I haven't seen the film of 'Billy Liar', I have nothing to say in answer to your questions. But I have read the book, and seeing it mentioned here seems strangely appropriate, as in the original story (I don't know if this makes the film) one of the things that keeps Billy going is the idea that he can go to London and become a writer for some TV comedian (forgotten the name). He keeps going on about how he wrote to the show, and had an offer to come down and write for it if he wants to. At the end of the book, we actually get to see this letter - of course, it's just a meaningless 'Keep up the good work, lad' fob-off written by a secretary.
It's a poignant scene, and on this site we're mainly preoccupied with people who think they have careers in comedy and actually have nothing going for them. Perhaps they should all be forced to read it...
The comedian is called Danny Boon. It's actually done very ambiguously in the film - Boon does in fact offer him a job (up to a point), but Billy seems to see RIGHT through him and leaves feeling depressed. The main irony with Boon, of course, is that he's a really awful comedian.
COMEDY TRIVIA: George Innes, who played Danny Boon in the film, also played the 'nice policeman' in the episode of The Good Life where the pig had babies (a scene Vyvyan complained about in The Young Ones).
I've got a bit of the documentary on tape somewhere at home (sadly now in Manchester, not London), but I'd be prepared to dig it out if need be. I also have a few books about Sixties British cinema, which might contain a nugget or three.
It's a belting film, mind. We were forced to read the play at school and my friend and I always got picked because we'd practically modelled our "banter" on Billy. And The Likely Lads, naturally.
Trivia - the song that Billy has written with his colleague and that gets performed in the Roxy Dance Hall is called "Twisterella". Ride released a single called "Twisterella" in the late Eighties which, although totally different, did have the chorus from the film sung over the fade-out.
There y'go. You and your bloody oranges.
Cheerio
Steve
Oh, and "Frankly Mr Shankly" and "William, It Was Really Nothing" by The Smiths are clearly based on scenes from the film.
But then, which Smiths songs weren't based on films? Eh? EH?
Cheerio
Steve
'Twisterella' by Ride was in 1992, it's on the album 'Going Blank Again'