Comics is a two-part British television miniseries, written and created by Lynda La Plante, that broadcast on Channel 4 between 6 and 7 June 1993.[1] Adapted from La Plante's novel of the same name, the series stars Tim Guinee as Johnny Lazar, a down-and-out American comedian who tries to regain his status as an international superstar by embarking on a tour of working men's clubs and universities in England. But on his first night, Johnny is witness to a gangland murder and finds himself having to go on the run as he becomes the target of hit men who want to eliminate any chance of them being identified.[2]
The series also stars Danny Webb as Lazar's agent, Brian Duffield; Lennie James as Delroy Smith, a local delinquent whom the police suspect committed the murder; and Michelle Fairley as Nula O'Reilly, Duffield's girlfriend and a fellow comic who grows close to Johnny. The series was directed by Diarmuid Lawrence,[3] produced by Verity Lambert via her own production company, Cinema Verity, and features a number of notable cameo appearances, including the likes of Michael Aspel and The Wildhearts.[4] Comic material used in the series was co-written by Jenny Eclair. The complete series was released on DVD via Simply Media on 21 May 2018.[5]
Comics has been released on DVD in 2018 by Simply Media.