Stars United For Boozy Biopic

Whether you think he’s a football icon or a pissed-up old has-been, George Best is hard to ignore. Not only has his jaundiced face been emblazoned on the front cover of every British tabloid this week over being hospitalised for his drinking, but now the old rogue’s gone and got an all-star cast to star in the biopic of his life. Best, which was co-written by Mary McGuckian and John Lynch (who stars as the man himself), has the kind of cast that most low-budget pictures would kill for. Playing the sporting heroes of yesteryear are Jerome Flynn as Bobby Charlton, Ian Hart as Nobby Stiles and Roger Daltrey as Rodney Marsh. Then there’s the late Ian Bannen as Sir Matt Busby and Linus Roache as Denis Law, not to mention footie tottie in the form of Patsy Kensit, Sara Stockbridge and model Sophie Dahl. ‘Everybody knows about the prison, alcohol, fights and car crashes, but they remember me for the football,’ says Best, who was a consultant on the film. Although he admits to being ‘sceptical’ about sporting movies in general, George reckons Best, in which he and his wife Alex play themselves in the final scene, will turn out fine. ‘I’ve seen some which are an embarassment to say the least,’ he explains. ‘But I think Mary and John have worked hard to get this one right.’