The Final Curtain will draw you in

The Final Curtain stars Peter O’Toole as veteran television host JJ Curtis who is desperately trying to keep himself at the top of the gameshow ladder.

The popularity of his show, The Big Prize, is under threat from a young pretender, Dave Turner, superbly played by Aidan Gillen (Circle of Friends, Some Mother’s Son, Queer As Folk).

His show, Current Account, where greedy contestants give their loved ones electrical shocks in the hope of winning some cash, is gaining in popularity and two rival hosts will do just about anything in a desperate race to discredit each other.

This is one game neither can afford to lose.

The lure of a major American syndication deal only adds further fuel to the fire.

In an attempt to improve his flagging public image, JJ recruits young author Jonathan Stitch, played by Adrian Lester (Primary Colors, Maybe Baby) to write his biography.

Stitch is initially reluctant to get involved in what he sees as a compromise of his professional integrity, but eventually agrees, and when he starts to dig around in the old man’s life he unearths more than he bargained for.

The Final Curtain is a dark comedy, with some unexpected plot twists and superb performances by the main characters. O’Toole is as assured and polished as any man with his experience should be, while Gillen shows once more why he’s one of the UK’s brightest young stars.

Excellent supporting performances by Adrian Lester and Julia Sawalha, as Dave’s personal assistant, Karen, make this a show well worth seeing.

Comedy, 15, ***