Now the Rev inspires a role on big screen

The unconventional east London vicar who was the inspiration for BBC comedy Rev has now had the leading role in a new British film based on him.

The Rev Paul Turp of Shoreditch Church, is the template for the smoking and drinking clergyman depicted by Tom Hollander in the sitcom. Now the makers of The Fighter's Ballad have based one of their lead characters on Mr Turp.

Written by and starring Peter Cadwell, the movie is about a disturbed young man who breaks into a church and is confronted by the priest, played by Clive Russell. The two discuss life and death and the power of belief.