League film finally secures financing

Filming on The League Of Gentlemen movie is finally set to begin this autumn after delays over financing.

But now the team think they are weeks away from having the budget for their 90-minute comedy, and expect to start work later in the year."

Star Steve Pemberton told Teletext: "Hopefully we'll be filming it in September and October.

"I think the financial deal will all be sorted out by Easter but I'm totally confident we'll make it this year."

Pemberton has completed the script with colleages Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson in which the residents of Royston Vasey battle to save their village ­ although Pemberton is reluctant to reveal any details.

He said: "There is a threat to the very existence of the village, but that's all I can say."

Hopefully this time next year it will be in cinemas. It will be an amazing achievement because the finance has been the main stumbling block."

Because the Chancellor recently closed a tax loophole for filmmakers, chances are that filming won't be local... but take place in the Isle of Man or Ireland instead.

Pemberton is also playing Harry Secombe in the forthcoming film The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers ­ a role Johnny Vegas had been up for - and has a small part in The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy movie.

Published: 31 Mar 2004