WITH his garish clothes and falsetto voice, rock musician Justin Hawkins perhaps has the perfect credentials to play Screaming Lord Sutch.The former Darkness frontman, originally from Lowestoft, has been cast as the founder of the Monster Raving Looney Party in a new film called Telstar.

WITH his garish clothes and falsetto voice, rock musician Justin Hawkins perhaps has the perfect credentials to play Screaming Lord Sutch.

The former Darkness frontman, originally from Lowestoft, has been cast as the founder of the Monster Raving Looney Party in a new film called Telstar.

Based on the life of independent record producer Joe Meek, the film has been co-written by Suffolk actor James Hicks.

Linking up with Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey and under the directorship of Nick Moran - of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame - Hawkins said he loved every “split second” of his role as one of the most colourful characters in British politics.

Writing on his MySpace page, the rocker said: “Nick Moran has been directing me with warm encouragement, which makes it slightly easier to operate outside of my comfort zone.

“Not since I was understudy to the back end of a pantomime horse in the school play have I experienced the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd.”

Filming began at the same time as Hawkins marked a year since he successfully quit drink and drugs. He had been admitted to a rehabilitation clinic suffering from alcohol and cocaine problems.