Jokes And Smokes

- Caren Clark,Judy Ewens,Alison Slade

NEW DRAMA

Dave Allen at Peace

Easter Monday, BBC2 HD, 9pm

With an ashtray and whiskey glass permanently at his side, as well as his irreverent take on religion, Dave Allen was one of the most distinctive and innovative comedians of his day.

Now, he’s the subject of BBC2’s fascinating biopic Dave Allen at Peace, starring Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen as the comic, who died in 2005 aged 68.

The one-off drama explores Allen’s youth in 1940s Ireland and his bond with his father Cullie (Derry Girls actor Tommy Tiernan), who died when Allen was 12. It also highlights the tough Catholic schooling that inspired his stand-up routines and how he famously lost part of his index finger in an accident.