Jane Horrocks to star as 'our Gracie'

Sir Cyril Smith with Gracie Fields

Jane Horrocks is to play Gracie Fields in a BBC4 biopic of the Rochdale-born entertainer.

Horrocks will star in 'Gracie!', a romantic comedy about the 1930s singer and comedienne.

The one-off production starts when Gracie was at the peak of her career and explores her relationship with Monty Banks, the Hollywood director.

Horrocks sings a range of Fields' songs in the production, including Sally, Sing As We Go and I Never Cried So Much In All My Life.

The drama is part of a BBC4 season that will also include biopics of Margot Fonteyn, starring Anne-Marie Duff, and Enid Blyton, starring Helena Bonham Carter.

Richard Klein, BBC4 controller, said: “These films are sympathetic but frank dramatisations of women in the spotlight and how their backstage lives play out. Once again BBC4 is championing strong dramas that seek to give insight into some of Britain’s most famous artists, reflecting complex lives, conflicting pressures and very human behaviour.”