Couch Potato Pickings | A Fish Called Wanda

John Cleese

In this classic comedy, a pair of crooks (Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis) attempt to locate a stash of stolen jewels with the unwitting aid of John Cleese’s straitlaced barrister Archie Leach.

Did you know that Archie Leach was the original name of Hollywood star Cary Grant?

Yes, Cleese - who also wrote the screenplay for this film - grew up in a town very close to Cary Grant’s birthplace near Bristol, so used the name as a private homage to his hero.

John Cleese,Jamie Lee Curtis

I’m sure there are other films that pay homage to notable figures in this way. Can you think of any?

A Fish Called Wanda is showing on BBC1 toninght at 10.45pm