Mike Leigh, the satirist of the suburbs, has been one of the great mavericks and creative geniuses of British stage, cinema and television since his first film, Bleak Moments, burst on an unsuspecting public in 1971. Since then, his works have included Nuts in May, Goose-pimples, Life is Sweet and many more. He has worked with most of Britain's leading actors, including Tim Roth, Timothy Spall and Jane Horrocks, as well as with his wife, Alison Steadman.