RICKY TOMLINSON: Jim Royle visits Marbella

A TRIO of British sitcom legends are bringing a classic British working class edge to the Marbella film festival this week.

Ricky Tomlinson from The Royle Family, Will Mellor from Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Paul Barber from Only Fools and Horses are among the celebrity guests set to strut their stuff on the red carpet at the town’s International Film Festival (MIFF).

As Jim Royle would say: ‘My arse. Barb, I’m not leaving the lounge for that shite.’

Now in its 13th year, the trio are presenting a variety of projects at the festival.

Other familiar faces include distinguished theatre actor Steven Berkoff, who will be running a workshop on ‘the secrets of acting’.

Also flying the flag for Britain, are TV presenter Denise van Outen – who the Olive Press revealed recently had bought a house in nearby Mijas – as well as comedian Alexei Sayle, who has a home in the Lecrin Valley, near Granada.

TWO PINTS: Will Mellor

Other British actors include legendary heartthrob Terence Stamp, from Superman and Wall Street, as well as Rachael Stirling, from Tipping the Velvet and Doctor Who.

For Game of Thrones fans, keep an eye out for Ian Beattie who played Ser Meryn Trant and Murray McArthur otherwise known as the wilding elder Dim Dalba.

Over 100 production companies are attending and from over 1,000 films submitted, there will now be just 25 featured at the festival, including a whole host of special shorts.

The cinematic celebrations last until October 14.