John Hurt to return as The Naked Civil Servant

[Pip Madeley]

Actor Hurt to reprise Crisp role

Actor John Hurt is to play legendary British eccentric Quentin Crisp again in a sequel to classic 1975 ITV drama The Naked Civil Servant.

An Englishman in New York, named after a song Police singer Sting wrote about the flamboyant gay writer, will be shot in August in London and New York. Laura Mackie, ITV's director of drama, said it was "a real thrill" to enable Hurt "to reprise such an iconic role". The 68-year-old won a Bafta TV award for his original performance.

Crisp, who once described himself as the "Stately Homo of England", died in 1999 at the age of 90. The Naked Civil Servant, the first volume of his autobiography, was first published in 1968. According to its production company Leopardrama, An Englishman in New York is set in the 1970s and 1980s and picks up where The Naked Civil Servant left off.

It is written by Brian Fillis, who previously wrote the biographical TV dramas Fear of Fanny, about TV chef Fanny Craddock, and The Curse of Steptoe, about Steptoe and Son star Harry H Corbett. "It is a great honour for us to be working with John Hurt in one of his most seminal roles," said Leopardrama executive producer James Burstall.

Is it a good idea to bring Crisp back?

[SiHart]

Yes, I think this could be great, if it's anywhere near as good as The Naked Civil Servant was. Let hope so.

Si xx

[Dave Tudor]

Could be interesting, although, shamefully, I've still never seen 'The Naked Civil Servant'.

[SiHart]

Oh you should Dave. I only saw it late last year and was really impressed.

Si xx