eva Birthistle take the lead roles.

Mearns had to learn the basics of the building trade for his role as one of the workers contracted to build an extension at Casim's father's Glasgow home for the arranged newlyweds to live in.

He shot his scenes this summer, and the film is now in post-production.

Published: 19 Nov 2003