National disgrace or innocent man?
ACCUSED of an historic rape, Paul Finchley shrugs it off as a case of mistaken identity. It’s a defence that would only work if the poor woman’s attacker had been an over-weight, oversexed arthritic walrus.
Although she could, of course, be lying. Robbie Coltrane sparkles as the blubbery has-been comedian in National Treasure, a fictional story ripped from recent headlines.
His career on the slide, Finchley is about to be engulfed in the quicksand of scandal and shocking accusations.
The newsprint is barely dry before other alleged victims come forward, including his babysitter who was 15 at the time.
“They think I’m Jimmy Savile,” the fat man moans.
But is he innocent, like Tarby, Jim Davidson and the other star names carved unfairly into the old yew tree, or a revolting monster about to get righteously shafted by his victims?
Either way, Finchley’s family man f****** Email me at: garry.bushell@ dailystar.co.uk or write c/o Daily Star Sunday, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN reputation is already crumbling away like dry rot.
Wife Marie, played by Julie Walters, is a staunch Catholic who for years has suffered his philandering in silence.
His arrest shocks her so badly her accent wanders from Highlands to Ireland. The police ransack his home – you’ll have seen tidier burglaries.
His mobile contains “quite violent” porn, nothing illegal but enough to build up the prosecution image of a cynical sleazebag.
And isn’t he one? After branding his first accuser “a desperate woman being desperate”, Finchley spends the night hooking up with a good-looking hooker. Even if he’s cleared he’s tarnished. The show is absorbing. Dark, disturbing and only occasionally dull – that long interlude with his addict daughter relating her odd dream must have meant something. Has he abused her too?
Coltrane is marvellous but Finchley is unsympathetic and strangely pitched.
He’s 66, part comic, part RADAtrained actor, star of the once hit sitcom Crooked Peaks, and clearly more middle class than most of the comics wrongly accused in Operation Yewtree.
As other women come forward the news coverage assumes he’s guilty. Presumption of innocence goes out the window where celebs are concerned.
Jimbo, Freddie, Cliff, Gambaccini… all were named unfairly as part of the post-Savile war on the past, a distraction from the real blunders of those in authority who turned a blind eye to the creep’s horrendous crimes.
They were cleared, Jimmy Savile remains dead. HUNTED – proper escapism …National Treasure… Ophelia Lovibond, right, Hooten & The Lady (Sky1). JOSH – still tosh… Celebrity Island – as welcome as an Asian hornet at Highgrove… Ottavio & Bradley – Pox Factor (see also Honey G, Bradley Hunt etc)… Victoria – Mills & Boo.