Released in 2000 , ‘ Going off Big Time ’ is a dark comedy based on life in the Liverpool underworld , with Neil playing the leading role . It was nominated for 4 BIFA awards and also takes its ’ place on Film Fours ’ Best of British list .
Neil then found himself in big demand and in addition to roles in ‘ The Office ’,’ Buried ’ and the ‘ The Bill ’, he was approached to star in Channel 4s new comedy series ‘ Peep Show ’ as Jeff , which in 2010 became Channel 4s longest running comedy show . ‘ Charlie Noades R . I . P ’, another film written by and featuring Neil in the lead role , was then released on the big screen in 2007 . The story of a scrap metal dealer who found long lost treasure , saw Neil return to his Liverpool roots . Produced by his brother Tony , it co starred well know actors John Henshaw ( The Royal Family ), John McArdle ( Brookside ) and John Thomson ( Cold Feet ) and even enjoyed a cameo appearance from Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen fame . Neil was joined for the premier of the film at the Cannes Film Festival , by friend and supporter , Steven Gerrard . A year earlier Neil had narrated the Sky TV production , ‘ A Year in My Life ’, which covered the former Liverpool and England captain .
Also in 2007 we saw a very different Neil than the one we were used to seeing . Neil played the lead role in the ITV drama ‘ Mobile ’, where we witnessed Neil ’ s serious acting , as an ex-telecoms worker suffering from a terminal brain tumour .
After a spell hosting the ‘ Drivetime ’ show for Liverpool ’ s premier radio station , Neil returned to our screens . He played a manic Rafa Benitez in ‘ Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World ’, a hilarious insight into what really happened at half time during the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul .
In recent times Neil featured as Lucky Kev in Benidorm and even wrote one of the episodes . He has also recently finished filming alongside Henry Winkler ( The Fonz ), in the BBC production ‘ Hank Zipper ’.
In addition , Neil is also filming a new series to be released by Channel 4 next year called ‘ Aliens ’, a dark comedy based on aliens living on Earth in the fictitious town of Troy will see Neil playing the role of an alcoholic Dad and he insists it is a , must watch ! However he has never forgotten where it all began and Neil somehow finds the time to play resident compere at the ‘ Laughterhouse ’ comedy club , based at The Slaughter House pub in Liverpool .
I asked Neil how he now views comedy clubs and the stand up circuit ?
“ If i hadn ’ t taken the opportunity to do stand up when i did , then i would not of been able to have enjoyed all of the wonderful times i have had . This is why i started the comedy club many years ago ..... to give other people the chance to give it a go . Comedy nights are special , there is a great atmosphere and they are incredibly popular . To witness live stand-up and great talent is a fantastic way to spend an evening with your friends , wife , partner or somebody elses partner !!”
Finally Neil , you and the cast of Phoenix Nights broke a world record earlier this year ?
“ Yes that ’ s right ! Peter ( Kay ) rang me up and told me about the idea . We wanted to break the world record for ‘ most money raised by a live comedy show ’. We sold out the Manchester Arena for fifteen nights to put on the ‘ Phoenix Nights Live ’ show and raised over 5 million pounds for Comic Relief . I think all 200,000 tickets went in hours and it was great to catch up with all of the cast and crew again ”
‘ FireStyle ’ Magazine would like to congratulate Neil for his fundraising efforts and thank him for his help with this article . You can see Neil at the Laughterhouse Comedy Club most Friday and Saturday nights . The Slaughter House Pub . Fenwick Street , Liverpool .
www . laughterhousecomedyclub . com
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