kattozilla
20th Mar 2006, 15:11
Lady Godiva riding again Mar 16 2006
By Sam Webb
LADY GODIVA is back in the saddle and set to ride again.
Pop star Faye Tozer is taking on the role as Coventry's most famous historical figure in a new film being shot in the city.
Faye, former singer with chart toppers Steps, is taking on her first screen role in what's likely to be the next big British movie.
For the past fortnight the stars and crew of Lady Godiva - Back in the Saddle, have been shooting footage at secret locations in Coventry and the film is being tipped to do for the city what The Full Monty did for Sheffield.
The last few scenes are still being finished and the crew is confident it will be ready in time for this year's Cannes Film Festival.
The comedy is the brainchild of Heath Jones, a former pupil of the old Binley Park Comprehensive School in Coventry.
Heath, aged 37, has written the script for the film, which is a modern retelling of the Godiva story. The plot concerns the Lord Mayor of Coventry's efforts to turn the city's Memorial Park into a casino.
In protest his wife stages a nude horseback protest, an echo of the legendary ride through the city made by original Lady Godiva.
Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin was to play the role but pulled out just before filming began.
Faye, who had a string of top 10 hits with Steps including Tragedy, stepped in.
Heath said: "It's wonderful and we think we have got a sleeping giant. Coventry looks beautiful in it, it's never looked so good.
"I think the people of Coventry will laugh and laugh again."
The crew set up base on waste land behind Central Six retail park and filming took place at city locations including the Leofric Hotel, Coombe Abbey, The Rocket Pub near the station, and St Mary's Guildhall.
A pivotal scene was filmed at the Gallery Restaurant in Earlsdon Street, Earlsdon, after Heath got in touch with the restaurant's owners through a mutual acquaintance.
General manager Claude De Larey said he was delighted to meet such British comedy talent as Phil Cornwall, Caroline Harker and Tony Slattery, who plays a reporter called Peeping Tom.
He said: "It's absolute hilarity. We want to show Coventry in its best light and the actors and actresses were 100 per cent involved."
The film is directed by Baz Taylor, who directed the first series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
* COVENTRY is also the star of Channel 4's new TV series All In The Game starring Ray Winstone which was filmed at the Ricoh Arena.
It is one of the highlights of the channel's spring season and will be broadcast before the World Cup in June.
By Sam Webb
LADY GODIVA is back in the saddle and set to ride again.
Pop star Faye Tozer is taking on the role as Coventry's most famous historical figure in a new film being shot in the city.
Faye, former singer with chart toppers Steps, is taking on her first screen role in what's likely to be the next big British movie.
For the past fortnight the stars and crew of Lady Godiva - Back in the Saddle, have been shooting footage at secret locations in Coventry and the film is being tipped to do for the city what The Full Monty did for Sheffield.
The last few scenes are still being finished and the crew is confident it will be ready in time for this year's Cannes Film Festival.
The comedy is the brainchild of Heath Jones, a former pupil of the old Binley Park Comprehensive School in Coventry.
Heath, aged 37, has written the script for the film, which is a modern retelling of the Godiva story. The plot concerns the Lord Mayor of Coventry's efforts to turn the city's Memorial Park into a casino.
In protest his wife stages a nude horseback protest, an echo of the legendary ride through the city made by original Lady Godiva.
Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin was to play the role but pulled out just before filming began.
Faye, who had a string of top 10 hits with Steps including Tragedy, stepped in.
Heath said: "It's wonderful and we think we have got a sleeping giant. Coventry looks beautiful in it, it's never looked so good.
"I think the people of Coventry will laugh and laugh again."
The crew set up base on waste land behind Central Six retail park and filming took place at city locations including the Leofric Hotel, Coombe Abbey, The Rocket Pub near the station, and St Mary's Guildhall.
A pivotal scene was filmed at the Gallery Restaurant in Earlsdon Street, Earlsdon, after Heath got in touch with the restaurant's owners through a mutual acquaintance.
General manager Claude De Larey said he was delighted to meet such British comedy talent as Phil Cornwall, Caroline Harker and Tony Slattery, who plays a reporter called Peeping Tom.
He said: "It's absolute hilarity. We want to show Coventry in its best light and the actors and actresses were 100 per cent involved."
The film is directed by Baz Taylor, who directed the first series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
* COVENTRY is also the star of Channel 4's new TV series All In The Game starring Ray Winstone which was filmed at the Ricoh Arena.
It is one of the highlights of the channel's spring season and will be broadcast before the World Cup in June.