Starter For Ten: Tom Vaughan and David Nicholls interview

The writer and director of Starter For Ten talk about their American-financed Brit romantic comedy.

Tom Vaughan makes his feature directorial debut on Starter For Ten, a charming romantic comedy based on the 2003 novel by David Nicholls. Nicholls himself wrote the script, which is set in the mid-80s and is one of the first UK student campus movies (it's definitely not British Pie, however - the only nudity here comes from, er, Charles Dance).

Vaughan cut his teeth making shorts - including the well received Super Grass (1994) and Truel (1999) - and first worked with Nicholls on ITV's Cold Feet in the late 90s. Both men also attended the University of Bristol in the 80s and revisited their youth whilst filming part of Starter For Ten in the western city.

Mark Gatiss as Bamber Gascoigne in the film.

Despite its British roots and subject matter, Starter For Ten was predominantly funded by the States, with Tom Hanks' Playtone company buying the rights to Nicholls' novel. If it seems incongruous that Americans financed a film based around the TV quiz show University Challenge, it should be remembered that the programme was actually based on the American show College Bowl.

In the video Tom and David talk about how they managed to acquire a formidable 80s soundtrack on a low budget, why it was important to shoot in Bristol, and the problems of attracting UK finance to the most British of movies.

Starter For Ten is released in UK cinemas on Friday 10th November 2006.

Adrian Hennigan | Published 09 November 06