Whitley Bay Film Festival returns with the usual mix of must-see experiences in great places.
A special event has been announced featuring a visit from patron, writer Ian La Frenais, marking the 50th anniversary of TV comedy classic Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? at the Playhouse, Whitley Bay on the 19th September.
It was 1973 when Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? first hit our screens, the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit The Likely Lads. It was created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, notable for some of the most popular comedies on British Television including Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Lovejoy, and many feature films including The Commitments, for which they won the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy and Still Crazy, which won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture, Goal and The Bank Job.
In this very special and rare event, Ian will be chatting about his creative partnership with Dick Clement as they transitioned from writing for TV with the comedy classic The Likely Lads, to movies such as Otley and their 1971, deadly serious, gripping London crime picture - Villain.
Their return to TV comedy in 1973 saw Bob and Terry reunited in the award winning sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Ian will be sharing, first hand, the creative journey that brought this classic series to our screens along with clips and a screening of his selected episode.
This event will also include a Q & A.
Former BBC, award winning broadcaster/presenter Chris Jackson will be moderator for the evening.
Other highlights include:
The Wicker Man (1973) in the pretty village of Earsdon (the weekend also sees the popular, annual 'Scarecrow Festival' take place).
I Daniel Blake directed by Ken Loach, in Whitley Bay Big Local Hub (former Job Centre) The film will be introduced by lead actor Dave Johns.
Ken Loach's latest film The Old Oak will also have an early preview at Jam Jar Cinema.
The iconic St Mary’s Lighthouse shows Father Earth with special guest creator Graham Fellows (AKA John Shuttleworth).
Bridge of Spies at The Watch house Cullercoats.
They Live (1988) in Tynemouth Social Club.
Alice in Wonderland themed event at the wonderful Seaton Delaval Hall.
The Mediators are back to perform a live electronic soundtrack event for a Buster Keaton double bill at the Rendezvous and there's more....