Matt Lucas 'to play Hill'

Little Britain star Matt Lucas has been approached to play Benny Hill in a new TV play about his life.

Rumpole Of The Bailey creator Sir John Mortimer has written the script, part of a planned BBC season about comics that will also feature Tommy Cooper and Spike Milligan.

"Like all comics, he was a very lonely, strange person," Sir John told the Independent.

His screenplay examines Hill's lack of success with women, despite his on-screen image always surrounded by glamorous Hill's Angels.

"He fantasised about all those girls ... I think he tried to be cheerful but I don't think he had much luck with girls and he had this incredible mean streak," Sir John said.

"His mantelpiece was full of the cheques he never cashed. He died alone in this awful little flat and nobody realised he was dead until they smelt him."

Published: 19 Apr 2004