Freddie Starr

Freddie Starr held by Operation Yewtree over new claim

Freddie Starr has been re-arrested by police probing historical allegations of sexual abuse.

If the 90 per cent empty auditorium in which I saw this film earlier this week is any guide, TV comic Harry Hill has not struck gold, but something much smellier, with his graduation to the big screen.

Maybe it's Marmite, for people either love or hate his brand of comedy. As with Marmite, if you don't have the taste for it, it's not easily acquired, and it won't be acquired here.

Like Russ Abbot and Freddie Starr, before him, Hill revels in the adjective 'madcap', and there is certainly a strong madcap element to this tale of the ever-genial Harry and his nan (an exceedingly game Julie Walters) taking their apparently terminally-ill hamster (in fact, a cuddly toy) to Blackpool.

On the way they run into Jim Broadbent, playing a three-armed female cleaner in a nuclear power station, and Sheridan Smith, who plays the princess in a nautical tribe of shell people. Meanwhile, they are pursued by two villains dispatched by Harry's evil identical twin Otto (Matt Lucas).

Hill has attracted some top-notch British talent. Whether they read the script first is open to question.

Otto is cross because he was given up for adoption to a group of Alsatians in Kettering, and from that you get a hint of the kind of humour that prevails.

It's surreal, for sure, but the kind of surrealism that makes you sink lower and lower in your seat, wondering whether to make a dash for the exit.

If you do sit it out, though, there's some enjoyment to be had in spotting the comedy references - to The Goodies, The Lavender Hill Mob, even Charlie Chaplin's City Lights.

But I'm afraid that serves mainly to remind us what good comedy is, and what this isn't.

Freddie Starr lawyers question length of investigation

Lawyers representing the entertainer Freddie Starr have questioned the length of time a police investigation into alleged sexual offences is taking.

Freddie Starr re-bailed by Operation Yewtree police

Entertainer Freddie Starr has been re-bailed until October by officers investigating alleged sexual offences.

A pilot developed into a four-part series in 2012, I'm Spazticus received mixed reviews, but C4 has had faith enough to try again this year. It's frustrating to report that little has improved. Deriving its title from an ancient, taboo-pushing Ian Dury song (Spasticus Autisticus) is symptomatic of the problem - it's woefully old-fashioned from start to finish.

The all-disabled cast do their best, but there's only so far one can go when a sketch involves pretending to be Hitler. When Freddie Starr isn't being channelled, Brass Eye is, with a carbon-copy of the famed 'Carla the elephant' skit involving a charity committed to stopping monkey arms being used instead of expensive prosthetic arms. Trouble is, whereas Chris Morris had the panache to make Martin Amis look like a tit, I'm Spazticus can only cajole plankton from TOWIE or Big Brother to make themselves look foolish. This raises precisely no laughs, simply because nobody expects reality rejects to be anything but dimwitted to begin with.

Amid the Jackass-lite buffoonery, one skit shines - an estate agent turning up to give an estimate on a wendy house. Otherwise, there's little to threaten the holy trinity of pranksters - Steve Allen, Sacha Baron Cohen and St Noel of Crinkley Bottom.

Freddie Starr facing fresh Operation Yewtree claims

Freddie Starr has been rearrested over fresh claims of sexual offences, under the strand of Operation Yewtree unrelated to Jimmy Savile.

Freddie Starr marries pregnant fiancee

A photo of the 70-year-old Freddie Starr posing at his wedding on Saturday with his much younger wife Sophie Lea, 31, was posted on Twitter.

Freddie Starr: 'My life is ruined'

Speaking to the Daily Mirror at his home, Freddie Starr revealed he had hit rock bottom after his arrest in connection with the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

Freddie Starr released on bail after more questioning

Freddie Starr has been released on bail for a second time after further questioning by police investigating the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal.

Freddie Starr arrested in Jimmy Savile probe

Freddie Starr has been arrested by police in connection with the Jimmy Savile sex abuse investigation, Sky sources say.