MOVIE REVIEW: The King's Speech at London Film Festival *****

Playing a gay university professor mourning the loss of his partner, Firth finally broke his past trend of playing mild-mannered English gents in flimsy rom-coms.

And it seems Mr Darcy is determined to cast that image aside for good with his latest film The King’s Speech, which premiered at the London Film Festival last week.

Not only is it Colin Firth’s best performance yet, worthy of an Oscar nod, it is a truly magnificent film and a joy to watch from beginning to end.

Tom Hooper’s historical drama is the little known story of George V’s second son Prince Albert (Firth) whose nervous stammer made public speaking an agonising ordeal.

Despite the help of top physicians, the Duke of York finally found help from the eccentric and controversial speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

The pressure to conquer his condition soon mounts with the death of his father and accession to the throne of his brother David, whose scandalous affair with married American Mrs Simpson raises questions over Edward VIII’s legitimacy to reign.

The script fizzes with humour and snappy dialogue, giving the often robotically portrayed royals a refreshingly human touch and tackling the sometimes delicate subject matter with sensitivity and thankfully not sentimentality.

It’s a fascinating and little known story, which is made even more compelling by the astonishing friendship between the prince and Logue.

Refusing to obey official protocol during therapy sessions, Logue is forced to play a constant tug of war with the prince, whose stammer appears to stem from a lonely childhood and a strained relationship with his older brother.

In an unexpected reversal of roles, these scenes are strangely reminiscent of Pygmalian’s Professor Higgins battling to correct the speech of stubborn and reluctant Eliza Doolittle.

Rush’s comic timing is spot on and the pair’s electrifying scenes together are endlessly enjoyable to watch.

Helena Bonham Carter is outstanding as the prince’s wife and future Queen Mother Elizabeth, tenderly supporting her husband thoughout - their relationship is touchingly portrayed by both Bonham Carter and Firth and there is genuine chemistry between the pair.

But it is Firth’s performance, however, which lifts this film from being just another glossy period drama to becoming a touching, funny, uplifting and ultimately human story.

Beautifully shot and perfectly paced, The King’s Speech is unmissable.

The King's Speech (12A) is out on January 7.