Adapted by Ronald Harwood from his stage play of the same name, The Dresser is the simple story of a famous Shakespearean actor and the man who dresses him for his parts. On one level. But the finely-crafted writing, based on Harwood's real-life experiences dressing Sir Donald Wolfit, and the beautifully nuanced performances by Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay in the main roles, tell an altogether more complex story of symbiosis and need.

The subject is not mainstream; there are no special effects. Just two actors at the height of their dramatic powers bringing to life an engrossing story of devotion and degeneration.

An ageing actor of dwindling fame (Albert Finney), known to his dresser (and therefore to us) only as "Sir", is playing Othello and lording it over the rest of the cast in a run-down regional theatre.

Waiting in the wings, is the dresser of the title, Norman (Tom Courtenay). He's been Sir's dresser for the whole of living memory and is well used to his peccadilloes, his temper and his flamboyance. It soon becomes apparent that not only is Sir's manner no longer appropriate to the station he finds himself in, but that he is really a hopeless inadequate who would be nowhere and nothing without his "servant" the Dresser.

But the flip-side of the coin is that looking after Sir has become Norman's sole purpose in life. He too has nothing without Sir. And the rapid deterioration in Sir's mental faculties are causing him great anxiety as he begins to realise that if it's the end of the line for Sir, then it's the end of the line for him too.

The Dresser: Five, Saturday 6 October, 1.30pm

Worth a look:
The King and I: ITV3, Saturday 6 October, 4.10pm
Alien: C4, Sunday 7 October, 10.50pm
Silver Streak: Film4, Tuesday 9 October, 6.55pm