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Director Terry Jones’ new film, “Personal Services,� has been “put on ice� in England because its real-life subject--the infamous Streatham madam, Cynthia Payne--is back in the dock, charged with “exercising control and direction over the movement of prostitutes for personal gain.�

The comedy, starring Julie Walters (“Educating Rita�) as guess who, was due in British theaters by now. It’s based on Payne’s adventures running a suburban brothel that catered to London’s genteel set and caused a hilarious scandal in 1978 (because of her marketing methods--such as issuing lunch vouchers to clients).

But Payne was arrested again in September. Her trial is in January and “counsel advised that we’d stand in contempt if we allowed the film to be screened before the trial,� said producer Tim Bevan.

He predicted that the trial will ultimately help the film: “Cynthia is front-page news here.�