The Daily Telegraph Online – Tuesday 9th March, 2004

By Larry Schlesinger.

Richard E. Grant, the actor best remembered for his role in cult film Withnail & I, says the government should be sacked over its closure of the tax loophole. See Film rescue package set for Budget for more on this.

Grant, who is currently preparing to direct his first film in his native Swaziland, said the closure of the loophole had put his autobiographical feature in jeopardy.

He told the Daily Telegraph: We start shooting in the beginning of May. But everything has suddenly become quite uncertain. For a while it was touch and go whether we should even get to this stage of production.’

Grant said he knew of 25 films that had been shut down because of the closure of the loophole on 10 February.

‘I don’t think that the film industry stands a chance of recovery unless this government is sacked.’