Producers of a new
Carry On film insist the movie will still be made, despite
losing cast members Danniella Westbrook and Shaun Williamson.
Carry On London was due in cinemas in December, with ex-EastEnders
Westbrook and Williamson, but delayed when producer James
Black was replaced.
"We are building up
a new team and expect to start filming in 2005,"said
Audra Woodburn of Carry On London Ltd. It
will be the first film in the comedy series since 1992's
Carry On Columbus.
Commons launch
It will be the 32nd film
in the Carry On series, which began in 1958 and starred
Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Barbara
Windsor.Carry On
London was launched in July 2003 at a House of Commons
event that saw then-Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith
pose for photos alongside actress Danniella Westbrook.
Westbrook was billed as "the
new Barbara Windsor" while Shaun Williamson, who played
Barry Evans in EastEnders, was due to play chauffeur Dickie
Ticker in the new film.
Written by Brian Leveson and Paul
Minett, who wrote ITV comedy drama The Booze Cruise, Carry
On London tells of a limousine firm hired to take celebrities
to the Herberts - the British equivalent of the Oscars.
"Shaun was keen and ready to
take part but the project was delayed for so long that
he is now busy with other work," said Williamson's
agent Melanie Sacre.It was
such a shame it didn't go ahead as planned because the
script was absolutely marvellous - very funny and clever."
Danniella Westbrook is also no longer taking part in
the film, her spokesperson confirmed, and ex-Spandau Ballet
singer Tony Hadley no longer has a cameo role.Producers
originally said David Jason would feature in Carry On
London, but his agent said he was never formally approached.
On Wednesday film-makers would confirm no cast members
for the new film. Carry On London will be directed by
Terry Winsor, who worked on TV series Thief Takers and
1986 comedy Party Party.
Original producer James Black
has been replaced by George Pavlou, who previously produced
Little Monsters: The Birth, and Carry On founder Peter Rogers
is executive producer.
No reason was given for Mr Black's
replacement, and he was unavailable for comment. "There
has not been a Carry On film for 12 years, so we want
to do it properly," said Carry On London Ltd's Audra
Woodburn. "We want to
continue with the old historical aspects of the films
while also encouraging a new generation to enjoy the Carry
Ons."
