Killer Craig

Don't worry, he's only acting.

4 June, 2004

As Craig Charles donned the role of troublemaker for new comedy-gangster short The Dealer, it was a strange day in Rochester, Kent for the crew when police were called to the scene of an apparently brutal killing. Producer Lee Phillips tells the tale:

"Craig was moored on a boat on the river Medway while we were shooting a scene on the river bank where he stabs a guy, and three heavies throw him in the water. But unfortunately the tide took the boat into view of the general public."

It seems Rochester is filled with civic-minded, neighbourhood-watch types. Five witnesses rang the police! So when Craig got back to the marina the armed response unit were waiting for him, and the coastguard was also called to look for a body.

Perhaps they should have warned the authorities in advance? But still, it's all good publicity. "We have apologised for the misunderstanding and for any distress this may have caused the people who saw it... but if they had stayed a bit longer they would have seen the exact killing another four times!" Lee jokes.

The cast of The Dealer also includes Cold Feet's John Thomson and Series VIII's Ricky Grover. It's directed by Tony Royden - being made as a short in the hopes of securing feature financing. The story tells of Danny 'The Dealer' Dempsey, who awakes one morning to find a letter resting on a pillow in his heavily secured home... and so begins the strangest 24 hours in his life. A wedding gets ruined, gang leaders are given short shrift, and insane bets are placed. Could The Dealer be on the brink of self-destruction?