Writer Neil Forsyth on reimagining modern
Intimidating,
embittered, and slightly psychopathic... Midge Ure might have been forgiven for feeling uneasy about his portrayal in a smallscreen comedy drama.
But, according to writer Neil Forsyth, the Ultravox frontman loved the way actor Martin Compston played him.
The Line Of Duty star plays the singer in a Sky Arts comedy that goes backstage at the iconic Live Aid show in July 1985. Documented truth merges with music industry legend, as Elton John incessantly complains about Noel Edmonds landing his helicopter on his begonias; Freddie Mercury chats up U2’s Bono; and Compston’s Ure goes to war with Bob Geldof, accusing his Band Aid cofounder of being a has-been one-hit wonder rigging the bill so his band, the Boomtown Rats, get a prime slot.
Neil said: “Martin was hilarious in it and has had great plaudits for it.
“But he hadn’t done a lot of comedy before so he was actually a little nervous.
“He said to me at rehearsals: ‘I think I might just play him as a bit of a psychopath’ and I just said to go for it.
“He was brilliant and so funny. What was lovely was that Midge got in touch with Martin afterwards to say how much he’d enjoyed it. He was very goodhumoured about the whole thing. “It was great to get that validation as I’d written it in that way. But I think Martin was really relieved when Midge got in touch to say how much he’d liked it.
“I’ve not heard anything from Geldof though.”
The programme, still available on demand, is part of the Sky Arts Urban Myths series, which features offbeat takes on possibly-true tales from popular culture.
And Neil has penned another, featuring a Scots A-list star. Due to be screened in the coming months, Mick and Margaret recounts the story of the relationship between Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger.
Kelly Macdonald plays the Queen’s late sister, with Twilight actor Jamie Campbell Bower as the Rolling Stones frontman.
It was an idea that came to Neil while he was on holiday near the princess’s favourite holiday hideaway, Mustique. “I was in the Caribbean and on reading up about where we were, I stumbled across stuff about Mustique,” said Neil.
“I found that whole world out there in the 1970s fascinating. “Margaret had a pretty bohemian group of pals and would go there every year and have a bit of a blowout when there were no paparazzi around. “Mick bought a house there and the story tracks their friendship, largely on Mustique, over about 30 years. They met at parties in London in the 1960s and you have to read between the lines a lot as neither of them wrote their memoirs about it and Jagger famously gave his advance back as he decided he didn’t want to do it.
“But they were definitely very good pals at a minimum in the 1960s and they stayed in touch. I think it’s a very fond portrayal of both of them.”
Mick and Margaret will be