When Irvine Welsh's incendiary novel of heroin addiction and unemployment in Edinburgh was released in the early 90s, followed by Danny Boyle's film version a few years later, it was something of a cultural milestone. Twenty years on and it's still causing a sensation...

Like a wizened stick ­insect love child of 60s­era Bob Dylan and Ronnie Wood with an adenoidal Manc twang, John Cooper Clarke looks the same as he did 30 years ago, give or take a few wrinkles.

Thomas's tragi­-comic tale of a domineering father, a self­ employed workaholic builder, handy with his hands ­ and fists ­ both in and out of the home, but with a passion and a love for opera