First film is a comedy-drama about sport's golden era

The BBC has commissioned its first ever feature-length scripted film for the iPlayer, a comedy-drama about snooker’s heyday.

Described as a ‘rip-roaring romp through the snooker scene of Eighties Britain’, The Rack Pack, stars Luke Treadaway from Clash of the Titans as Alex Higgins, whose flamboyant style contrasts with conservative Steve Davis, played by Will Merrick.

Kevin Bishop co-stars as promoter Barry Hern; Nichola Burley plays Alex’s wife, Lynn Higgins, and James Bailey is rival player, Jimmy White.

It has been directed by Brian Welsh, whose credits include Black Mirror. Former stand-up Shaun Pye wrote the script with Mark Chappell and Alan Connor, the same team who were behind A Young Doctor’s Notebook.

The film will be released on iPlayer in early December, and marks the 30th anniversary of the 1985 world snooker final, which gripped the nation – attracting 18.5 million viewers in the early hours of a Monday.

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, said: programmes for the iPlayer could be more creative as it is ‘free of the traditional parameters of TV slots’.

He added: ’Higgins was to snooker what George Best was to football - a Northern Irish folk hero whose mesmerising talent made for a fascinating world-class champion on the snooker table, but his explosive personality made for a troubled life off the table. Our cast are perfect to do this vibrant story and era justice.’

The Rat Pack is the first feature film to be made by Zeppotron, the production company originally founded by Charlie Brooker. Its managing director Peter Holmes said: ‘If you only watch one film featuring Big Bill Werbeniuk this year, make sure it’s this one.’

Published: 25 Sep 2015