Freddie Mercury's night out clubbing with Princess Diana subject of new Sky Arts comedy

Sometimes truth is stranger and funnier than fiction. That’s the idea behind Urban Myths, the Sky Arts comedy series, which sees real events get fictionalised for TV. No wonder then that the night Freddie Mercury dressed up Princess Diana as a male model and took her clubbing in London, is the subject of the first episode of the third series, then.

The comedy sees Bodyguard star Sophie Rundle play the people’s princess, with Man Like Mobeen’s David Avery as Mercury. Yonderland’s Mathew Baynton also joins the cast as Kenny Everett.

Read more: Bodyguard’ questions that need answering in season 2

The story about how the princess, the popstar and the controversial comedian went out for a night to gay bar, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, in the late 1980s has become the stuff of urban legend. As has the disguise that allowed Princess Diana night of anonymity – a cap, some sunglasses and an army jacket.

The story first came to life when Cleo Rocos published her biography The Power of Positive Drinking back in 2013. The actress. and friend of Everett, went on to reveal that Princess Diana and Mercury had spent the day “drinking champagne in front of reruns of The Golden Girls with the sound turned down”.

The Queen singer’s eventful life has been the subject of much attention since it got the biopic treatment last year.

Read more: Bohemian Rhapsody Is A Celebration Of Freddie Mercury’s Life

The film Bohemian Rhapsody has been a massive box office success, with actor Rami Malek picking up almost every best actor award going during awards season for his turn as Mercury.

Read more: Rami Malek wins Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody at BAFTAs.

In fact, when the Mr Robot star was asked about what his favourite story about the Queen frontman was earlier this year at the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards, it was Mercury’s night out with the princess that he cited.

This Urban Myths episode won’t be David Avery’s first time portraying Mercury on screen. He eyelinered up last year when he played the singer in an earlier Urban Myths episode about Live Aid. At the time he tweeted a picture of himself to fans.

Drama lovers will also recognise Avery from his time playing Freddie Hamid in hit BBC drama The Night Manager with Toms Hiddleston and Hollander.

The Urban Myths episode will air on Sky Arts on April 10, at 9pm.