Tragic error

THIS summer it will be four years since Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police at Stockwell tube station after being mistaken for a would-be suicide bomber.

“Like every Londoner I remember that period of history very vividly,” says Jonathan Rudd, the programme’s director.

“I can particularly remember when the bombs went off on 7/7 where I was and what I was doing, and everyone has a story about what happened. It was a very strange and quite surreal time in our history.”

Last month, the inquest concluded into the tragic events involving de Menezes’ death, which occurred during a hunt for those behind the second, failed Underground bombing attempt on July 21, 2005.

The jury recorded an open verdict, but few people would disagree that the case was a long and complicated one.

This one-off drama documentary aims to pull together all the strands of the story to reveal what happened to the Brazilian electrician, who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“A lot of people know a lot about the incident itself, but equally, there are those who don’t know much about it,”

says Rudd. “So I hope this will reveal more of the story behind the story.”

The makers say the programme has been thoroughly researched, but where necessary some events have been simplified and elements of dialogue have been created for the dramatisation.

Many scenes were filmed in the real-life locations, including inside Jean Charles’ flat in Lambeth, South London.

It’s also been made with the full knowledge of the de Menezes family.

“I personally didn’t speak to them,”

says Rudd, “but others involved in the process contacted them. They haven’t been directly involved, but they’re completely aware were doing it.”

The programme is interspersed with news and CCTV footage of the July 7 bombings and the failed July 21 attack, as well as radio phone-ins that illustrate the backdrop of panic and fear against which the police operation was carried out.

Rudd says it’s been an exciting project.

“It’s always good to know you’re working on something that will provoke public interest, and that will be high-profile.”

How would he like Stockwell to be received?

“I hope people will feel it highlights some of the problems that happened on that day,” he says. “And hopefully it will allow viewers to make their own minds up about what went wrong and where it went wrong.”

Dave Gorman is gearing up for another challenge. The comic does the things the rest of us only talk about, and will travel the world until his daft idea has reached its conclusion. What’s more, he makes a living out of it, and has earned a reputation as one of comedy’s true innovators.

Once a drunken bet saw him traverse the globe looking for other people called Dave Gorman. Another time, he decided to live his life entirely based on his horoscope for 40 days.

His latest madcap scheme follows the double Bafta-winning writer and broadcaster as he sets out to discover the true independent spirit of the US.

Having become disillusioned by the procession of identikit, cookie-cutter chain hotels he was staying in on a previous trip, Gorman hatched a plan – go to America, buy a second-hand car, then drive from coast to coast without spending any money in the chains.

Back in the Eighties, actor Peter Howitt became a household name as Joey Boswell, the sharply dressed wheeler dealer in Carla Lane’s hit sitcom Bread.

But he yearned for a bigger challenge – what he really wanted to do was direct.

Movie Connections reveals he penned the script for Sliding Doors, a clever romantic comedy about Helen Quilley, a young Londoner whose life takes an extraordinary turn when she misses a Tube train.

Howitt’s screenplay explores what would also have happened if she’d caught that same train. He was also given the chance to direct the movie.

In 1998 the film became a critical hit, while allowing Gwyneth Paltrow to show off a near-perfect British accent.