Former MP for Chesterfield, Tony Benn, is to star in the title role in a movie version of the David McKee-created children's TV character, Mr Benn.
Both of the Benns have the appearance of a City businessman, well-spoken, and wearing a black suit and a bowler hat, and the former politician is therefore perfect for the part.
In the film, Mr Benn leaves his house at 52 Festive Road every morning and proceeds to the local fancy dress shop, where he is invited by the mustachioed, fez-wearing shopkeeper to try on a particular outfit. Benn leaves the shop through a magic door at the back of the changing room, and has an adventure in a setting appropriate to the outfit he has tried on. Finally, the shopkeeper appears in another guise, and the adventure comes to an end.
Dressing as the Secretary of State for Energy, however, Mr Benn comes up against his arch-enemy, the evil Mrs Datcher, played by Wendy Richard, who wants to take over the world with her droning voice control.
Originally for children, the film has an 18 certificate, due to scenes of extreme violence (Miners' Strike), and anti-Monarchist sentiment, in which Benn as Benn calls for the abdication of the Queen, and the monarchy to be replaced with a democratic, federal and secular commonwealth.
Ray Brooks narrates.
