BBC Two commissions Dave Allen doc

UK public broadcaster BBC Two has commissioned a one-hour documentary special to celebrate the life of late Irish stand-up comedian Dave Allen.

The doc, Dave Allen Night, will featre “rare, often previously unseen” archive footage and interviews with Allen’s friends, family, peers and colleagues, including the crew of his most popular show, Dave Allen at Large.

Allen passed away in 2005, aged 68.

UK indie Vera Productions (Bremner, Bird and Fortune, Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression) is attached to produce, with Vera’s co-MD Geoff Atkinson executive producing.

The commission came from Janice Hadlow, controller, BBC Two, BBC Entertainment Commissioning’s Mark Linsey and Gilly Hall, the BBC’s entertainment commissioning executive. Hall said: “Allen was an entertainer ahead of his time and an acclaimed actor too, who has not been seen on British television for many years.”

Dave Allen Night is a Vera production. It was commissioned by Gilly Hall and Mark Linsey from BBC Entertainment Commissioning and Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two. Geoff Atkinson from Vera Productions executive produces.

In further BBC programming  news, digital channel BBC Four has acquired Filmlance International-produced Swedish noir drama Arne Dahl and Rai/Ager 3 period crime series Inspector Da Luca.