David Leland in Britain" won the Prix Italia (an international Television award) in 1984. In 1986 he wrote the screenplay for the thriller-drama "Mona Lisa", featuring Bob Hoskins. This film was critically acclaimed and Leland earned nominations for the Golden Globe and the Writers Guild of America. He then wrote "Personal Services" in 1986. It was directed by Terry Jones and was about Cynthia Payne, a real-life British madam who ran a private brothel. Julie Walters took the leading role. While "Personal Services" dealt with the adult life of Cynthia Payne, Leland's next film, "Wish You Were Here", concerned her teenage years.
Bruce Payne in director Alan Clarke's snooker musical "Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire". Michael Brooke stated that Payne gave the "stand-out performance" in the film. and "MS London" stated that Payne 'is a charismatic presence, with a capable voice, who is perfectly cast as The One'. In 1986, both Payne and Berkoff appeared in Julien Temple's musical "Absolute Beginners" . Payne played a psychotic "pompous and pathetic racist" named Flikker, who participated in the 1958 Notting Hill race riots. One reviewer argued that Payne was "the only actor to walk off "Absolute Beginners" with his reputation not only intact