Most of us know him as Heather’s boyfriend Andrew Cotton in EastEnders , that bastion of moodiness and bleak storylines, so it might come of something of a surprise to learn that actor Ricky Grover actually started out in comedy.

Now the High Barnet resident makes a return to his roots in low-budget comedy feature film The Limelight , shot with his friend and writer/director/producer Glen Maney.

The film follows the fortunes of Gary Shand, played by Glen, an aging, down-on-his-luck comic who is suffering from depression, a family break-up and alcohol dependence. His nemesis is his agent, Al Moran, played by Ricky, who seems to take great delight in purposely destroying Gary’s career.

Glen wrote the script after encountering a very miserable looking fellow comedian one night on the stand-up circuit.

“He was hilarious that night and got the room rocking before sitting down between his slots and looking thoroughly depressed,” says Glen. “Another performer told me that, in the space of 72 hours, he’d experienced the death of a parent, the loss of a day job and the break-up with a girlfriend who ran off with another comedian. I was shocked. How could he have still turned up at his comedy night?”

Glen went straight home and began writing the script for The Limelight , which he initially titled Tears of a Clown .

After problems with funding and finding anyone to make the film, Glen decided to go it alone and called on his friends from the comedy world to help him.

He knew Ricky from his early days in comedy and while they were filming a promo for Bulla The Movie , based on Ricky’s character from The 11 O’Clock Show on Channel 4, they decided to work together on The Limelight .

Ricky originally agreed to play the part of Gary, but his other filming commitments meant he had to take on the smaller role of agent Al instead.

The film premiered at the 2012 London Independent Film Festival to some very positive feedback, and has been getting rave reviews from Glen and Ricky’s fellow comedians.

Ricky was born in East London and was a ladies’ hairdresser and a boxer before moving into stand-up comedy and acting. His TV credits include Red Dwarf, Fist of Fun, ‘Orrible, The 11 O’Clock Show, Honky Sausages and Black Books .

In 2011, he starred in and co-wrote the feature length film Big Fat Gypsy Gangster .

  • The Limelight is available to download or stream from www.thelimelightmovie.com